"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble" (Psa 107:2).
Some wandered in the desert. Hungry and thirsty. They cried unto the LORD and He led them to a city. He satisfied their longing souls and filled their hungry souls with good things (v 4-9).
Some sat in darkness, imprisoned because of their rebellion to God. He brought affliction on them. When they cried to Him, He set them free (v 10-16).
Some were fools because of sinful choices. They suffered because of their sins. When they cried to the LORD, He delivered and healed them (v 17-22).
Some were caught up in their business and saw God's power in the waves. They lost control of everything. Their courage melted away. They were at their wits' end. When they called on Him, He calmed the sea (v 23-32).
No matter the circumstances or the trials that the LORD brings, He will deliver those who call upon Him.
So where are you right now?
Wandering about aimlessly. Knowing that there must be something better. Longing for something to fill the emptiness in your life.
Turned your back on God. Had enough of that church stuff. Been hurt by too much religion. Decided to go your own way.
Sitting in a jail cell, because you broke the law. Lying in a hospital bed because of the abuses you've put your body through. At home alone because you've driven friends and family away with your anger.
Busy with your career. Wondering if you'll survive the next downturn. Lost your job. Seeing the bank account dry up. Lost your home.
Little hope left. Hanging on to the end of the rope. Thinking of wrapping it around your neck.
Read Psalm 107.
It recounts people in the same place as you are and what they did about it.
They called out to God.
He helped them. He rescued them. He delivered them. He satisfied them.
And their response?
Tell everyone about it.
So if you're one of those "redeemed of the LORD," shout it out! Tell everyone about the greatness of God and how He changed you.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
"But He was God!"
Have you ever heard that argument?
Have you ever used it for an excuse?
"Of course, Jesus never sinned. He was God! I'm not God, so what can you expect?"
"How can He really understand my struggles with temptation? He was God!"
Have you ever thought that by using that excuse you are actually denying the humanity of Christ?
We can't really understand it, but the Bible teaches that Jesus was 100% deity and 100% humanity at the same time. (It's called the hypostatic union for all you theological nerds out there. Not that that helps us understand it any better!)
Jesus never gave up being fully God, while at the same time He was fully human.
"So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man" (Westminster Confession).
His physical growth was real. His physical pain was real.
The temptation to turn rocks to bread was real - He was hungry and He could do it.
The temptation to take the kingdoms of the world without suffering was real - He was going to inherit them anyway, why go through the physical pain of death?
In His agony, He sweat real drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He plead with the Father, "If possible, take this cup from Me."
"For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
Yes, Jesus was God. Yes, Jesus was man.
Yes, Jesus was tempted. Yes, Jesus did not give in to temptation.
Because of that, He can help us when we are tempted.
When we use the excuse, "But He was God," we are cutting off the help that we so desperately need.
(Summarized from Sexual Sanity for Men by David White, p 190).
Have you ever used it for an excuse?
"Of course, Jesus never sinned. He was God! I'm not God, so what can you expect?"
"How can He really understand my struggles with temptation? He was God!"
Have you ever thought that by using that excuse you are actually denying the humanity of Christ?
We can't really understand it, but the Bible teaches that Jesus was 100% deity and 100% humanity at the same time. (It's called the hypostatic union for all you theological nerds out there. Not that that helps us understand it any better!)
Jesus never gave up being fully God, while at the same time He was fully human.
"So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man" (Westminster Confession).
His physical growth was real. His physical pain was real.
The temptation to turn rocks to bread was real - He was hungry and He could do it.
The temptation to take the kingdoms of the world without suffering was real - He was going to inherit them anyway, why go through the physical pain of death?
In His agony, He sweat real drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He plead with the Father, "If possible, take this cup from Me."
"For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
Yes, Jesus was God. Yes, Jesus was man.
Yes, Jesus was tempted. Yes, Jesus did not give in to temptation.
Because of that, He can help us when we are tempted.
When we use the excuse, "But He was God," we are cutting off the help that we so desperately need.
(Summarized from Sexual Sanity for Men by David White, p 190).
Friday, May 23, 2014
A Great God - A Mighty Goal
"The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor repay us according to our iniquities."
(Psalm 103:8-10)
What an amazing description of God's dealing with our sins!
God is merciful and gracious.
God is slow to anger.
God is abounding in steadfast love.
God will not always chide.
God will not keep His anger forever.
God does not deal with us according to our sins.
God does not repay us according to our iniquities.
That's how God is. But it is NOT how I am.
When someone sins against me, I get angry and seek revenge.
When someone sins against me, I want to hold it against them.
When someone sins against me, I want to bring it up to them over and over again.
When someone sins against me, I am anything but merciful and gracious.
And I only know that sin which that person has done against me.
God knows all of my sins. Even the ones that no one else knows about. He knows what I think. I don't know what others think about me.
And His standard for sin is much higher than mine. He cannot look at sin. He is more greatly offended at sin than I am.
A great God who deals with my sin with mercy and gracious.
A mighty goal for me in dealing with those who sin against me.
Slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor repay us according to our iniquities."
(Psalm 103:8-10)
What an amazing description of God's dealing with our sins!
God is merciful and gracious.
God is slow to anger.
God is abounding in steadfast love.
God will not always chide.
God will not keep His anger forever.
God does not deal with us according to our sins.
God does not repay us according to our iniquities.
That's how God is. But it is NOT how I am.
When someone sins against me, I get angry and seek revenge.
When someone sins against me, I want to hold it against them.
When someone sins against me, I want to bring it up to them over and over again.
When someone sins against me, I am anything but merciful and gracious.
And I only know that sin which that person has done against me.
God knows all of my sins. Even the ones that no one else knows about. He knows what I think. I don't know what others think about me.
And His standard for sin is much higher than mine. He cannot look at sin. He is more greatly offended at sin than I am.
A great God who deals with my sin with mercy and gracious.
A mighty goal for me in dealing with those who sin against me.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Filled to the Fullest
I can remember sitting at the kids' table at Grandma's house. No matter what holiday it was, and probably even when it wasn't a holiday, a feast was spread on the table.
And we ate and ate and ate. I can remember being so full that my stomach hurt.
Filled to the fullest. No room left for anything at all.
But then in a few hours, we would eat again. And I've been eating ever since.
We have to keep coming back to eat more. Even if we've been satisfied and stuffed.
It's the same with being satisfied with God.
Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers that they would be "filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:19).
First of all, it's pretty amazing to me that God wants to fill us with His fullness. Everything that God has, He wants to give to us. He desires to satisfy us with Himself. We will not be satisfied with anything else in the way that God will satisfy us.
Feasting on sin. Dining on the delicacies of pleasures. Drinking the filthy waters of temptation.
That will never satisfy.
Not only does God want to satisfy us, but He wants to satisfy us continually.
Not just in a great worship service on Sunday. Not just through an occasional hymn or Bible verse that goes through our minds.
But all the time. Always satisfied with God. Always filled with all of His fullness.
For that to happen, we need to be drinking from the Word. Feasting on His promises. Resting in His faithfulness. Rejoicing in His pleasures.
All the time.
"He is offering us nothing short of Himself! Any created things you've ever desired, even good things, have only been desirable to you because He is desirable. Your heart is only delighting because it has caught a miniscule glimpse of the beauty, majesty, strength, and glory of God. He wants to give you your heart's desire. The problem is that we're confused about what will truly bring joy to our souls" (Sexual Sanity for Men by David White, p 177).
And we ate and ate and ate. I can remember being so full that my stomach hurt.
Filled to the fullest. No room left for anything at all.
But then in a few hours, we would eat again. And I've been eating ever since.
We have to keep coming back to eat more. Even if we've been satisfied and stuffed.
It's the same with being satisfied with God.
Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers that they would be "filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:19).
First of all, it's pretty amazing to me that God wants to fill us with His fullness. Everything that God has, He wants to give to us. He desires to satisfy us with Himself. We will not be satisfied with anything else in the way that God will satisfy us.
Feasting on sin. Dining on the delicacies of pleasures. Drinking the filthy waters of temptation.
That will never satisfy.
Not only does God want to satisfy us, but He wants to satisfy us continually.
Not just in a great worship service on Sunday. Not just through an occasional hymn or Bible verse that goes through our minds.
But all the time. Always satisfied with God. Always filled with all of His fullness.
For that to happen, we need to be drinking from the Word. Feasting on His promises. Resting in His faithfulness. Rejoicing in His pleasures.
All the time.
"He is offering us nothing short of Himself! Any created things you've ever desired, even good things, have only been desirable to you because He is desirable. Your heart is only delighting because it has caught a miniscule glimpse of the beauty, majesty, strength, and glory of God. He wants to give you your heart's desire. The problem is that we're confused about what will truly bring joy to our souls" (Sexual Sanity for Men by David White, p 177).
Sunday, May 18, 2014
He Will Hold Me Fast
A "new" song we sang today in church. I thought it was new, but then I see that the first two verses were written prior to 1918.
It's just bursting with Scripture references - Great!
He Will Hold Me Fast
Vv. 1-2 Ada Habershon (1861-1918)
Alt. Words (vv. 1-2) and Verse 3: Matt Merker
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold,
Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold,
He must hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He'll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
Refrain
For my life He bled and died,
Vv. 1-2 Ada Habershon (1861-1918)
Alt. Words (vv. 1-2) and Verse 3: Matt Merker
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold,
Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold,
He must hold me fast.
Refrain
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He'll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
Refrain
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life;
He will hold me fast;
'til our faith is turned to sight
when He comes at last!
Refrain
Saturday, May 17, 2014
God's Plans to Protect
I've read First Samuel dozens of times. I've read through the life of David. The flight from Saul. The battles. His escape to the Philistines.
But somehow I didn't connect the accounts and see God's protective hand in the life of David.
Let me help you put the puzzle pieces together, starting in 1 Samuel 27.
Attempting to escape Saul, David fled to Gath (BTW: Gath's hometown hero, Goliath, was killed by David a few years earlier.) The king of Gath allowed David and his men, about 600 at this time, to settle in Ziklag. David gained the confidence of the king by leading raids. However, the king didn't realize that he was attacking the Philistine cities.
The Philistines began marching toward Saul and his armies. David and his men joined, but the other Philistine kings didn't want him to be part of the army. They were afraid that David would turn on them in the midst of the battle. So the king of Gath sent him back home.
When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they discovered that their wives and children had been taken by the Amalekites. It took them several days to track them down, recover them and return home.
So what was going on in the battle between the Philistines and Saul?
Saul and his sons were killed in the battle.
Remember how David had been careful to protect Saul, God's anointed?
It looks like God orchestrated the raid on Ziklag to keep David and his men out of the battle. In order to keep David and his men away from the temptation of killing Saul. Or at least to keep them from being accused of killing Saul.
Because of the difficulties that David had, he could not be involved or implicated in the death of the king of Israel.
God's plans may not have seemed clear to David at the time, but God allowed the crisis to protect David.
The changes in our plans may not fit our idea, but God may be using them to protect us from greater harm.
There are places that we might want to go. But God changes those plans.
There are people we'd like to see. But God changes those plans.
Perhaps it's because God has a greater plan and a greater perspective to see that plan.
He does.
So we can trust Him and the changes that come our way.
But somehow I didn't connect the accounts and see God's protective hand in the life of David.
Let me help you put the puzzle pieces together, starting in 1 Samuel 27.
Attempting to escape Saul, David fled to Gath (BTW: Gath's hometown hero, Goliath, was killed by David a few years earlier.) The king of Gath allowed David and his men, about 600 at this time, to settle in Ziklag. David gained the confidence of the king by leading raids. However, the king didn't realize that he was attacking the Philistine cities.
The Philistines began marching toward Saul and his armies. David and his men joined, but the other Philistine kings didn't want him to be part of the army. They were afraid that David would turn on them in the midst of the battle. So the king of Gath sent him back home.
When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they discovered that their wives and children had been taken by the Amalekites. It took them several days to track them down, recover them and return home.
So what was going on in the battle between the Philistines and Saul?
Saul and his sons were killed in the battle.
Remember how David had been careful to protect Saul, God's anointed?
It looks like God orchestrated the raid on Ziklag to keep David and his men out of the battle. In order to keep David and his men away from the temptation of killing Saul. Or at least to keep them from being accused of killing Saul.
Because of the difficulties that David had, he could not be involved or implicated in the death of the king of Israel.
God's plans may not have seemed clear to David at the time, but God allowed the crisis to protect David.
The changes in our plans may not fit our idea, but God may be using them to protect us from greater harm.
There are places that we might want to go. But God changes those plans.
There are people we'd like to see. But God changes those plans.
Perhaps it's because God has a greater plan and a greater perspective to see that plan.
He does.
So we can trust Him and the changes that come our way.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Too Much Like Saul - Not Enough Like David
I've been reading the history of Saul and David in First Samuel for the last couple of weeks. A common theme has been waiting on the Lord. It's probably been popping up a lot because it's something that I'm not very good at lately.
David was anointed to be the next king of Israel. He served as musician to the king. Killed Goliath. Married the king's daughter. The people praised him for his victories on the battlefields, placing him higher than the king.
And became a hunted man. Hunted by the king.
Two different times David had opportunity to kill the man who had been hunting him for several years. Yet he didn't. The king-in-waiting would not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed.
So he waited. 5 years. 10 years. 15 years. Even more waiting.
Saul had a problem with waiting.
He didn't wait for Samuel to come, so he offered sacrifices in order to rally the troops before battle.
He didn't complete the destruction of Amalek, saving the best as an offering for the LORD - so he said.
When Saul tired of waiting for God to answer him about going into battle against the Philistines, Saul called on a witch to call Samuel the prophet from the dead.
Every time that Saul didn't wait on God, he received a curse.
When David waited, he was chased around the countryside.
But in the end, Saul's dynasty failed and David's reigned and will reign again.
Unfortunately, I'm more like Saul.
"Surely, God wants me to do something about these problems, doesn't He?" That's how I reason.
"If I just...then this would happen." That's what I think.
But God wants me to wait. Maybe 5 years. Maybe 10 years. Maybe 15 years. Or maybe even longer.
Lord, help me to cling to Your promises and anticipate Your plan. Help me not to manipulate Your promises to further my plan.
David was anointed to be the next king of Israel. He served as musician to the king. Killed Goliath. Married the king's daughter. The people praised him for his victories on the battlefields, placing him higher than the king.
And became a hunted man. Hunted by the king.
Two different times David had opportunity to kill the man who had been hunting him for several years. Yet he didn't. The king-in-waiting would not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed.
So he waited. 5 years. 10 years. 15 years. Even more waiting.
Saul had a problem with waiting.
He didn't wait for Samuel to come, so he offered sacrifices in order to rally the troops before battle.
He didn't complete the destruction of Amalek, saving the best as an offering for the LORD - so he said.
When Saul tired of waiting for God to answer him about going into battle against the Philistines, Saul called on a witch to call Samuel the prophet from the dead.
Every time that Saul didn't wait on God, he received a curse.
When David waited, he was chased around the countryside.
But in the end, Saul's dynasty failed and David's reigned and will reign again.
Unfortunately, I'm more like Saul.
"Surely, God wants me to do something about these problems, doesn't He?" That's how I reason.
"If I just...then this would happen." That's what I think.
But God wants me to wait. Maybe 5 years. Maybe 10 years. Maybe 15 years. Or maybe even longer.
Lord, help me to cling to Your promises and anticipate Your plan. Help me not to manipulate Your promises to further my plan.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
God's Not Done
Have you ever had a bad week?
You know, one of those weeks in which it seems that the bad news and bad experiences don't quit coming your way?
Most of us have. Sometimes it lasts longer than a week. Sometimes it seems that it will never end. Sometimes it seems that the bad news just keeps piling up.
Pain. Sickness. Death.
Laid off. Fired. Unemployed.
Marital stress. Separation. Divorce.
Strained relationships. Anger. Broken relationships.
It's easy to think that all these events are stacking up against you.
That God has forgotten you.
That God will never be able to use you again.
Ephesians 2:10 has been encouraging to me this week.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has prepared in advance that we should walk in them."
Verses 8 and 9 are very familiar, telling us of the grace of God that has saved us. The gift of faith that we have received making us alive and seated in heaven with Christ.
But when the reality of life starts to overwhelm us, those verses sometimes get clouded, buried in the fog of stress.
As a child of God we can take confidence in the promise of verse 10. God has saved us to do good works. God has planned those works in advance. Long before the sickness that has restricted you to bed. Long before the divorce changed everything in your life. Long before any of the stress factors in your life came into your life.
God had a plan. And it wasn't a plan that lasted until some major event came and changed it.
That crisis is a part of God's plan to continue using you.
Others may have rejected you. God hasn't.
He's still got a plan to use you for good works. He hasn't been surprised or had to change His plan.
So, like before the crises, just keep walking. Do the good things that you know you should be doing.
The situation may not change. But God is not done with the good works that He has planned for you.
You know, one of those weeks in which it seems that the bad news and bad experiences don't quit coming your way?
Most of us have. Sometimes it lasts longer than a week. Sometimes it seems that it will never end. Sometimes it seems that the bad news just keeps piling up.
Pain. Sickness. Death.
Laid off. Fired. Unemployed.
Marital stress. Separation. Divorce.
Strained relationships. Anger. Broken relationships.
It's easy to think that all these events are stacking up against you.
That God has forgotten you.
That God will never be able to use you again.
Ephesians 2:10 has been encouraging to me this week.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has prepared in advance that we should walk in them."
Verses 8 and 9 are very familiar, telling us of the grace of God that has saved us. The gift of faith that we have received making us alive and seated in heaven with Christ.
But when the reality of life starts to overwhelm us, those verses sometimes get clouded, buried in the fog of stress.
As a child of God we can take confidence in the promise of verse 10. God has saved us to do good works. God has planned those works in advance. Long before the sickness that has restricted you to bed. Long before the divorce changed everything in your life. Long before any of the stress factors in your life came into your life.
God had a plan. And it wasn't a plan that lasted until some major event came and changed it.
That crisis is a part of God's plan to continue using you.
Others may have rejected you. God hasn't.
He's still got a plan to use you for good works. He hasn't been surprised or had to change His plan.
So, like before the crises, just keep walking. Do the good things that you know you should be doing.
The situation may not change. But God is not done with the good works that He has planned for you.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Don't Waste Today
"So teach us to number our days that we get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
The development of this Psalm emphasizes the importance of verse 12, the application of the entire Psalm.
God is eternal ( v 1-2).
Man is not (v 3-4).
In fact, man's life is very short in comparison to God's eternal existence (v 3-6).
Our sins are exposed by God and we are under His wrath (v 7-8).
Not only is our life short, it is full of toil and trouble (v 9-10).
Yet we don't take time to consider God's wrath, or fear Him (v 11).
Therefore, we need to learn to count our days, to realize that they are limited, in order to gain wisdom (v 12).
Rather than bemoaning our existence,
...call out to God for pity ( v 13),
...look to him for satisfaction (v 14),
...cry out to Him for gladness ( v 15),
...search out His good works (v 16),
...and cling to the favor of God that He works through us (v 17).
Your life is short and it's going to be tough. It's the perfect opportunity to gain wisdom from God!
The development of this Psalm emphasizes the importance of verse 12, the application of the entire Psalm.
God is eternal ( v 1-2).
Man is not (v 3-4).
In fact, man's life is very short in comparison to God's eternal existence (v 3-6).
Our sins are exposed by God and we are under His wrath (v 7-8).
Not only is our life short, it is full of toil and trouble (v 9-10).
Yet we don't take time to consider God's wrath, or fear Him (v 11).
Therefore, we need to learn to count our days, to realize that they are limited, in order to gain wisdom (v 12).
Rather than bemoaning our existence,
...call out to God for pity ( v 13),
...look to him for satisfaction (v 14),
...cry out to Him for gladness ( v 15),
...search out His good works (v 16),
...and cling to the favor of God that He works through us (v 17).
Your life is short and it's going to be tough. It's the perfect opportunity to gain wisdom from God!
Monday, May 5, 2014
Turn from Emptiness to God
The nation of Israel demanded a king, like all the nations around them. Samuel followed the command of the Lord and anointed Saul, the son of Kish, to be the first king. After Saul led the nation in the defeat of the Ammonites, the nation rallied around their new king.
In Samuel's farewell address, bowing out as judge over Israel, he reminded them of their sinful choice in choosing a king. As evidence of God's anger against the nation, Samuel called for thunder and rain at harvest time, when it would normally be dry.
The people realized their sin and plead for mercy.
Samuel's response, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty" (1 Samuel 12:20-21).
Notice what God did NOT do:
He did NOT send bolts of lightning in the thunderstorm to wipe out the people.
He did NOT abandon them.
What did He do?
He allowed them to continue serving Him.
He commanded them to turn away from empty things.
His was a call of repentance. Turning from the emptiness of empty things. Turning to the fullness of God.
And He in His grace and mercy allows the same for us.
He forgives and allows for repentance.
In Samuel's farewell address, bowing out as judge over Israel, he reminded them of their sinful choice in choosing a king. As evidence of God's anger against the nation, Samuel called for thunder and rain at harvest time, when it would normally be dry.
The people realized their sin and plead for mercy.
Samuel's response, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty" (1 Samuel 12:20-21).
Notice what God did NOT do:
He did NOT send bolts of lightning in the thunderstorm to wipe out the people.
He did NOT abandon them.
What did He do?
He allowed them to continue serving Him.
He commanded them to turn away from empty things.
His was a call of repentance. Turning from the emptiness of empty things. Turning to the fullness of God.
And He in His grace and mercy allows the same for us.
He forgives and allows for repentance.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Accountability and the Fear of Man
We create quite a conundrum in our quest for spiritual growth.
We have a desire to grow. We know the principles of growth.
We have sins in our lives that we know are hindering our growth.
We know that we need the help of others to overcome those sins.
We want to be able to talk about our sins, confess them, ask for prayer, ask for help.
But we want to maintain our reputation, so we keep our mouths shut.
We have a desire to help others to grow. We know the principles of growth.
We know that others have sins that are hindering their growth.
We know that they need help and may even be crying out for help.
We want to come alongside another to help them, to pray with them.
But we want to maintain our reputation, so we keep our mouths shut.
On both sides of accountability an ominous fear of man looms.
We don't want to open up with our sins, because we are afraid of losing a friend.
We don't want to ask a brother or sister about their sins, because we are afraid of losing a friend.
And yet we know that we need an open relationship in order to help and to be helped.
Instead we lie. We avoid the topics. We minimize sin.
No one is helped. God is not honored. Sin is piled upon sin.
Is there any hope?
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Galatians 6:1-3).
That verses commands us of the responsibility that we know we have. But I think verse three is the clincher: "If anyone thinks he is something" - free from sin, not really needing help, keeping up the false front.
"...when he is nothing" - a dirty, rotten sinner fighting temptation and losing often.
"...he deceives himself." - no one else is fooled. Your friends know. God knows. You know.
So there's no reason to keep up appearances. There's no reason to try to hide your sins. There's no reason to not reach out and ask others. No reason not to help, or to ask for help.
You need help. And so do I.
We have a desire to grow. We know the principles of growth.
We have sins in our lives that we know are hindering our growth.
We know that we need the help of others to overcome those sins.
We want to be able to talk about our sins, confess them, ask for prayer, ask for help.
But we want to maintain our reputation, so we keep our mouths shut.
We have a desire to help others to grow. We know the principles of growth.
We know that others have sins that are hindering their growth.
We know that they need help and may even be crying out for help.
We want to come alongside another to help them, to pray with them.
But we want to maintain our reputation, so we keep our mouths shut.
On both sides of accountability an ominous fear of man looms.
We don't want to open up with our sins, because we are afraid of losing a friend.
We don't want to ask a brother or sister about their sins, because we are afraid of losing a friend.
And yet we know that we need an open relationship in order to help and to be helped.
Instead we lie. We avoid the topics. We minimize sin.
No one is helped. God is not honored. Sin is piled upon sin.
Is there any hope?
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Galatians 6:1-3).
That verses commands us of the responsibility that we know we have. But I think verse three is the clincher: "If anyone thinks he is something" - free from sin, not really needing help, keeping up the false front.
"...when he is nothing" - a dirty, rotten sinner fighting temptation and losing often.
"...he deceives himself." - no one else is fooled. Your friends know. God knows. You know.
So there's no reason to keep up appearances. There's no reason to try to hide your sins. There's no reason to not reach out and ask others. No reason not to help, or to ask for help.
You need help. And so do I.
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