Sin and Repent, 2 words we don't hear every day...

The other day, I honestly did something silly that hurt my wife's feelings. When I saw how it made her feel, it really brought me to tears. I was genuinely sorry for what I did and made up my mind that I would never do anything like that again. I repented because I sinned against my wife.

Those are words that we don't really hear a lot about these days. The whole concept of sinning against someone or sinning against God doesn't seem to be in the vocabulary of our country. With the concept of sin nearly removed from our nations dictionary of terms, we also lose the concept of what it means to repent.

That event made me think about how I feel when I sin against God. It doesn't have to be a BIG sin, it can be something "silly"... something small that we have come to accept in this society. It seems as though we are taught so much about grace, that the face that we need to really feel sorry for what we've done has been mitigated because no one wants to feel bad.

The truth is, the idea of repentance did not stop when John the Baptist came and said "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is upon us!"

The idea of repentance did not stop when Jesus died on the Cross for all of our sins.

Repentance was one of the main themes in the book of Acts - as a refresher, the book of Acts was when the Gospel was spread by believers like you and me across most of the known world! Let's take a look at a few verses in Acts - feel free to read the surrounding verses:

• Acts 2:38  (Acts 2) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Acts 3:19  (Acts 3) Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

• Acts 8:22  (Acts 8) Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

• Acts 17:30  (Acts 17) The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Even the book of Revelation, that talks about Jesus' return talks about repentance 10 times!

So... here's the question for the day. How do you respond when you realize that you've sinned against someone? How do you respond when you realize that you've sinned against God? If your heart doesn't ache, if there isn't a hint of remorse, if you toss it off as "it's okay, God knows my heart" and you keep going in the same direction, you may need to ask God to soften your heart.

This week, as God to show you where you may be treating sin and repentance as casual things in your own life. Ask God to soften your heart towards Him and to others. It will change the nature of all your relationships!

Becoming who you're suppose to be...

Music is my hobby. I have written hundreds of songs that are really mediocre at best. I can share them with my friends who aren't musicians and they enjoy them, but when I share them with friends of mine who are professional musicians, they see the flaws in what I've done, and they can make it... better.

Christianity is a lot like that. I can live my life based on Biblical principals that I've learned, and other Christians around me, and people who are lost can be impressed, but God sees all of my shortcomings, and views my weaknesses through the lens of grace.

I think part of that is because a lot of time, I try to live my life by my strength.

The Bible is full of people who live their lives, and God steps in and radically changes their lives from who they think they are to who they are suppose to be.

We are all born into a fallen world, until God steps in and offers us salvation. At that point, it's like the master musician stepping in and helping us understand the subtle (and not so subtle) mistakes that we made. And although there will be times when we don't have the skill to work our way through a tough passage, God steps in and helps us.

Sometimes, it's dramatic. God changed Abram's name to Abraham. He changed Jacob's name to Israel. He called Peter a Rock, and changed Saul's name to Paul. In those instances, he completely said - let's start with a different premise. This is what I call you.

In other instances, God charges you with a task that is too big for you to do on your own, like with Moses, or John the baptist and Timothy.

In either case, God is calling us to shed the identity that we have had since our natural birth and adopt an identity that is based on God's vision of who we are.

Let's start this week casting off who we think we are, and asking go to show us who we are suppose to be.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21 ESV)

Can you hear me now?

 

I remember when I first became a Dad. It was amazing how I could pick out my child's cry in a crowded place. As they got older, I could distinctly hear their voice and their tone... even in a room full of loud kids.

The more interesting thing is that over time, as they grew and got older, they had the ability to do the same. They could pick out my voice and respond to it quite easily.

When I married Lisa, her son was 8 years old. I could literally be one room away and call him and he would not respond to what I said. His Mom could simply ask, without even raising her voice if she heard me calling him, and he would respond quickly at the sound of her voice. Why? Because she spent time with him, and he recognized her voice.

It's taken about 2 years of knowing Evan and spending time with him in order to get him to recognize my voice.

It's the same with God. Jesus says:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

When was the last time you heard the voice of God, and responded by following His prompting?

That's why today's picture is of an iceberg and not an ear. When you look at an iceberg, you just see the top. It's so easy to get distracted by what you see, that you don't realize how enormous the iceberg is. It's almost like the world is the part of the iceberg that we see, and God is the enormous part under the water that makes the whole iceberg move and float. We pay so much attention to what we see that we miss the part that we can't see.

This weekend, let's really spend some time with God. Let's learn to recognize His voice and learn to respond to it. You will be amazed at how much more effective your relationship with God will become and how much more effectively you will be able to reach out to those who are in need of a savior.

I am the problem...

I am the reason why I don't eat healthy.
I am the reason why I don't exercise.
I am the reason why I don't use my time wisely.
I am the reason why I don't share God's word when I feel  Him tugging at my heart to share.
I am the reason why I don't pray about a situation when I know God is asking me to.

We live in a self help world where we are taught that we have the ability to lose wright if we just follow the right diet and exercise plan.
We are taught that we can change our lives if we just follow the right philosophy or read the right book.

Even in church, sometimes we are taught that if we just do these 3 easy steps, our life will change.

We try all this on our own then wonder why God doesn't show Himself strong and might in our lives like He did with Abraham, Moses, Paul or any of the other great heroes in the Bible.

God doesn't change. In Genesis 15:1, He tells Abraham: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield and your exeeding great reward."

When God's people were in Captivity, God told Moses "I am who I am", or "I am that I am" was sending him in Exodus 3:14.

Paul learned this lesson too. He had an infirmity that he prayed for God to remove. God's answer to him was: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10

It is amazing what we can accomplish when we rely on God to do the things that we can''t do. Here's the challenge for the rest of the week. Stop trying so hard to do things through your own strength. Wait on God, listen intently to His voice, and be obedient without question. You will be surprised at the changes that happen in your life.

... but God saw it differently.

I really didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wasn't even thinking about the future at all. But one day, I walked into my Dad's office, he was doing computer math, and I was hooked. My course and my future were set. That single incident changed my life.

It's really easy for us to look at natural incidents in our life and find the pivotal moments. It is much harder to find those pivotal moments in our own lives when it comes to our relationship with God.

The primary difference between those of us that believe in God and those that don't is that we recognize that at some point in our lives, God stepped in and made a change. We would have been lost, but God revealed himself to us.

It's not our preaching of the gospel that will persuade people. It's the power of God.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty... 1 Corinthians 1:27

There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)... Ephesians 2:4-5

Let us struggle this week to see those places in our lives where things could go wrong, but God steps in. We need to see those places where peoples lives are going in the wrong direction, but God wants us to share His love.

The gospel is simplicity in a complex world

I love this photograph of oranges. It reminds me of the oranges I use to eat when I was growing up. Filled with juice that would squirt half way across the room when you bite into them and trickle around my taste buds... I can close my eyes and taste it now.

The problem is... this picture is not a picture. It's a painting in a new style called hyperrealism.

We live in a world where paintings can be confused with photographs. There's no need for imagination any more because we can find a picture or go to youtube and see a video of the impossible being done. In movies, we have seen people fly, we have seen the destruction of the world, we have seen artificial limbs in futuristic movies look just like real ones.

In reality, we have seen doctors perform amazing surgery, we have seen scientists look inside sells and at actual DNA. We have seen actual pictures of what other planets look like.

We have seen all these advances, but still - we believe in God. The rest of the world wants to believe in what they can see.. but what you can see... cannot always be trusted.

So, with all these advances, how do we share the gospel with a world that is desperately in need of a savior?

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the wold did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For the Jews demanded signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Cor 1:18-25

Despite the thinking of this present age, God has not changed. The simplicity of the gospel... that man needs a savior still resonates in the heart of man.

This week, let us struggle to share the gospel in its simplicity.

What are you looking at?

  

There are some things I will never do. It is safe to say that I will never smoke. My Dad, Aunts and Uncles grew up on a tobacco farm and have all used tobacco products since their early teens. I have seen the effect of that on their lives, so I will never go down that path. It is a part of who I am.

I will never drink. I have seen too many people in my life struggle with the control of alcoholism and how it affects those around them.

I am a Christian, I have seen the effects of sin, but I cannot say with the same conviction that I will never sin. Why is that?

I use to think that it was in how I saw myself. I see myself  as all of the above. I don't see myself as a smoker, I don't see myself as a drinker, I see myself as a Christian, but that really isn't it. It goes deeper into identity.

I have seen the impact of smoking and alcohol on my extended family, and I don't want to identify with that.

The problem is, we see people who are Christians, and we see people who make mistakes and ask for forgiveness all the time. We aren't perfect and we can identify with that. It's a part of the cycle.

When we look at other Christians as the benchmark of who we are supposed to be, we will always find an excuse to not be who Christ has called us to be.

Maybe, it is time for us to really look at Christ for our identity. Who does He say that we are? How would He handle a situation? Why don't we live in the grace that He has given us and not some bastardized version where we only do what's right when someone is looking, or only when it's convenient?

It's a problem that has existed since the fall in the garden. Early on God asks the question:

"If you do well, will you not be accepted? If you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Gen 4:7

Isn't that the way that we live? We try to do what's right? Most people say that they try to live by the Golden Rule... the operative word is try.

I think that question is rhetorical. God knows that we cannot "do well." He gave us the 10 Commandments and allowed for priests to offer sacrifices, and we still could not "do well." It is impossible for us to rule over sin, ourselves.

The only way that this can happen is if we lose ourselves in who Christ is and wrap ourselves in His identity.

We need to live out "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal 2:20

We need to struggle to make this a part of our every day life. In the decisions that we make. In the way we relate to others. Take a moment today and assess your life. Are you still trying on your own? Your strength? Or are you living life through faith in God? It makes a difference.

Jealous

When I was younger, I had this HUGE crush on a young lady. It wasn't just some anonymous crush because she was beautiful. I tried to get to know her. I spent time with her. I knew her likes, her dislikes, her passions, her favorite color. If you asked me why I was interested in her, I could tell you all about her quirks and idiosyncrasies.

Of course, she was interested in an egotistical guy that treated women like trophies. She would chase him, give him things... anything just to get his attention for a moment. I don't think he even really knew her name.

I'm sure most of you can relate to a story like this... in all honesty, most of us live it on a regular basis.

God loves us. He describes Himself as a jealous God. He knows the numbers of hairs on our head. God supplies our need. He cares for us and gave us the most precious gift - salvation by offering His own son Jesus on a cross. Remember this? "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, so that any whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

But, the world is off chasing the promise anything else in order to find significance. Even Christians sometimes get caught up in chasing things other than God.

There is no challenge today. There is no struggle. Just take a moment and reflect. God loves you. How are you responding to His love? God wants to love those around you. How are you sharing His love with others?

Short Attention Span

I admit it. When it comes to spiritual matters, sometimes I have a short attention span. There have been times that I have read something in the Bible, or made a decision, and 15 minutes later - when I am tested in that area, I forget it all. I know, it's sad but true... but, if you were honest, you would probably admit that there are times when you do the same.

Sure, I may whisper a prayer in the moment, but if God doesn't reply in 5 minutes... 

The interesting thing is that God has a history of not being a "I will do this when you snap your fingers" type of God. He is, after all, God and not a genie.

Let's look at Abram. How many years was it between when God made a promise to when God changed his name to Abraham and gave him 1 child. 1 CHILD... when he was promised a nation that no man could number?

Look at Daniel  he prayed for an answer for 21 days. An angel told him that he would have been there sooner, but the prince of the kingdom of Persia (what we interpret as a demonic force) contended with the angelic messenger until the archangel Michael came and helped him (Daniel 10:12-14).

Even in Jesus life. When He began His ministry, and was fasting for 40 days - He was tempted by Satan. 3 times Satan came to Him offering an easy way out. It wasn't until Jesus stood strong on the word of God that the angels came and ministered to Him (John 4).

Just because we don't see God moving in our lives to answer our prayers doesn't mean that He is not moving.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians, 6:10-13)

I know we live in a culture that is all about constant movement and dynamic change. We want to get things done now! But just remember that we are working in God's time... not ours.

So, the challenge for the day is not to run off in your own solution. Be patient. Wait for God. You may be surprised at the outcome.

The key to success is in the relationships that we have...

When I was growing up, all the great heroes had a sidekick, someone that would help them out when they got into a situation that they couldn't handle alone. Batman had Robin. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. The list goes on... the only superhero that was successful alone was Superman. Of course, Superman was from a different planet and was virtually indestructible... how realistic is that?

Even in my own life, when it's just me, I become overwhelmed. I begin to stress. When I have someone on my team, that gives unconditional support, it all becomes easier.

We, as believers, have God on our side, and it is important that we recognize that, but he doesn't call us to be on this journey alone.

If you ask almost any Christian who their Biblical hero is, after Jesus, Paul usually makes the top 5 list. If you ask almost anyone that I know, that is serious about their faith, they would love to have a Paul in their life. Someone that had a strong conviction about the scripture and is always ready to share it, to pray, to serve.

Paul... had a Barnabas in his life. Barnabas was an encourager... he was not a yes man. Paul and Barnabas worked well together, but when it came time to choose between Paul the seasoned veteran, and Mark, the younger inexperienced Christian, Barnabas chose to encourage Mark and help him grow in the faith. Paul and Barnabas didn't argue about it, they still shared brotherly love for each other until the end of their lives. It is important that we all have that in our lives.

Paul also had a Timothy in his life. Timothy was a young man in the faith that needed a spiritual father. Someone to encourage him to stand firm in his ministry.

We should take a look at our lives and make sure that we:

• have a Paul in our lives
• are being a Paul to a Timothy
• have a Barnabas in our lives

Take a moment over the next few days and look at the relationship between these 3 in Acts and I and II Timothy.

The challenge for the next few days is to take an account of our lives and see who we are surrounding ourselves with... do we have someone that calls us to be better, are we calling someone to be better, and do we have someone that will look into our lives with honesty?

If you don't have these 3 key roles, I highly recommend that you find them...

What is freedom?

Most of us hate rules. It's in our DNA. When you try to put a young child to bed, they want to get up and play. When we first go to school, we don't want to sit down and learn the lessons, we want to talk with our new friends. When was the last time that you really obeyed the speed limit? It is in our nature to push against any rule that is imposed on us.

I was talking with this guy at church the other day and he said something that I never really realized before. Before God gives His promised people the 10 commandments, he says:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." Exodus 20:2. God is basically saying "I HAVE SET YOU FREE!" Just like in the picture above, you can't set something free and hold it in captivity at the same time.

When people think of the 10 Commandments, they think of these oppressive rules that no one is capable of following, but Jesus summed it up this way "

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:37-40

Admittedly, most people would agree with the second one. Most people try to love their neighbors.. or at least those people that are in their circle of friends... but the tough one? The toughest one is loving God... because we naturally want to push away from anything that wants to assert control over us.

But maybe, we should change our perspective.

Do you knot know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16

Although the "freedom" that everyone is looking for seems appealing, it really leads to death and separation from God.

So, today... take a moment and think about what freedoms we have, and let us live out our love for God and show it to those around us.