Inward Truth

Inward Truth

1 John 1: ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

============

 

On the way to the picnic, a motorcycle tried to pass me on the shoulder while I was making a sudden right turn. I was an inexperienced driver and I has begged for the car. “What will I tell my parents?” was the worry I felt all day. Arriving home, I found some spray paint that could possibly cover the dented area. Maybe they won’t notice.

 

• I was not at fault, yet I was nervous and I tried to protect myself.
• I tried to cover up the problem that was obvious and made the situation worse by using the wrong color.
• I took a deep breath, told the truth and was surprised that my worst fears were not met.

 

John seemed to be addressing insecure hidden sin. This sticky sin can be hidden from people well, especially if practiced over time. He even addressed the sin that allows us to fool ourselves into believing that we are justified in what we are doing.

 

My Observations:

• Sin has a power over me when I hide it or cover it up.
• When I confess my sin, it not only loses its power, but the desire diminishes.
• GOD is the only one who is faithful in the situation where I need my sins forgiven and cleansed.

 

Not seeing there is a problem is the problem. I mean, when I think I do not have a sin problem, I cannot confess that I have a problem and therefore will not make a change that could address the problem. Fooling myself into thinking I am “right” is a huge problem that GOD is willing to fix.

 

HE wants me to humbly come to HIM with the awareness of myself, so I can confess things in my life that need correcting. HE is faithful and just to correct me, heal me and clean me in HIS way and HIS time. I gladly confess my sins to GOD to diminish the power it has over me.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer use the words “If we say” twice?
• Have you ever fooled yourself by comparing yourself to someone who is doing “worse” than you?
• Will you take an inward inventory and confess your sins to GOD so HE will cleanse you of all unrighteousness today?

Fearless

Fearless

Galatians 3: ¹⁹ What, then, was the purpose of the Law? It was added in order to show what wrongdoing is, and it was meant to last until the coming of Abraham's descendant, to whom the promise was made. The Law was handed down by angels, with a man acting as a go-between. ²⁰ But a go-between is not needed when only one person is involved; and God is one.

 

============

 

Fearing the answer would be “No” I asked a sibling to “Ask mom and dad to let me go to the party.” “No way!” was the quick reply, not wanting to get caught up in the possible conflict. I tried this approach with difficult teachers, seeking the teacher’s pet as my advocate. I then tried the approach on jobs, wanting someone else to be the “go-between.”

 

• I feared I would get the words wrong.
• I needed an excuse, so if things did not go well for me I could blame the “go-between.”
• I was acting immature and wanted someone else to speak on my behalf so “I” could get what I wanted.

 

Paul continues to speak to those who believe the Law could save them. He explained that it was put in place temporarily until CHRIST became a human to fulfill GOD’s promise. Only the high priest could speak to GOD and a sacrifice was needed to atone for sin. This was no longer needed.

 

My Observations

• When JESUS rose from the dead after being murdered, I was able to go directly to the FATHR and ask for forgiveness.
• When JESUS became the sacrifice for all my sins, I no longer needed to ask someone else to speak to GOD on my behalf.
• When JESUS ascended to Heaven, HE sent the COMFORTER to live inside me and now I have the HOLY SPIRIT as my advocate.

 

Fear makes me want to follow “The Law.” I mean, when I want my way, I follow “The Law” harder, hoping that GOD would see how “good” I am acting. BUT GOD sees through this temporary activity. HE sees my heart and knows I would leave HIM as soon as I get my way.

 

GOD wanted something permanent. JESUS volunteered to become the blame for my sins. I no longer have to fear if I upset GOD in some sinful way, because the answer is “Yes!” But that’s not all to the answer. HE also says “But I forgive you because you believe in MY SON.” I am glad I can walk without fear that GOD has left me, because JESUS loves me daily.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer trying to say about a “go-between?”
• Have you ever felt insecure so you wanted someone else to speak on your behalf?
• Will you get over your fears by confessing your sins directly to GOD by believing you need a Savior, namely JESUS who will give you the HOLY SPIRIT as your advocate today?

Guilty Decisions

Mark 6: ¹⁴ Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

¹⁵ Others said, “It is Elijah.”

And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. ¹⁸ Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

============

“I wonder if I got away with it?” was my question. I cannot remember which thing I did, but I was definitely guilty. When someone came near me and asked any question I wondered if they knew about that thing I had done. “Why are people looking at me?” was my thought.

• When I am guilty I make guilty decisions.
• When I am guilty I think everyone around me is bringing up my infraction.
• When I am guilty I try to ignore my guilt but the guilt gets louder.

Herod was clearly guilty in many ways. He killed a person who told him of his infraction, now that JESUS was on the scene he thought it was his victim coming back to haunt him.

• GOD wants me to tell others about my sin so others can feel comfortable with telling their sins.
• GOD wants me to have peace and knows I will make mistakes.
• GOD wants me to avoid sin, but knows I can come to HIM even when I do.

Herod mistook JESUS’s arrival. He was so self-centered in his sinful lifestyle that he missed the possibility of grace, same with me. I was trying to hide sins instead of making them known so others could forgive them or even learn from them.

GOD doesn’t want me to have guilty decisions because they lead to more and more shame. HE wants me have peace that only comes form HIM.

• Are you guilty?
• Have you been hiding your sin for a long time?
• Can you be brave enough to confess your sin instead of trying to make others feel guilty?
• Will you accept GOD’s grace today?

Being Restored

Ezekiel 43: ²⁵ “For seven days you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect. ²⁶ For seven days they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; thus they will dedicate it. ²⁷ At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

============

As I pondered this chapter and a few others, I see the exactness of GOD and HIS desire for strict obedience towards HIS laws. But sometimes it seems quite opposite in my life. I mean when GOD says don’t do something, I think “Wow, it sure would be great to do the thing HE just said not to do!”

• GOD gave me HIS SON for atonement for my sins.
• GOD sent me HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in me and guide me.
• GOD rescued me from sin offerings and became one HIMSELF.

When I imagined the enormity of killing a significant portion of the countries food and sacrificing it to GOD, I gasped. HE made those who had already been in exile do more, as if exile wasn’t enough. HE illustrated how angry HE had become with the sins of the nation and decided to not wipe them off the face of the planet rather to restore them with a little sacrifice to keep them thinking about HIM.

I believe GOD has not changed, though humans have. We do not sacrifice bulls or goats because the SON was the ultimate sacrifice. BUT I still need to admit sin as much as often as I can in order to remain in a place where I recognize the need for GOD.

• Are you in a place where you cannot see or hear GOD?
• Do you feel like you are on the outside of GOD rather than being in HIS love and care?
• Can you confess your deepest sins to HIM and allow HIM to guide you to where HE wants you to be?

Ashamed and Humiliated

Ezekiel 16: ⁶² So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶³ Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.

============

Phone call after phone call made the day seem full of energy. I could handle it because my lavish company car had the first “hands free” gadget on the market. As I zipped along, dishing out advice I could feel the power of “my” title. When the title was stripped away along with the car, I felt a loss of self-worth. I was ashamed and humiliated.

• There have been many times I have placed my self-worth in the wrong places.
• There have been many times I have desired to be worth something to the wrong people.
• There have been many times I have casted my pearls before swine in order to feel like something.

Making it to the top made the fall even further. I mean for a while I receive no phone calls and I as the one who sought after advice. Wandering and pleading was new for me, but after a while I got used to the new desert location. I could hear GOD for a change rather than the incessant ringing of my phone.

• GOD said to me “I will establish MY covenant with you.”
• GOD said to me “I will enable you to know that I AM the LORD.”
• GOD said to me “I will make atonement for you and all you have done and you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation.”

Boasting about wealth and title soon disappeared. After a while I found myself speaking again, this time it was for something extremely valuable, namely the LORD. HE restored me to speak on HIS behalf and enable me to talk about HIS SON to those HE sent me. GOD made atonement for my blindness through the death burial and resurrection of the living JESUS. I am indebted to HIM.

• Are you ashamed about where you are?
• Are you demands not being met?
• Can you stop demanding and start confessing to the LORD?
• Will you change your ways and turn your words into GOD’s words?

Hidden Sin

Ezekiel 9: ⁹ He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’ ¹⁰ So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.”

============

Being a thief, peeping Tom, a liar and a greedy vengeful person was never something I wanted to admit to anyone. In fact these sins were things I was supposed to carry to my grave without anyone knowing just how rotten I was. I was supposed to put on my “church face” and shine my halo daily, meanwhile letting the decay inside grow larger and larger.

• When I try to hide my sin it only multiplies.
• When I try to bury my sin it only comes to the surface.
• When I try to pretend everything is well with my soul, weird spiritual dilemmas pop up.

GOD was furious with those who had reached a point where they admitted nothing and blamed everyone else around them. HIS chosen people left HIS protection and turned to asking wooden idols questions, knowing there would never be someone to say “Your action is wrong.” Sin was now available without restraint and now what used to be hidden was now blatant. GOD wants something different from me.

• GOD wants me to admit publicly that I have sinned.
• GOD wants me to tell people about HIS grace and mercy because I admitted my sins.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS grace through HIS SON, knowing that ALL my sins have been forgiven.

I can never be good enough or stop sinning long enough to win GOD over. So what’s the point in being good? GOD loves it when I turn away from that sin or when I help others focus on HIM. HE provides me with opportunities to bear fruit on a daily basis, all I have to do is reach out and accept HIS calling to admit what I have done so others will do the same.

Admitting sin takes the spotlight off of me and places it on GOD. HE blesses me for pointing people to HIM.

• What are you hiding?
• Are you hiding a lot?
• Can you stop hiding and start admitting something small and work your way up to what you feel is large?
• Will you reach the point where you know that all sin is the same?
• Can you accept the gift that JESUS gave you by dying for your sins and taking on your consequences?

Plea for Restoration

Lamentations 5: ¹⁹ You, Lord, reign forever;
    your throne endures from generation to generation.
²⁰ Why do you always forget us?
    Why do you forsake us so long?
²¹ Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
    renew our days as of old
²² unless you have utterly rejected us
    and are angry with us beyond measure.

============

“Blunder” was the only word to describe my first experience training people. I did not have charisma, anecdotes or clever jabs to spice up my dry material. As I stood in front of the dead crowd I could feel their pens mark poor on the evaluation. This came true and I was pulled off the assignment. “Please let me try again” was my reply.

• There were times I needed to be restored.
• There were times I fell flat on my face and needed help getting up.
• There were times I had to admit failure and needed to prove I would do better on the alternate path.

Outcast, outlier, and outside the group feels rotten when I am the one who made the mistake. Not only do I have to admit I made a mistake, I have to try doubly hard to prove I am on a different trail. BUT GOD is different.

• GOD gives me second, third and fiftieth chances to get it right.
• GOD says to me “Ask and it will be given to you.”
• GOD allows me to make mistakes and is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanses me of all unrighteousness.

Restoration is not only about confession, it’s about a different attitude. I must resolve that I may not be restored to the height I once was when I make a serious blunder. It is thoroughly up to GOD to raise me to where HE wants me to be and lower me if need be. When I ask GOD for restoration I must ask it in a way that is not demanding but humbly. It is up to HIM to restore me and HE always has been faithful to do so!

• Have you made a serious blunder and are afraid to admit it?
• Will you face your sins and confess them to GOD today?
• Can you ask GOD for restoration without expectation and allow HIM to elevate you to where HE wants you?

It Starts With Reality

Isaiah 59: ²⁰ “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
    to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the Lord.

²¹ “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

============

“I don’t know” were the first words I could think of to deflect the wrath of my parents when asked who broke the “insert object.” Spray paint on the dented car was my way of concealing the accident. A friend of mine said these words to himself that made me think about the path that I was on… “I’m lying even when I don’t have to lie, what do I have to gain by that?”

• There were times where I did not want to face consequence.
• There were times where I did not desire to be the blame.
• There were times where I did not want to confess because I might not get my way.

Little did I know that one lie piles on top of another and then another. Soon I was living in a pseudo reality that I cannot remember what the truth looked like. One day I sat at my desk and said “No more lies!” I looked at my resume and took all the false statements of where I wanted to be versus what I had truly accomplished. What do you know, it worked!

• GOD wants me to see that I am a sinner and I need HIS grace.
• GOD wants me to recognize that “I” am the problem, not HIM.
• GOD wants me to understand that I need to own up to my sins and accept HIS consequence in order to grow up and truly have a relationship with HIM.

Little by little I started telling the truth in other areas of my life. Soon I was excelling because I could get help from those who had been in my shoes and faced the same problems or overcome the difficulties I was going through. I found people who were there to help me and I soon realized that GOD was doing the same.

HE wants me to confess my sins to HIM, acknowledging that they are against HIM. GOD forgives me when I acknowledge I need HIM.

• Do you need to be forgiven or are you digging in your heals in your reality?
• Are you growing up or do you still have to be right?
• Can you allow GOD to give you the consequence you deserve so HE can grow you?
• Will you open up your eyes to start seeking HIM again so HE will always be with you?

A Request for Restoration

Psalm 51: ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

============

“Mend the relationship” was the advice I was given from an external mentor. He didn’t work at my company but gave some sage advice to keep my career going. He advised me to take the first step and admit where I had been wrong. I took a deep breath and thought about how I stood toe to toe against my adversarial Senior Executive.  

I invited him to lunch and cringed at the words that came out of my mouth as I mustered up an apology for my challenges towards his direction. He said he didn’t like my approach but respected me.

• Admitting when I am wrong doesn’t feel good.
• Admitting when I am wrong doesn’t make me leap for joy.
• Admitting when I am wrong doesn’t seem like a position of strength.

It is quite humbling to admit, “I am wrong” especially when something large is at stake. I mean the Senior Executive could have had me fired for insubordination when I admitted my opposing views on all of his plans, but I had to seek restoration.

• Seeking restoration from GOD means I know I am in a fallen state with HIM.
• Seeking restoration from GOD means I know I don’t deserve any mercy so I cannot even say “why have YOU forsaken me” to HIM when things go wrong.
• Seeking restoration from GOD means I know I have broken all of HIS laws and need HIS grace in the timing HE will give it and the method HE delivers it.

It is quite arrogant to get angry at GOD, especially when I haven’t admitted that I am the one who needs grace. Fortunately for me HIS grace is quite amazing! HE sees my anguish and gives me exactly what I need instead of what I deserve. HE placed the HOLY SPIRIT in my sinful body and rooted out all sin. HE forgave me when I asked HIM to.

• Are you down?
• Are you low?
• Can you confess to GOD what you have against HIM?
• Will you seek restoration by asking GOD to renew and restore you?

Forgiven

Psalm 32: ¹ Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³ When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

============

I find that it is easier to forgive than to ask for forgiveness. I mean asking for forgiveness means I have to see what I did wrong, ask the person for forgiveness and accept the consequences of what I did. BUT GOD says it isn’t hard.

• GOD says to me “If you confess your sins I will be faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness.”
• GOD says to me “If you confess with your mouth the JESUS is LORD “ and believe in your heart, you will be saved.
• GOD says to me “No one is righteous, no not one, but whoever believes in their heart the JESUS is the CHRIST, they will be saved.”

GOD is. HE forgives me for all my sins and cleanses me of all unrighteousness. I feel great about confessing to HIM daily!

• Are you too ashamed to confess your sins?
• Do you think hiding your sins is good?
• Can you come out and confess your sins to GOD who is waiting for you?

Asking for Forgiveness

2 Chronicles 6: ²¹ Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

============

Laughing at the escapades of a friend, the teacher came in and saw what he was doing and immediately grabbed his arm to get his attention (yeah I know, this is back in the day). She said he would have to stay after school fifteen minutes. The laughter stopped but a giggle still remained on my face.

She then turned to me and asked “what’s so funny?” Then the words of devastation came from her mouth “You stay too! And when the time is up I want you to apologize.” Parents knew how long it would take us to get home and if we weren’t there we were questioned. And besides, why do I have to apologize? “I didn’t do anything wrong” I said to myself.

• Many times I don’t see myself as being guilty.
• Many times I rationalize what I’m doing to justify my actions.
• Many times I think I am innocent when I am really guilty.

GOD said “Your righteousness is like filthy rags” and HE is right. My acts of service have sin at the core. Even my prayers come from a sinful perspective because GOD knows I will do the same sin again and again. But there is something amazing that happens with GOD when I communicate to HIM.

• GOD says “All have sinned and have fallen short of MY glory.”
• GOD says “Confess sins. I am faithful and righteous to forgive sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.”
• GOD says “I truly love you so put your trust in ME.”

Admitting to GOD that I need HIM instead of being on the path I am on helps me see HIM in a different light. Instead of blaming the ONE I need I have to humbly ask for forgiveness especially when I think I haven’t done anything wrong. The Pharisees never could see they were wrong so they could never confess.

Asking GOD for forgiveness is a privilege. It shows HIM I have nowhere to turn and I trust HIS ways.

• Are you in a quandary?
• Do you feel GOD has forgotten you?
• Can you ask HIM for forgiveness and to open your eyes to a stronger relationship with HIM today?
• Can you stop being defeated, put your feelings behind you and start trusting in GOD?

Watch out when fighting GOD

2 Samuel 18: ⁹ Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.

============

“I wonder what fun I will have this afternoon?” I thought to myself as I plotted my escape from school. We could go home for lunch and this time I planned not to return. I was a “latch-key” kid meaning I had a key around my neck tied to an old shoe string. Both of my parents worked while I was in school so my plan would be flawless. I would go home to an empty house.

When I arrived, there stood my father. Something had happened that required him to be home. You mean the ONLY time I tried to ditch school was on a day he was there! Yes my plan was small yet huge because I never tried again.

• Looking back I see times where GOD thwarted my plan for evil.
• Looking back I see times where GOD placed an obstacle in front of my plan to ignore HIM.
• Looking back I see times where GOD used something irregular to upset my fall into temptation.

When I was immature in knowledge of GOD it seemed like HE would stop my evil plans in order to keep me on the path. As I grew older, GOD allowed me to fall into the traps I tried to get into.  HE would allow consequences to hit me hard and would always leave HIS arms open wide for my return.

The whole Earth is GOD’s and HE can use any bit of it to make my plans unsuccessful or successful. HE knows when I am trying to follow my own plan which will lead to a destructive path and eventually wind up fighting HIM on all fronts. GOD simply wants me to follow HIM so HIS love for me will be pure.

• Are you fighting GOD on something?
• Can you allow HIM to say “No” or “wait”?
• Do you always have to get “your” way?
• Can you see when GOD is placing obstacles in your path in order to steer you?

Admitting it gives me power

Numbers 5: ⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘Suppose a man or woman does something wrong to someone else. Then that person is not being faithful to the Lord. People like that are guilty.

⁷ “‘They must admit they have committed a sin. They must pay in full for what they did wrong. And they must add a fifth to it. Then they must give all of it to the person they have sinned against.

============

One day I decided to stop lying and admit stuff.  It seemed like the weeks that followed were full of opportunities for me to stretch the truth. My boss had asked me if I had completed a certain report. I thought to myself “say I’ve started it but I ran into difficulty” but the real answer was “no” and that’s what I told him but I also explained I was busy with other items. He accepted the truth.

You mean all I had to do was admit I was wrong.  I started doing this all over. Soon I was able to face my fears and sometimes I didn’t get the thing I really desired but my conscience remained clear.

• When I do something wrong to someone I don’t want to admit it.
• When I shirk my responsibility I don’t want to admit it.
• When I mess up I don’t want to admit it.

GOD made an enormous number of laws for humans to follow.  If one law was broken, then I would be guilty of all. HE made it much easier on me by dying for my guilt. I must admit I am in need of HIS death, burial and resurrection in order to have a relationship with HIM.

• GOD wants me to admit I am a person who doesn’t like HIS ways.
• GOD wants me to admit I deserve to be separated from HIS love.
• GOD wants me to admit I need HIM rather than thinking I can clean myself up.
• GOD wants me to admit I am guilty but I can be freed from guilt by belief in HIS actions.

Admitting things to humans is difficult but liberating. The sin holds no power when I admit my wrong. Admitting things to GOD is even more powerful!

• Are you in the wrong and haven’t admitted it?
• Have you committed a sin and in your mind you have spun it around to make it look like the other person?
• Can you admit your guilt to GOD?
• Don’t you want to be free?

Feeling Forgiven

Exodus 26: ³³ Hang the curtain from the hooks.

“Place the ark of the covenant behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Room from the Most Holy Room.³⁴ Put the cover on the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Room. The cover will be the place where sin is paid for.

============

As I told one lie it seemed only fitting to tell another.  How in the world could my parents tell that I was lying? I mean the first response of “I don’t know” should have been sufficient. Why were they asking me so many questions? Can’t this incident just be done?

• Many times I want forgiveness without admitting I did something wrong.
• Many times I want forgiveness without understanding consequence.
• Many times I want forgiveness without having to face the fact that I am flawed.

The initial covenant between mankind and GOD included a lot of conditions, like a special ceremony for confession of sin. GOD designed a special place that humans were supposed to enter with extreme caution and reverence.  Confession of sin was the main focus and it had to be done the right way, with the shedding of blood from a sacrifice. Do I need to do this?

• GOD did away with the sacrifices to HIM because HE sacrificed HIMSELF for me.
• GOD no longer needs the blood of an animal because HE used HIS own blood to pay for my sins.
• GOD does not need me to carry around stone tablets because HE placed HIS law in my heart.

One of my major battles is “feeling forgiven” rather than “:knowing I am forgiven.” Yes I know CHRIST died for me but sometimes I don’t “feel” it. GOD says “I will be with you always” and that lets me know I am forgiven. The laws in my heart battle with the ways of the world.

The battle wants me to doubt GOD’s everlasting love so I mistakenly seek “feeling” forgiveness with my own made up blinded criteria. GOD says to me “you are forgiven” and that’s all I need!

• Are you down on yourself?
• Are you feeling neglected rather than victorious?
• Can you stop believing the lie and start believing that GOD does care for you?
• Won’t you help others believe GOD cares for them?

Have I done anything for GOD?

Revelation 20: ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

============

Lying about my grades seemed to be a good idea at the time.  It was the only way to get into the program so I simply told them I had the grades. I figured that they would want me, not my grades. I didn’t know they would ask for my transcripts. All my mistakes had been recorded and the truth was documented. Now I had to face the consequences of not performing well and lying!

• Everything I do is being recorded.
• Every word I say is being written down.
• Every thought I think is being captured.

Here is my confusion.  You would think salvation is the goal and those who believe would not be judged, but clearly that is not the case. Somehow I will be judged for every action I have ever done.  Unlike the “scales of justice” where every sin is balanced by a good deed GOD will still do something with my sins.

Fortunately for me, JESUS took my eternal consequence away from me and will wipe away my tears. My actions that I thought were for HIM will be judged and probably found that they were for me instead. The actions that I thought were useless will probably be the ones where GOD says I was truly on the mark.

Whatever the case GOD wants me to have a life that is full of HIM.

• GOD wants me to serve those in need right now even if it is not the perfect time to serve.
• GOD wants me to be there for HIS people to help in their hurt not add to it.
• GOD wants me to recognize that every human has a chance to believe in HIM so my pursuit should include them even if my belief is different than theirs.

My recorded actions should include compassion, love, kindness, mercy, sacrifice and generosity. Sometimes I will get it right.

• Are you doing things for you or GOD?
• Is your service to GOD used for cleaning up your sins or for love for others?
• Are you better than “those people over there” or are you focused on listening to GOD?
• Do you truly have compassion or is it a façade?

Do I really “need” GOD?

1 John 1: ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

============

No more drinking was my vow to the LORD. I wanted to remain sober to do GOD’s work. No more cursing or cussin’ was my vow to the LORD. I didn’t want to “offend” other people because I was doing GOD’s work. No more offensive jokes wasn’t a vow but I figured I shouldn’t do that either.

Soon I felt like a spiritual giant.  I mean I had rid myself of “all” my sin and I could no longer hang out with the folks who were still “not pleasing” GOD. I could only listen to songs with GOD in it and news from stations where only GOD was mentioned. "Those" people would drag me down and besides, “I stopped sinning, so should they!”

• There are times where I think I can get “better” from my sinful state.
• There are times where I think there are different levels of sin and the sin I’m doing isn’t really sin when you compare it to “that” person.
• There are times where I think I haven’t sinned today simply because I didn’t do the same sin I did yesterday.

It’s real easy to compare myself with others as a measure of “how well I’m doing with GOD.” I mean I see someone serving and I think I should out-serve that person or I hear of someone giving and maybe I should out-give that person.  Soon I’m in an atmosphere where I think I must be pleasing GOD because I’m not only serving people and giving but I’m not sinning too.

I must be doing great with the LORD.  Since I’m not sinning I can “judge” others so they will stop sinning and they will “fit” in with “us.” So why does it feel like I’m running out of energy?

• GOD wants me to examine myself to realize I will always need HIM to save me.
• GOD wants me to tell people about my sins to make them feel comfortable enough to confess their sins.
• GOD wants me to let people know that the more they confess about themselves the larger their ministry will grow.

I was great at the spiritual act. I could put on the “walk on water” face and really look good but I found that I was actually repulsive to others and probably GOD. In fact I acted like I didn’t need GOD because I was already clean! GOD says to me "the only way to healing is by confession." In other words HE can fix me if I admit “I’m” broken.

• Do you think you are better than “that” person because of a sin they did?
• Do you think that just because you aren’t doing certain sins then you are clean?
• Can you examine yourself further to see what barriers you are building up between you and GOD?
• Could you possibly be facing the sin of “omission” or “exclusion” by not seeking the needs of people who don’t act or look like you?

Grace taken for granted

Romans 11: ²²Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

============

After many difficult experiences, I finally saw GOD at work in my life. HE had brought me through difficult times time and time again. After the difficult times I began to relax.  I mean during the storm I prayed a little longer, served people better and attempted to walk the straight and narrow.

When times were not so difficult I found my prayer time shrinking, my service diminishing and my thoughts about GOD dissipating. “HE won’t mind if I sin this time, I mean HE forgave me for all my sins right?” Well yes but…

• When I think I can freely sin without consequence, I am not on GOD’s path.
• When I believe I can get away with hidden sin, I am not following GOD.
• When I try to get my way more than GOD’s way, I am set for failure.

Grace is a very strange thing, I can’t get more of it nor can I demand it. I have to be pardoned by the one who is just which means I should know what I’ve done wrong in the first place and accept the fact that I deserve consequence for my actions. GOD’s grace covers all my sins but I can reject HIS grace and become demanding which is a very dangerous place to be.

• GOD’s supreme nature is something I should never take for granted otherwise I will become demanding of HIM.
• GOD’s gift of grace is something I should never take for granted otherwise I will be a useless tool that HE will break or throw away.
• GOD’s gift of mercy is something I should never take for granted otherwise I may end up with wrath instead of love.

Fearing GOD is the beginning of wisdom. HE grants grace to whom HE pleases. I can never think GOD won’t or shouldn’t allow the consequence of my sin to go unnoticed. Yes HE threw my sin as far as east is from the west, yet HE said my sins will be made known to “everyone.”

I should not take GOD’s grace for “granted!”

• Are you living a lifestyle that is pleasing to GOD?
• Are you putting any effort into a relationship with HIM?
• Are you trying to get your way?
• Can you let go of your way and ask GOD what does HE want you to do?

These three words

Romans 10: ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

============

We had just returned from our tour of the city and at that moment I knew she was “the one.” Looking at her beauty inside and out made me finally say these three words… “I love you!” Wow, that was great! I finally professed a desire to have a super special relationship with the love of my life.

• I can declare a special relationship to humans easier than I can declare a relationship to JESUS.
• I can tell everyone about loving someone easier than I can tell someone I love JESUS.
• I can speak about my love for a human and not feel embarrassed but hide my relationship with JESUS.

When I’m in a group of people who are doing some things that are not of GOD but looks “fun” I want to join in.  I mean everyone over there is laughing and it seems like they don’t have a care in the world, meanwhile I’m over here struggling to follow JESUS.  Is HE even listening to me?

• The three words GOD wants to hear from me are “JESUS is LORD!”
• The three words that GOD adores me to say publicly are “JESUS IS LORD!”
• The three words that are very difficult to say to those I have “sinned” with are “JESUS is LORD!”

When I say “JESUS is LORD” out loud, with people watching something strange happens. They start watching me. People want to see if I will really try to follow HIS ways and they want to see if oceans will part in front of me. Well I haven’t seen oceans part in front of me but I can tell you HE truly is LORD.

My advice to those watching me is to take their eyes off of me and put them on the one who deserves to be watched, namely JESUS.  I sin, HE never sinned. HE is the only one who can declare me righteous as soon as I call on HIS name. I now have no shame to say “JESUS IS LORD!”

• Can you open up your mouth right now and say “JESUS is LORD!?”
• Does it feel weird saying “JESUS is LORD” out loud?
• Can you get more practice saying “JESUS is LORD” especially around those you sin with?
• Can you look “that” person in the face and say “JESUS is LORD” without being embarrassed?

I admit it I did it

Acts 19: ¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. ¹⁹ A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

============

“Spray paint!” I thought to myself.  I searched the garage vigorously to see if I could find a can that matched. Believe it or not I did! Well it sort of matched. I backed the car into the garage and began my body work on my mothers’ car. I tried to cover up the dent from the accident I was in.

Yes it was the guys’ fault but he had no insurance and I had no experience in making sure he paid for the damage. I figured I would just paint the car and explain everything later… much later!

• When I try to hide my sins I can’t get better.
• When I try to hide my sins I never grow up in following GOD.
• When I try to hide my sins I don’t admit I need JESUS’ help.

Hidden sin is the worst sin. At least if I were blatant with my sins, someone could approach me with correction then I would have a choice to follow GOD or not. When I sin and try to hide it, the HOLY SPIRIT says to me “you shouldn’t have done that.” HE never repeats HIMSELF but let’s me know I am forgiven when I admit my maleficence.

• Admitting sin is never easy at first but gets easier the more I do it.
• Admitting sin lifts all kinds of burdens from my conscience.
• Admitting sin doesn’t give me the license to sin more but helps me identify areas of weakness that I need accountability for.
• Admitting sin enables me to live a victorious life because I have GOD on my side.

It’s funny how GOD works. HE tells me I must confess my sins and believe HIS SON died for them. I can never be good enough or strong enough to break my way into an eternal relationship with GOD.  Confession says “GOD I need you” rather than “I will hide my sins and try to make it on my own.” 

I can now say “LORD, I admit I am wrong in YOUR eyes and I want an everlasting relationship with YOU.”

• Are you hiding something?
• Are you trying to cover up your sin?
• What do you think you will gain by trying to hide any sin from GOD?
• Do you know the embarrassment of admitting your sin is far better than a broken relationship with JESUS?

Looks can be deceiving.

John 4: ³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.

 ⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

============

Telling everyone about the wrong things I have done in my life is actually no party.  I liked when people would complement me on how “good” I was because it fit right into the political game I was playing so well. Seems as if people didn’t really care if I were actually sincere with my “goodness”, as long as I had the appearance, I would be okay.

It seems as if the better I look to humans the worse I look to GOD.

GOD looks through my “got it together” exterior only to find a messed up interior.

Fear ensues when I have to publicly confess my wicked heart because I may damage my reputation.

Testimonies are what the world needs yet we pursue the wealthy and powerful who hide their stories so well. The more resources I had the easier it was to hide my lusts. It was kind of a diversion tactic to throw people off my scent. BUT GOD wants a testimony.

• GOD is pleased when I tell people I have lusted and “battle” it even today in order to stay married.
• GOD is pleased when I tell people I had no limits to the evil I would have gone along with to keep my wealth and power.
• GOD is pleased when I tell people I am no better than the worse sinner no matter how heinous the crime.

None of my sins have power over me any longer. I tell people about my fears, doubts and worries and then I look around and they are gone. GOD reaches into my heart and cleans out the gook and grime and replaces it with HIS tenderness.

I guess by telling people about my sin they will not revere me rather they can confess their sins and revere the one who died for them, namely JESUS. The Samaritans didn’t like the Jews uppity ways of trying to “appear” clean. They finally had true “Great News” that JESUS doesn’t care about sin rather HE cares about sinners like me.

• What sin are you trying to hide?
• What sin are you openly broadcasting?
• Do you think GOD is pleased with the thing you are trying to hide?
• Can you confess to others and stop trying to appear “good” so GOD can use your heart?