If and when we sin, God's Word promises us in 1 John 1:9 that God is faithful to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we will confess our sins. As Christians we all know that but sometimes it can be difficult to understand why God would choose to forgive us when we really blow it. I'm sure you know what I mean - when we do something we are really ashamed of. One of the great things about God is that He forgives us for His sake! It's not about whether or not we are really worthy of His forgiveness (although we are because Jesus made us worthy!!!). It's about God loving us and desiring a relationship with us so much that He is willing to forgive us for His own sake. The proof is in God's Word. 1 John 2:12b reads, "your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." and Isaiah 43:25 reads, "I, even I, am He who blots our your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."
King David really understood the heart of God. After sinning with Bathsheba and then committing murder, he repents and it is recorded in Psalm 51. He asks God to forgive him and to restore joy to him. Verse 13 says, "Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You." David knew he would be forgiven and he knew God would continue to use him.
After Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, he gave up a lot to follow Christ. In Philippians 3, he talks about all the things he used to put his hope in but he realized it was all meaningless. He suffered the loss of many things in order "that I may know Him" (Phil. 3:10a). Paul had been doing things out of obligation to the law but he realized that the real prize was in knowing Christ. It is possible and desirable to have a real relationship with Him. We don't have to just know about Him or know of Him, but we can really know Him. Paul goes on to say in verses 12-14, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Let's not let our past failures hold us back from knowing Christ and serving Him; but let's forget those things which are behind us and Press On!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Press On (part two)
Our Ladies Bible Study Class this week was pretty exciting! We began the second part of our lesson, Press On, discussing whether or not God is ever ashamed of us. Luke 9:26 tells us that if we are ashamed of Jesus then He will be ashamed of us. He is not ashamed of our occasional bad behavior. What a relief! He is, however, ashamed of us if we are ashamed of Him. We discussed ways we show we are ashamed of Him. Should we share the Gospel with someone who is of another religion? What about tolerance? What about respect? I could not think of an example in Scripture when Jesus or His disciples did not share the Gospel out of respect for someone's belief. We determined that since there is only one way to heaven and that is through faith in Jesus Christ we must share our faith with others because souls are at stake. We must, however, share our faith in love out of a genuine concern for others.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Press On (part one)
Last Wednesday night, I was inspired by something Denise said. She spoke about how we should allow God to use our sin and weaknesses to help others not fall into the same pit we have fallen into. Yet, so many times, instead of allowing God to use our experiences to help others, we use them as excuses as to why God could never use us. We don't feel worthy. Our past is too shameful. I think, many times, we do want to be used of God to make a real difference in His kingdom, but we feel too ashamed of our behavior.
I have chosen two examples in scripture to examine; King David in the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament. II Samuel 11:1-5 says, "It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ''Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, 'I am with child.' Scripture goes on to tell us that in order for David to cover up his sin, he tried in various ways to get her husband to go home from battle so he would think the child was his, but Uriah had too much honor so David had her husband killed. Sin really snowballed here. First, David should have been with his men in battle but he chose to stay home. He watched a woman bathe, he slept with her in spite of her not being his wife and was, in fact, another man's wife and he intentionally had her husband killed in battle in order to cover up his sin. All of this from a man who loved and feared God. There are accounts in scripture of his tremendous love for God and yet we see what he was capable of doing.
As for Paul, scripture tells us in Acts 9:1-2, "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring the bound to Jerusalem." And, Philippians 3:4-7 tells us, "though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." Paul's sins were in persecuting the church and having confidence in the flesh and not in God.
What is so fascinating in both of these accounts and many others in Scripture is that they are recorded for all of us to read and learn. God openly tells of the sins of these people and then uses them in astounding ways! He does not seem to be ashamed or embarrassed of their behavior. As parents or leaders in various aspects of our lives, we think that the behavior of others reflects on our parenting/leadership skills. But, this is one way God shows His sovereignty. Our behavior does not make Him any less than He is. God does not have the self-esteem issues that many of us face! He does chastise and discipline us when we sin and, in fact, the child Bathsheba was carrying in the story we just read dies.
Next week, we find out if God is ever ashamed of us, what happens when we sin and then repent and how do we triumph in the midst of our weaknesses.
I have chosen two examples in scripture to examine; King David in the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament. II Samuel 11:1-5 says, "It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ''Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, 'I am with child.' Scripture goes on to tell us that in order for David to cover up his sin, he tried in various ways to get her husband to go home from battle so he would think the child was his, but Uriah had too much honor so David had her husband killed. Sin really snowballed here. First, David should have been with his men in battle but he chose to stay home. He watched a woman bathe, he slept with her in spite of her not being his wife and was, in fact, another man's wife and he intentionally had her husband killed in battle in order to cover up his sin. All of this from a man who loved and feared God. There are accounts in scripture of his tremendous love for God and yet we see what he was capable of doing.
As for Paul, scripture tells us in Acts 9:1-2, "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring the bound to Jerusalem." And, Philippians 3:4-7 tells us, "though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." Paul's sins were in persecuting the church and having confidence in the flesh and not in God.
What is so fascinating in both of these accounts and many others in Scripture is that they are recorded for all of us to read and learn. God openly tells of the sins of these people and then uses them in astounding ways! He does not seem to be ashamed or embarrassed of their behavior. As parents or leaders in various aspects of our lives, we think that the behavior of others reflects on our parenting/leadership skills. But, this is one way God shows His sovereignty. Our behavior does not make Him any less than He is. God does not have the self-esteem issues that many of us face! He does chastise and discipline us when we sin and, in fact, the child Bathsheba was carrying in the story we just read dies.
Next week, we find out if God is ever ashamed of us, what happens when we sin and then repent and how do we triumph in the midst of our weaknesses.
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