Posts Tagged ‘Repentance’
Lent 2013: The Nature of This Journey–The Land
February 14, 2013 | 
Author Lent 2013
The Nature of This Journey: The Land
Readings: Psalm 37 ◊ Titus 1:1-16 ◊ Deuteronomy 9:1—12:32 ◊ Mark 1:15
The weeks leading up to Lent have been very formative for me and helpful in clarifying the nature of this 40-day journey. Many areas of my life have been laid open for examination and I feel some of them have been identified for further examination and tweaking. I am working, as God leads, on some of these areas even now.
Even with this knowledge and my surrendered agreement to God’s transforming work in my life, it seems there is something the Spirit of God is communicating to me beyond what is obvious. I recognize this. I am slowing down, paying closer attention to the details of my day and trying to be hypersensitive to the whispers of God as we enter this season of surrender, turning, and transformation.
A metaphor has emerged that seems to fit with and explain many of the “words” God is speaking to me through my Bible reading and through my meditations. I believe this metaphor is “the land.” I do not know the full extent of the metaphor’s application just yet, but there are several areas of my life that are quite relevant. Some of these I have identified are my health, God’s plans for my future in ministry—what it will be and where it will be, and my present relationships beginning with the Holy Trinity, extending to my wife, my children, my friends, and the community circles of which I am part that continue from there. I’m not sure how I would describe my sense of knowing this… call it intuition, discernment, or whatever, but I am convinced this latest adventure will be a time well-spent with God and I’m fairly certain He will make some things known to me that I have been wondering about for several years now. We will see what those things will be.
If you’ve followed the blog for the past week you will have noticed that talk about the “land” has been prominent. Today, from my first reading in the Psalms, I heard God speaking to me the following:
“3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD and he will act. 7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; 9Those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:3-5, 7, 9)
Also, while reading this psalm, I noticed that within the framework of these verses, the psalmist instructs the hearer to “Do not fret” (verses 1, 7, and 8). Between these words of encouragement about “inheriting and inhabiting the land” and partnering with God in the process, I hear God telling me not to over think or obsess during this process of discernment. My part in this collaboration with God will become evident in due time; for now, I am to remain faithful and obedient to opportunities in the moment while remaining focused on Him and attentive however and wherever He speaks. I will pay close attention to how I listen.
Cautions
Confidence and resolve are good things, but as I continued my reading and meditation today, a couple of warnings became evident to me. The first came to me through my reading in the Book of Deuteronomy and it too was part of the land metaphor. God, speaking through Moses, is warning the people of Israel about the hazards of entering into the new land they were about to occupy. He tells them; “Take care or you will be seduced into turning away, serving other gods and worshiping them” (Deut. 11:16). The applications of this might cover several areas, but the primary intent for me is clear: Stay focused on Jesus. Listen intently for his voice and follow closely. Distractions abound. It is easy to get tired and weakened…the easy path and shortcuts can be alluring. It is important to keep my primary relationship (with God) vibrant and healthy—this includes my mind, my spirit, my soul, and my physical strength or my health.
The second word came to me from the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus. He writes the following:
“To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions.” (Titus 1:15-16)
I hear two applications that I should heed in this caution; the first is to me. I should be ever conscious that I am being faithful to the knowledge that God has given to me. As God reveals himself and his path to me, it is critical that I obey as quickly as I am aware. Stubbornness, distrust, disobedience, and unbelief will shipwreck my faith quicker than any attack from Satan. My actions should always align with my knowledge of God. The second thing I hear is a warning to be discerning about the people I meet and the company I keep. There is no reason to be obnoxious about this second warning, but it is very important.
Beginning the Journey
Will Willimon reminds us that the introduction to Christ begins with John the Baptist in the Gospels. John is not the Christ. John is the one who gets us ready or prepared for the Christ. How does he do this? John calls for us to recognize our sinfulness and selfish attitudes; he calls for you and me to repent, turn, change our ways—be washed (baptized, cleansed, purified)—symbolically “dying” to self and becoming raised and reborn in Christ. What is our lesson here? I believe that we are being taught that we cannot begin any Journey with Jesus without a preparation of repentance. This was the purpose of John the Baptist…who was sent by God—to prepare us for our Journey with Jesus with a baptism of repentance first.
“The soul can become entangled with bad little habits. We never completely conquer them. We become attached to certain clothes, a book, a specific food, gossip, or a desire for any number of things. Any of these little imperfections can stand in the way of spiritual progress.” John of the Cross
About Repentance
Repentance is turning—turning from my way and returning to the Way of God—following His ordinances and precepts. I think the act of turning toward God is a good thing, but it might be an even better thing if our turning is bit more intentional. What I mean is this; 40-days is a long time to be focused on something that I might not be sure of. It can be helpful to reflect on the choices I have made that have been responsible for pulling me or distracting from my path of devotion to God. Perhaps spending some time considering and recalling those distractions and naming them might be a helpful exercise for me. This exercise can make me aware of the “triggers” that grab my attention and steal it from holy devotion. Knowing these triggers and being mindful of them can be helpful in remaining surrendered to Jesus as we walk together for these next 40-days.
St. Benedict of Nursia instructs us through his Rule; “First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to God most earnestly to bring it to perfection.” So we pray…
Faithful God, trusting in you, we begin the forty days of conversion and penance. Give us the strength for Christian discipline, that we may renounce evil and be decisive in doing good. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Posted in Lent, Lent 2013, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | 
Tags: Discipleship, Jesus, John the Baptist, Lent, Lent 2013, Repentance, The Liturgical Year | 
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[19APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[19APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 5
Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:22-32, 47:27-31; Exodus 13:17-22
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God…”
Something that has occurred to me as I’ve studied and meditated on the idea of repentance is that it isn’t just a “change” or “turn.” Repentance is also “on the move.” If all we do is turn and stay where we are, we’ll end up with our “bones scattered over the desert” and never arrive at the destination of our journey (see again from Wk. 1-Day 2. Hebrews 3:1-19). In fact, if we’re not moving, we’ll never have journeyed at all.
While I might be stretching the metaphor a teeny bit, I think we can see this moving repentance in the lives of some of the patriarchs of our faith. Abraham was one of the first fathers of our faith we encounter and see moved by their repentance; Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all followed their fathers and grandfathers in this moving experience. With each of these examples, we see men who are moved… their minds are changed and their directions reoriented so they are always on the move. Abraham had been given a promise—a destination which he never fully realized, but he trusted God and he allowed God to continue moving him…literally, living as a nomad in a land that was not fully his own, but also moving closer to the presence and image of God as he matured spiritually. Isaac, son of Abraham, appears to have followed the lifestyle of his father as he and his family also moved under the influence and guiding hand of God. The life of Jacob provides us with a clearer picture of what personal repentance looks like and the ultimate effect it has on a person who remains submitted and surrendered to God. Jacob, born with the name “deceiver” comes face-to-face with God. During the course of this epic wrestling match, Jacob is changed and given a new name, Israel (means God fights). The rest of Jacob’s life is spent in surrender to the will and way of God…with the visible evidence of this surrender seen in a limp he obtained from a busted hip when he wrestled with God. Other evidence of Jacob’s surrender is seen through his humility and obedience to God. When Jacob “turned” he “changed” and was “on the move” for the remainder of his life…on the move from place to place physically and also spiritually as God revealed more of Himself to Israel.
Repentance isn’t static and it doesn’t come with tent stakes. With a change of heart, mind, and direction comes new destination coordinates. While the destination may seem the ultimate goal, it is the journey of transformation that fuels us onward and upward; thus, it too becomes part of and just as important as the ultimate goal. The journey is often as important as the destination. Jacob and Joseph knew this and it is the reason they made their sons promise not to leave their bones in Egypt. Four hundred and seventy years later, their bones were delivered into the Promised Land. Repentance: it changes us, turns us and reorients our direction, and ultimately moves us into God’s promises. Are you moving closer to God? Is your repentance more static or more moving? How would you describe your journey of change?
Our Prayer Lord, I admit that sometimes when we have “wrestled” and I have surrendered to You, I’ve felt that is the extent of my responsibility. I haven’t realized I needed to move, and part of my submission and repentance included moving or ongoing transformation. I prefer the relaxed feeling that comes with “arriving.” I know now that I need to keep moving…with You and closer to You until you bring me to the place You want me to be. Amen.
[18APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[18APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 4
Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 33:1-20 (for comparison—also 2 Kings 21:1-18)
“But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him…”
Manasseh was a very bad man. Really bad…unadulterated evil kind of bad. Part of the narrative of Manasseh’s life reads as follows: “But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the LORD had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.” (2 Chronicles 33:9)
Based on the list of things Manasseh did, I’m not sure there is a greater degree of evil a person can attain; he pretty much covered every detestable act a person could conceive. Yes, Manasseh was a very wicked man and I emphasize this for a reason. Personally, I haven’t committed the atrocities of Manasseh, but there are numerous choices I have made and things I have done which I regret. Some of these things, I wondered at the time if God would forgive me of them…or if He would forgive me, how long it might be before I received complete absolution or what I might have to do to get my sins absolved. It is for this reason that stories like Manasseh’s bring me great hope.
The story reveals the great wickedness of Manasseh and goes on to tell us “the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people but they ignored all his warnings” (2 Chr 33:10). At this point, God was fed up with Manasseh’s evil ways and sent the Assyrian armies in to take him captive. That is what happened and Manasseh ended up in a Babylonian prison. It was here that Manasseh became despondent, “deeply distressed” the Bible says, and he “sought the LORD” and “humbled himself greatly before Him” (2 Chr 33:12). Here we are witness to the humility that comes with repentance, but Manasseh’s “change of heart” didn’t begin and end with this act of humility and contrition. The story continues with “the LORD listening to Manasseh and becoming moved by his request.” Manasseh was returned to Jerusalem where he initiated changes to clean house and restore the kingdom as a people under the LORD alone.
There were still repercussions for the wickedness of Manasseh’s actions prior to his repentance just as there are repercussions for the choices we make outside of God’s designs. If I am completely transparent, there are still elements of my past that bring me regret, but my regret is overshadowed by the joy I have received since offering my heart to God through my own repentance. And, I suppose, this is the most important aspect of this story to me. Not only has it given me hope, but whether great or small, I have experienced the same forgiveness and heart-cleansing for my sins as Manasseh did for his.
Have you ever thought there are things in your life that God could not or would not forgive? Have you ever hesitated asking God’s forgiveness because of your doubt? Do you ever feel like it’s futile to “change your mind and turn back to God” because of the things you have done?
Our Prayer: Father God, thank you for the great forgiveness you extend to those with repentant hearts. Sometimes I have thought my sins too big, my wickedness too great, and distance between us too far for me to turn back. I see now this is not true. I see that you are sensitive to the humble heart. I offer my heart and the sins I have held back from you today and ask you to cleanse me and help me to make the changes in my life that need to be made as I turn back to you.
[17APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[17APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 3
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8-9, Deuteronomy 30:1-10
“The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.”
When I read and consider these passages of Scripture this morning, I have several thoughts and mental pictures come to mind. The first thing that pops into my head are memories of me as a kid. My mom and dad didn’t buy a lot of junk food snacks when my sisters and I were growing up. The main reason wasn’t their poor nutritional value, but that we would gorge ourselves on a whole box of Ding-Dongs as soon as they’d come in. Mom would surprise us with these chocolatey crème-filled goodies and say, “Don’t eat them all!” She’d even hide them sometimes. She knew what we’d do as soon as she turned her back. I hate to admit it, but when confronted about eating a whole box of Ding-Dongs, I’d sit there…chocolate in teeth and deny having eaten them.
These passages remind me of this childhood memory because of the way God speaks to His people.
1 ”In the future, when you experience all these blessings and curses I have listed for you, and when you are living among the nations to which the LORD your God has exiled you, take to heart all these instructions. 2 If at that time you and your children return to the LORD your God…” Deut. 30:1-2 (see also Deut. 6:10-12)
God knew the fickleness of people’s faith and obedience… Just like my mom knew what I would do when she turned her back. Even worse than our propensity to be disobedient when given the opportunity, especially when we think someone isn’t watching, is our attempt to deceive ourselves in the process.
Isaiah 29 – 13 And so the Lord says, ”These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me
Matthew 15 – 8 ”These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 Their worship is a farce…”
I suppose one of my takeaways from today’s reading is a “discomforting comfort” in the knowledge that God knows me…even better than my mom knows me. God knowing me, and knowing I’m likely going to fail Him doesn’t turn Him away from me. Quite the contrary, He provides me with hope and encourages me to repent, change my mind, and turn back to Him. If I will do this (read all of Deut. 30:1-10), He will restore me AND “delight in me”…but it begins with a change of mind and a turn back to Him.
Our Prayer: Lord God, You know me. You know I am prone to failure and turning away from You. Yet, You love me still. Your call to me is to “Repent, and come back.” Lord help me and save me from my desires to wander and stray. Help my ears hear Your call to “come back.” Today I recognize my words don’t always reflect my actions. I say I love you, but I don’t always put You first. Today I say I’m sorry and make my first steps back to You.
[16APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[16APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 2
Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:1-16
“The beginning of the pride of man is to fall away from God… Original sin is common to all, regardless of the personal sins of each other.” Augustine
We can only speculate why God accepted the gift of Abel, but not that of Cain; we don’t have enough information, but I assume there might have been something about the nature of the gift and the attitude in which it was given to God. In any event, the account continues and tells us that Abel and his gift were accepted, but Cain was not accepted nor was his gift…this put Cain in a mood—“This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.”
Now, one thing I find very interesting and encouraging, Cain is not disregarded by God. God responds to Cain as a Father or so it seems. The act of God rejecting Cain’s offering provides for a teachable moment. I think this might just be our first lesson in repentance. While there may be several lessons in this passage of Scripture, I believe one of the main points of this event between Cain and God is about repentance.
Picking up with the account, Abel is accepted and Cain is not, but God doesn’t leave Cain hanging. God loves Cain and engages him in conversation; “Why are you angry, Cain? Why do you look so dejected?” I can see Cain in my mind’s eye, pouting with angry eyes…biting his lip and refusing to answer God’s questions. As God sees the bitterness and resentment of Cain’s heart, he continues; “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Cain turns and storms off, refusing to acknowledge God’s words, refusing to “change his mind” or repent. Ultimately, he rejects God’s instruction as the loving lesson and discipline that it was meant to be.
There is a lot here to talk about, but what really catches my attention is God’s instruction and exhortation to Cain to “subdue sin and become its master.” I think the key to this might be found in the act of a repentant heart. Here God tells Cain thousands of years before Jesus to “subdue sin and become its master.” I am encouraged… if God told Cain he could master sin…and if I have the overcoming power of Jesus Christ dwelling within me, well there should be no stopping me from becoming the master over any sin in my life. I believe this because it is God Himself who has said it, but it doesn’t just happen. It begins with repentance: a change of heart, a change of mind, a change of attitude, and a change in direction. Then, with God as our guide and empowering leader, we can subdue sin and become its master.
Our Prayer: Almighty Father, You are the One who tells us we will be accepted if we do what is right. Help us in our endeavor to walk with You, to be sensitive and tender of heart, willing to change, willing to do what is right. Lord reveal our rebellious attitudes and show us the places in our heart that stand in opposition to You, so we might repent…change our mind and do what is right. We desire to be found acceptable and pleasing in Your sight. May it be so; to Your glory and for Your Kingdom sake. Amen.
[15APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[15APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 1
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-15
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. ”The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Today we transition our focus to a new week and theme centered on the idea of repentance. I don’t know if everyone has had the same experience as I have, but for many years of my life I had an inaccurate understanding of what repentance meant. Because of my misunderstanding, not only did my faith flounder, but the overall experience of my Christian journey was rather miserable. Fortunately, a few years back I went through a series of studies that helped me get a more accurate view of what repentance involves. Now, my experience as a disciple of Jesus is much more life-giving.
In the circles I have traveled, the word “repent” has been one of those words used almost exclusively in the world of Christian faith. I don’t think I can recall a time or place I have heard it used otherwise. My previous understanding of repent or repentance was based on context clues of how the word was used. The resulting definition I came up with was that it meant for me to feel bad about the things I did that God didn’t like. The seemingly appropriate and accompanying action to this feeling was for me to tell God I was sorry and ask Him to forgive me. Most of the Christians I hung out with and went to church with pretty much believed or supported the same idea or so it seemed that way to me.
The problem I began to realize about this way of understanding repentance is that it didn’t change my life much, it just made me feel bad about my life most of the time. It seemed I was forever feeling bad about myself and always asking God to forgive me for doing things He didn’t like… until I realized my view of repentance was all wrong.
What I learned about repentance is this; it meant much more than feeling bad about the things I did. I found out the actual definition meant for me to “change my mind.” The resulting action of “changing my mind” would be to do things differently or to “turn” and live my life by “moving” in a new direction. Maybe this is a no-brainer, but it was like the light bulb turned on in my head. As I began making conscious decisions about the choices and direction of my life, choosing to follow the way of Jesus instead of the “way of me,” my Christian experience began to be a more positive experience. The perfect love of God began to cast out my fear… guilt and shame went with it.
Have you always had a “right” view of repentance? Do you struggle with choices and direction in your life that leave you with feelings of guilt, shame, and fear?
Our Prayer: Jesus, you told us to “repent” and “believe,” but at times I have struggled with both. I have failed to fully understand repentance and my ability to follow you whole-heartedly has suffered because of it. I pray You will help me to “change my mind” about the choices I make that do not take me in Your direction. It is my desire to learn to love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I know repentance is a big part of my ability to succeed in this desire. Amen.
Lent 2012: Day 30—Reflection
[22MAR2012] Lent 2012: Day 30—Reflection and Meditation
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought. Sheltering God,, we pour out our hearts before you, because you are a refuge for us.“
As I live, says the LORD God, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather in their conversion, that they may live.
For the past couple weeks I have been studying and reflecting over the work of God in our lives… trying to understand the vast and deep brokenness that eats at the nature of humanity. Subsequent to that idea comes the heart change that is repentance. When I consider how broken and rebellious that man is, I am amazed at the grace and love of God that is directed toward and poured out upon mankind. It matters not that man, at his core, despises God and has nothing but wicked thoughts and deeds toward Him…God Almighty, the Loving Father, loves that rebellious and wicked man anyway.
Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Do not be like your wicked ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil way and from your evil deeds.” But they did not hear or heed me, says the LORD. Zechariah 1:3-4
Repent and turn away from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions you have committed against me, andget yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the LORD God. Turn, then, and live. Ezekiel 18:30-32
Amazing. Absolutely. Utterly. Amazing.
Posted in Bible Speak, Lent, Lent 2012, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Lent, Lent 2012, Repentance, The Liturgical Year | No Comments »
Scripture Meditation: Chronicle Lessons (Pt. 3 – Final)
Chronicle Lessons (Part 3: The Wrap-Up)
- Chronicle Lessons: (Part 1)
- Chronicle Lessons: (Part 2)
Lessons Learned…
What are my takeaways from these passages from Chronicles (2 Chronicles 23-26)?
- God’s Spirit calls us to repentance. In this calling or “wooing” we often feel bad, or guilty, or convicted of our separation from God. We must remember; however, that these “feelings” of separation and conviction of guilt are not repentance in themselves…they help us to be aware of our need for repentance. What we need is not to treat the feeling, but to address the problem that has resulted in the conviction of guilt and separation. We need to turn away from ourselves and turn toward God…
- Repentance brings with it a need for radical reformation. If we are going to repent and not merely go through the motions of repentance (typically expressed by showing remorse for our actions, but never truly turning toward God), we must initiate radical reformation in our life. We can’t make the mistake of confusing this action step for “works of the Law.” Too often we fall to the Accuser’s deceptive lies that action on our part in our role and partnership of our salvation as “working for our salvation.” Do not be deceived; salvation is a work of grace alone by the hand of God… However, we do play a part in His work of grace. We participate as partners and friends of God in the sanctifying work of our salvation. Radical reformation means removal of the things from our lives that would trip us up in that work of sanctification and perfecting of our faith, and more often than not, we are the ones to initiate these. God the Holy Spirit will reveal the areas in need of reforming, but most often, we are the ones to initiate the steps to reform. This is the partnership. Radical reformation means determined turning away from any lure that would call us to the path of our former self. Another point to remember about radical reformation is this; radical reformation is not “one size fits all.” What this means is that an act of radical reformation for my journey and my life might not be necessary for someone else. Yes, there might be some areas of overlap… and common sense might reveal some of these. The important thing to remember is that I cannot assume my acts of reformation are the prescription of reformation for anyone else.
- Every believer and follower of Jesus might not be called to be a leader of people, but every believer and follower of Jesus is called to be a leader of themselves. In as much as this is true (and it is), what it means is that you will be called to invest all of yourself into the ministry of reforming yourself into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who affect this transformation in the life of the believer, but it is our wholehearted submission and availing of ourselves that allow that transformation to take place. A “half-hearted” effort in developing a living and sanctifying relationship with Jesus Christ will result in repeated failure at best and ultimate destruction at worst; neither of these scenarios are especially enticing. God has provided every means for us to successfully live and progress in our relationship with Him. We are admonished and exhorted to follow the ancient paths, but so many “christians” (at least the majority I have met) are unwilling to go this route. The route of sanctification is a life-long, joyfully difficult process. Most people in our contemporary society want or expect their process with spiritual formation and Christian perfection to be a “7 step 90 day program.” Nope. Doesn’t work like that. How it works is total submission and wholehearted obedience in every single area of our life. Whole-hearted.
- Spiritual Pride is a notorious and nefarious killer of Christians. The very worst thing about spiritual pride is how often the person most deeply afflicted by it is unaware of their affliction. Because spiritual formation and sanctification is a life-long process, a person making progress in their spiritual walk is extremely susceptible to the trapping and tripping of spiritual pride. A new (or old for that matter) Christian begins to advance in their walk with Jesus…they begin to see some progress and fruit from their efforts; perhaps the new Christian begins to be praised for their spiritual acumen and some of the victories they’ve experienced over sin-strongholds in their life. This is the perfect breeding ground for the seeds of spiritual pride to take root. We see examples of spiritual pride throughout Scripture; it was one of the things Jesus spoke most harshly about in the gospels. As mentioned in my takeaway about “wholehearted devotion,” godly community and spiritual disciplines play an important role in helping us live humble and spiritual pride-free lives.
“Preserve your church, O God, not only from renunciation or neglect of faith but also from a tepid faith that calls forth from others contempt rather than conversion. Amen.”
As I’ve been learning and re-learning these lessons from 2 Chronicles, I’ve been paralleling my reading with Scripture from the New Testament (The Gospels, Epistles, and The Revelation). I wish to share some of the elements of these readings that seemed to lend emphasis to the lessons learned from Chronicles.
- Revelation 19:7 –“…And His Bride has prepared herself.” Are we? Are we preparing ourselves? (see more here)
- Revelation 19:10 –“The essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” Question: Are we, as followers of Christ, living “prophetically?” Is our witness a clear testimony of the power of Jesus in our lives?
- Revelation 20:1-6 –“There is a second death, and it is forever (eternal).” We don’t like to think about this; neither believers nor unbelievers like to confront this truth, but this is what Scripture teaches. Eternal separation from God is a reality and the choices we make today in the light of eternity will determine which eternity is ours.
- Matthew 16:21-28 –“Beware of thinking with the mind of man…” Reformation of the soul cannot come without radical reformation on the heels of true repentance.
- Revelation 22:11 –“Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.” Probably one of the most disturbing passages of Scripture (to me) in the New Testament. Here is a word of instruction to let wicked evil doers alone. We would want to attribute this statement to the most vile of persons; however, I contend that anyone serving themselves more than God is one who is doing harm and one who is vile… There are many “tares” growing “among” the wheat. “Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie” (Revelation 22:15). The question begs asking… “Are you living a lie, or are you wholehearted…?”
St. Athanasius wrote; “The Lord calls His ransomed peoples to sing songs of victory…” The lyrics to this song are told and sung most victoriously by the actions of our lives.
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” ~~Psalm 100
Posted in Becoming the Word, Bible Journey-Reading, Bible Speak, Daily Meds, Meditations | Tags: 2 Chronicles, Chronicles, Discipleship, Jesus, Meditations, Repentance, Scripture | No Comments »
Scripture Meditation: Chronicle Lessons (Pt. 2)
Chronicle Lessons: (Part 2)
See the first installment of this meditation here Chronicle Lessons: (Part 1)
In part one of this meditation I was reflecting on the evidence of true repentance (turning from self and turning to God… turning from sin and dark destruction to begin living in light and life). I recognized in almost every instance of true repentance, there was evidence of radical reformation. This reformation usually took on significant changes in the person or society’s way of living. There was no mistaking that something life-changing had taken place.
True Repentance = Radical Reformation
Another point that I noticed is how quickly even the reformed and repentant soul can be deceived, distracted, and diverted. We witness this in the life of young king Joash as told from chapter twenty three and twenty four of Second Chronicles.
Today, I wish to examine more examples of repentance and radical reformation.
2 Chronicles 25
It is my contention that Christians get into the most trouble in their Christian journey because of the human desire to “coast” or rest. We work hard for a season and build up a lead in whatever it is we do (our faith and/or religion is not exempt from this tendency) and then we shift in to relaxo-cruisiematic mode for a while. The problem with this, especially as it affects our faith, is that we will often drift into complacency. I think no one is exempt or immune from this syndrome or phenomenon.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
One of the earliest and most important commandments that God has given us is to put Him first in everything and all that we do. Jesus said that we must love him more than our own families and our own life (Luke 14:25-35). Far too many people are inclined to believe that we can follow the precepts of God without engaging our whole heart. I won’t go as far as saying, “impossible,” but I will emphasize that Scripture teaches the possibility is most unlikely. Take for instance, king Amaziah, the son of Joash, and what 2 Chronicles tells us.
“…Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, but not wholeheartedly.” (2 Chronicles 25:2)
But, it says that Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight… just not wholeheartedly. At first glance this seems that it could indicate that it might be okay to live this way, and it still be “pleasing to God.” However, closer inspection and continued reading of the story reveal to us that “not wholeheartedly” was the beginning of the downward spiral that lead to the ultimate destruction of Amaziah. Not Wholeheartedly almost enticed him into compromising the armies of his command to fight with the idolatrous armies of Israel. The prophet (man of God) advised him on this occasion that to join forces with Israel would mean the destruction of Judah:
7 But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.” (2 Chron. 25:7-8)
In the end, not wholeheartedly met its fate in Amaziah as he not only failed to listen to the instructions from God (prophets sent to him by God), but followed the desires of his own pride and leading an entire nation to destruction (2 Chronicles 25:16-27).
2 Chronicles 26
Living a life that is pleasing to God, but Not Wholeheartedly is not the only danger we must be on the lookout for. A second insidious danger is the evil of spiritual pride. King Uzziah followed Amaziah as Judah’s leader. The chronicles tell us that Uzziah followed after his father Amaziah and “did right in the eyes of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 26:4). We are also told that as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success… (2 Chronicles 26:5).
There are two things I notice; (1) he did just as his father Amaziah had done; which leads me to believe he didn’t do things wholeheartedly either (2) As long as he sought the LORD, implies that he might not have always sought guidance from the LORD. We shall see if these observations prove themselves true.
“He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success” (2 Chronicles 26:5).
The chronicle of Uzziah’s reign tells us of his great accomplishments as a leader, builder, reformer, and king. There were not any mentions of weakness in Uzziah until… “His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful” (2 Chronicles 26:15). “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:15). The remainder of Uzziah’s story doesn’t get any better. His arrogance led him to act out and behave in a way that resulted in his being separated from his entire kingdom for the remainder of his life. He was forced to live in isolation and was forever banned from the temple of the LORD (2 Chronicles 26:20-21).
Tomorrow — Part 3: Lessons Learned and Wrap-Up
Posted in Bible Journey-Reading, Bible Speak, Daily Meds, Meditations | Tags: 2 Chronicles, Chronicles, Discipleship, Jesus, Meditations, Repentance, Scripture | 1 Comment »
Scripture Meditation: Chronicle Lessons (Pt. 1)
Chronicle Lessons: (Part 1)
I’ve been reading from Chronicles the last week or so and giving some considerable thought to what I’ve been “hearing” from those Scripture passages (as well as others) during this time of my blogging silence for the past two weeks. So, anyway… What about Chronicles?
The groundwork for my reading was somewhat prepared from the time I had spent earlier in Nehemiah (see here). What stuck with me about this passage (Nehemiah 13:1-30) was the repentant hearts of the people. Actually, what followed the repentance of the people is what was so striking to me… their radical reformation. They initiated some very significant changes in the way they did life. So, yeah, this reading and meditation had set a foundation before I entered into my readings from Chronicles.
Radical Reformation follows Repentance
I might be the only one, but the word repentance seems to have lost some of its meaning when used in our contemporary vernacular. At my first glance, when I use the word repentant or repent, I most often think of an apology or some attitude or emotion that projects a feeling that “I’m sorry.” And, in a very minor sense of the word and its use in the Bible, particularly a minor part of the Old Testament (Nacham: 100 uses) it does mean feeling sorry or consoling oneself. But, in the bigger picture (Shuwb: over 1,000 uses) and the more important role, repentance is not “feeling sorry” nor does it mean being apologetic. It (repentance) might bring with it the need to apologize for an action or attitude of heart, but that is not what it is or what it means.
Repentance means to change one’s mind or purpose. It conveys a change of heart and attitude. In the New Testament Scriptures, the implied meaning of repentance is even more specific. Most commonly, it infers not only a change of mind from a previous life direction (sin), but with this turning away from sin the one repenting actually turns to God. And this, conveys an entirely different understanding compared to merely feeling sorry about one’s actions and thinking that “I’ll try to do better next time.”
I am the one who searches minds and hearts … ~~Jesus (Revelation 2:23)
True repentance is the only way to life. We cannot know new life in Christ without turning to Him… and this is exactly what repentance is: turning away from ourselves and turning to Christ.
“Search me O God, and know my heart: test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting…” Psalm 139:23-24
2 Chronicles 23:1-21 (A Sign of Repentance)
In this story from Chronicles we see a nation, sparked by repentance, to turn back to God. In the wake of this repentance came radical reformation. There were visible and indisputable changes that marked the turn from sin to changed hearts following God.
“I will listen to what the LORD, God Almighty, will say; He promises peace to his people, His saint—but let them not return to folly.” Psalm 85:8
We see in the next chapter of Chronicles (twenty-four) how quickly the repentant heart can turn from God and return back to following its own way. Young king Joash, as long as he had godly counsel (Jehoiada the Priest who had been the catalyst for repentance in chapter 23), followed the ways of God and did right in His eyes. Here we learn that accountability and godly guidance/wisdom are good things (2 Chronicles 24:2). We also learn that “yes men” and “ego-boosting friends” are not good (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). In the midst of our pending rebellion, God is often merciful and will take measures to call us back to himself (2 Chronicles 24:19-20). Sadly, judgment, repercussion, and consequence looms near and is certain if we fail to heed God’s call to return to Him (2 Chronicles 24:23-25)
“You faithless and corrupt people… How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? ~~ Jesus (Matthew 17:17)
“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-24
More tomorrow with Part 2…
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