History does not need to keep repeating itself…

And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” 
And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 
And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:9–16)

For months I’ve been thinking that the Lord is saying to this world the same thing He said to His OT people. They turned from His care and did their own thing, then ran into trouble and cried out to Him. He said they thought they had ways and means to live well without Him so He refused to bail them out.

Many in this era have ignored God, even insist that He does not exist. And as we watch things fall apart, it seems God is saying a similar thing: “You want to run your own lives? Let’s see how that works for you.”

The Israelites were distressed, but at least they recognized why they were having problems. They confessed their sin and begged God to deliver them. Were they sincere? Or were they trying to manipulate God? Only God knows motivations and the heart, but He took pity on them and sent a deliverer. However, the narrative of Judges revealed how this scenario kept repeating itself as the people “did what was right in their own eyes.”

And this history keeps repeating itself. The only way to have a genuine change of this cycle is true repentance which involves a change of mind and heart regarding sin. It is not merely saying I’m sorry because I got caught or was facing the consequences. However, it is also a gift from God, not something I can do apart from His mercy.

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

While God tells us to repent, I know from personal experience that I might feel sorry for sinning, but any change of life is not a “work” that I can do to earn favor with God. If I could turn from sin, I would not need Jesus. He said, "Repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), indicating that recognizing my need for a Savior is the first step toward receiving God's mercy. This requires faith in what Jesus has done to secure my redemption.

Repentance is also a lifestyle and the key to spiritual growth. The NT makes clear that Christians are delivered from the penalty of sin, yet all our lives God is at work to deliver us from the power of sin — and repentance is part of that process.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:7–2:1)

When first saved, my mentor had me do a Bible study on sin. God revealed so much of it, and keeps revealing it. I am not fully like Jesus, yet that is His goal. If I sin and merely make excuses, or ignore it, or try to explain it away, then I am throwing a monkey wrench into the transformation process.

Jesus, You died to save me from the biggest sin of trying to live my own life without You. You live to transform me into Your image (Romans 8:28-29) and repentance is so vital to make that transformation possible. Help me to always be honest with You regarding sin and thankful to You for the gift of repentance.

Why complaining is a sin…

 

When I complain about how busy I am, it contains a bit of boasting. My dad used to put down those ‘lazy people’ who didn’t work hard, so I grew up considering busyness was a virtue. But now, that to-do list is overwhelming and seems more like a curse than a blessing. 

But this morning, God rebukes me for the sin of complaining using the words of Stephen Charnock about the goodness of God and quotes from the Bible. The first is a reminder of where all good comes from: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’ ” (Psalm 16:2) Then he reminds me how easily God’s people fail to properly respond to that goodness:

Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. (Nehemiah 9:35)

When I became a Christian, one of the first principles the Lord taught me was this:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Yet all this week, I have complained about being overloaded with responsibilities, inundated with gifts that inadvertently added to my to-do list, and feeling like not getting out of bed because it was too much for my mind as well as my body and the hours in a day. 

Yet as Charnock points out, when God bestows anything upon His people, He sees it best they should have it. Now I am beginning to see how God is using these ‘bountiful blessings’ to show me how my response is not what He wants from me. 

First, all is from Him and because He is good, this is also for my good. The writer of Proverbs asked for “neither poverty nor riches” only what was “needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8–9) And I think the same about being busy; not idle and doing my own thing, or so busy that I forget His power to help, then try to do things without Him.

The good that is coming from this ‘far too busy’ stuff is that He is showing me a need for repentance. Complaining is not only useless but I am denying His goodness in how He governs my life. I need to trust Him and be thankful, not whine. I like this quote from Charnock:

If we are sick it is goodness, a disease and not hell; a cloud, and not total darkness. If he transfers from us what we have, he takes no more than what his goodness first imparted to us… he never takes so much from his people as his goodness leaves them. If he strips them of their lives, he leaves them their souls…  and removes them from those houses of clay to a richer mansion. The time of our sufferings here… bears not a moment to that endless eternity wherein he hath designed to manifest his goodness to us. The consideration of Divine goodness would teach us to draw a calm even from storms… 

Other verses shows me that this “goodness” of being overwhelmed has purpose to show me what is needed from me: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) and this passage:

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! (Psalm 148:1–10)

PRAY: Since all creation praises You, what is my excuse for complaining? You are showing me that my complaints are a rejection of the good You give and the reality that You are able to grant me what is needed on my part. First, I confess and repent of my self-centeredness, then…

I Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform my vows to the Most High. (Psalm 50:14)

Then: I “commit my work to the Lord, and my plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3;9) You will bless this because You gave it for my good… and I thank You that You know what is best for me, even using it to bring repentance for my selfishness and complaining. Amen.

Why trust God?

 

The foundation of trust in God begins with knowing He exists and being convinced that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). That trust is attacked when circumstances challenge it. Is God rewarding me when people treat me badly? Or when my body is suffering with pain? Or when doubts come about His goodness for any reason?

The Word of God says He never changes, that His goodness is firm and everlasting. But human faith fluctuates when I stop thinking about God as He has revealed Himself and start measuring Him by the world’s ideas, the comfort level in my life, or the whispers of spiritual enemies that are contrary to what He says.

And yet the principal foundation of faith is not the word of God, but God himself, and God is good, the rewarder of those who seek Him. The Bible says, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) and by this same goodness, He also leads me to reliance. 

I recall many ‘little’ things, like parking places, workmen fixing without charge things we didn’t know were broken, encouraging phone calls at just the right time, finding the answer to problems when I called out for His help, and how all of that came from His goodness.

If I don’t believe God is good, how could I believe anything that He speaks or promises? If anyone else made a promise to me, I’d trust them only if… but when God makes a promise, His goodness gives credit to what He says. Years of seeing Him come through for me builds my faith, yet His goodness is always there, even if I cannot see it.

Some people acknowledge the power of God, yet without seeing His goodness motivating His power, He is not trusted. Actually, power without good intentions is dangerous, yet as Charnock says, God’s good will without power would be useless. Those who ‘mean well’ but never follow through do not create confidence in themselves, but because God does what He does rooted in His goodness, I am learning to deeply trust Him, even when His powerful actions make no sense or His wisdom in what He does escapes me.

Much of OT faith seems to be built on God’s power. However Hosea wrote: “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea 3:5) Their fear, meaning faith and worship, would be seen flowing from His goodness.

I’m learning to trust God’s power and wisdom, yet also His goodness. This makes faith deeper and more certain. If I do not understand the means or the why, relying on His goodness in all that happens becomes vital. This wonder and truth settles me far more than any glimpses of knowing why this action or event is happening. As my mother often said, “We must need it or we would not be getting it” and I can rely on ‘whatever’ with greater assurance knowing that God is good and whatever “it” might be, it comes from His goodness.

PRAY: Your Word says much of Your goodness and how that goodness satisfies Your people. I am glad to know that goodness is behind all that You do. “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” (Psalm 27:13) I also rejoice because: 

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7)

Because of You, I’ve access to this goodness and not only that, this is the fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and my life can be lived with the same motivation. This is a most humbling thought and a great blessing. Amen.

Two kinds of repentance?

 Most evangelicals believe “turn or burn” is not the right way to preach the gospel even though there is truth in these unfortunate choice of words. Burn is a crude way of describing the fate of those who reject God, and turn is another way to define repentance, another word that confuses many.

The OT describes repentance as changing one’s course of action. The NT suggests a change of mind, specifically to turn from sin and put faith in Jesus Christ. However, the definition is further clarified by what follows godly repentance. The contrast is a mere emotional regret that does not produce anything much more than sorrow that I got caught and further separation from God.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. (2 Corinthians 7:10–11)

Today’s devotional says that all temporary repentance is false repentance and quotes a verse that indicates true repentance is not humanly produced but is a gift from God:

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)

Another verse adds that I should never take for granted God’s forgiveness for my sin, because that would be presuming “on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) In other words, when He kindly forgives, He also intends that I should change my ways and turn from the sin that He forgave.

A few weeks ago, I confessed a bad attitude and action to a few of my Christian friends. One of them made a remark that I’d likely do it again. She was describing false repentance without realizing that was not why I’d confessed the sin, nor was it the result. God cleansed that attitude and action — and it has not plagued me since God also granted a change of heart.

Another passage describes the will of God concerning how I’m to live:

Each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, (1 Thessalonians 4:4–10)

The Holy Spirit does this, just as Jesus said in John 16:8-14 and just as 1 Thessalonians 1:9 describes one result of genuine repentance. Other verses say that when my “turn from sin” is a true desire, it will result in a deeper commitment to Christ that continues. If the sin returns, this indicates to me that I’d not fully recognized it or not confessed the root of it. That is, it is possible to confess only the actions and retain the selfish attitude that produced them. Once the Spirit gets me to the bottom of what I am guilty of and I see it and agree with Him, He sets me free of it and grants perseverance to move forward in seeking and trusting Christ.

PRAY: Jesus, it is good to be reminded not to take lightly the need of confession and repentance. You have made 1 John 1:9 a strong life-changing verse in my life. I’m so grateful for the gift and the power of repentance.

Reasons to be Kind

 
Yesterday I had several conversations with people who do not attend church. Several times I was able to tell them what God was doing in my life. They were receptive, even curious. It reinforced something that has been on my heart for some time — that we Christians tend to tell others what they should believe and do rather than share our experiences with them. Not in a boasting way or a holier than thou way, but with the humility and excitement that He brings with every answer to prayer and all His acts of kindness and grace.

It is good to remember that Scripture says this about the heart and mind of those without Jesus in their lives:

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. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

In one of those conversations, the other person told me how much she appreciated spontaneous words from the heart. This does not identify her as a believer in Jesus Christ, but it does show me that at least some those outside the family of God are able to discern the sincerity of heart in Christians. That means having integrity, no pretense, no ‘going through the motions’ but instead being real.

This ‘being real’ means being able to admit weakness, mistakes, even sin. I told one person about purging my house and how good it felt to get rid of the clutter, then added, “It is something like confessing sin.” She laughed and said, “Yes, getting that taken care of and out of the way feels good.” She understood that principle and I wondered if she knew this verse:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

I’ve said many times that keeping short accounts with God is the way to stay on track, to being filled with the Spirit, and to be growing in godliness. This unsaved person may not know Jesus (yet) but she knows what it means to admit sin. Perhaps she even knows the practical truth of forgiveness and being cleansed yet has never labeled it or shared it in Christian terminology.

All that said, as I speak with people who do not profess Christ, I can see that they are not as ignorant about spiritual truth as I might think. We heard a sermon this week that addressed that issue in NT times. Some were on the verse of making a commitment to Christ but had not yet done it. There were warnings about turning back to old ways, but encouragement to press on rather than think, “Oh, never mind.”

For me, that thought of ‘this looks too hard’ can enter my mind often. It is a signal to pray, to ask God for strength and all I need for the difficulties that threaten to stall me. His promises also come to mind, and I can rely on Him to keep them.

Is this true for my unsaved friends? Can they call out to God and receive from Him what they need to keep going? To be a blessing to others, even to those who know Christ? I’m finding that if I am honest with anyone about my struggles, even with my uncertainties about my Christian responsibilities, God will use others to encourage me, even unsaved others. This is the amazing grace of God and worth giving thanks for, to Him and to them.

PRAY: Lord, I’ve know Christians whose interaction with unsaved people is “turn or burn” but that rarely results in repentance. You say, “Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) Since Your kindness serves to bring sinners into a new life with You, then showing kindness to others is really important, especially in these days when it seems a rare commodity.

His incredible love…

Insurance policies and other legal documents use the term “an act of God” which is defined as an instance of uncontrollable natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, meaning  anything that is beyond the control of humans. Acts of God do not absolve people from a duty to exercise reasonable care.

It interests me that this term is used only for disasters. Seldom do I hear sunshine, a balmy breeze, the birth of a baby, the bloom of flowers, or the soft wool of a lamb called an act of God. No wonder the idea of God loving us is difficult for many people to accept. He gets blamed for all the negative things we cannot control but evolution takes credit for the positives. Regardless, the Bible says:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7–12)

This passage offers several clues to why the term “an act of God” is used as it is. One, those who know God will know that He loves people, and will love people too. But those who do not know God cannot love like He does. Many who don’t know God assume that whatever makes them uncomfortable or stressed is not good. Without knowing God, it is difficult if not impossible to see that He uses all things for the good of those He loves. We who know Him are told to be joyful in trials for God is using them to mature us. (Romans 8:28-29, James 1:2-4)

Second, the love of God sent Jesus into this world to die for our sins. The people who know this also know their sin is harmful and can ruin their lives. Eventually we learn that the love of God exposes and deals with our sin, not because He wants to hurt us but to rescue us from sin’s destructive power. His love will go to great lengths to get that job done. It includes kindness:

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Yet His love also includes discipline:

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:6–11)

Such discipline may come through an “act of God” that I cannot make happen nor prevent. God knows what I need to be more like Jesus, and He also knows how to get me there. It might be His incredible kindness (I have seen it in my hospital stay) or in trials that I cannot control, such as being unwell without any apparent lack of self-care on my part. He is training me to be more kind by example and to be more patient by helplessness. He teaches me that all events of life including “acts of God” open my eyes to His great love that wants only the best for me, and that best is being like Jesus. And as today’s devotional says, the first step into the life hid with Christ in God is that of entire consecration. I must do it gladly, thankfully, and enthusiastically and can, because seeing all things as acts of God is the most joyful way to live.

PRAY: Lord God, as You work all things so I might be like Jesus, I sometimes feel sorry for myself as I forget the love that motivates Your will. Mercy and genuine pity for spiritual bondage is far more important than mercy and pity for physical discomfort. I’m glad You will never stop loving me.

Responding to evil . . .

 

Because I fear steep places without guard rails, this illustration in today’s reading deeply touches me. MacArthur writes: Two men going opposite directions on a narrow mountain trail met each other head-on. With a steep cliff on one side and sheer rock on the other, they were unable to pass. The harder they tried to squeeze past one another, the more frustrated they became. The situation seemed hopeless until one of them, without saying a word, simply laid down on the trail, allowing the other man to walk over him.

That illustrates kindness, normally thought of a “feel good” action. However, in the Bible it is part of what godly love means. It is an attitude that doesn’t mind getting walked on if it benefits someone else. It goes with patience in that patience endures abuses from others, whereas kindness repays them with good deeds.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19–21)

One of my dictionaries says that kindness is “tenderness of spirit” which defines the motivation behind allowing others to walk over me. I’m not insisting on my own way or being selfish but thinking of how I can benefit someone else.

This past week asked for this attitude and I discovered that being kind can be exhausting. Jesus sweat blood. I understand that a tiny bit better than before. Kindness should be easy when it comes to like-minded believers, but even then, my introverted nature finds it requires a conscious choice. It is not natural for me. Thankfully, God is here to help make it happen.

He was kind to provide salvation: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3–7)

He also shows kindness when putting me to work. The same word used in the above verses is also in this passage, translated here as “easy”:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29–30)

Because of His kindness, and because I’ve experienced it, I should deeply desire to read His Word and grow up — be more like Jesus. This word is translated “good” here, again the same word also translated “kind” in other passages . . .

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)

Key to being kind is considering the kindness of the Lord to me. What do my sins deserve but wrath? What does my selfishness tell me about myself? About the kindness of God? No matter what others do or what they are like, Jesus wants me to be to them what He is to me: long suffering and kind.

PRAY: Jesus, it is far easier to be kind to ‘nice’ people, yet if that tires me out, what will being kind to those who are not so nice do to my energy level? I’m realizing again how much I need Your power made perfect in my weakness. I cannot show Your goodness to others without being filled with the Spirit and without being willing to let that action put me on my face — both in humility and in fatigue. I’m relying on You for this great need.

PONDER: Matthew 5:38–48 tells me more about what kindness means. Reread it and think of ways to apply it.