Repent, For the Kingdom of God

I am not so sure it is considered in good form or not to repost an entire blog post from somewhere else but I thought that this was definitely worth sharing. It was posted on the Ligonier Ministry Blog today.  That is a great place for solid, toe-stepping yet encouraging Biblical guidance.  This is one I read today that I think everyone should read often.  (I am not thinking of anyone in particular, I was too busy rubbing my own sore toes).  We often take our sin more lightly than we should.  It is easy to point fingers and say we are not as bad as so and so.  That is an easy way to justify our own actions but it is not what we are called to do.  We are called to a higher standard than each other.  We are called to repent.

Lord, forgive me for where I have failed you, for thinking more highly of myself than I ought, for focusing on the apologies I should receive (and may never get) and remember to give the ones I owe.  May I bring honor and glory to your name.  Amen

Now for the article.  Watch your toes!

Repent, For the Kingdom of God

December 4, 2009 @ 6:40 AM | Posted By: Tim Challies
by R.C. Sproul, Jr.

How quick are you to repent? If you're anything like me, you've just this moment added several more things to repent of. First, pride. I suspect that you, if you are like me, think yourself a pretty decent repenter. You likely wish that others would learn from your wonderful example, and do likewise. Indeed, now that I mention it, you can think of several people that owe you an apology, and aren't you the one for being so gracious about it up until now?

Second, lying. I suspect that you, if you are like me, have in thinking all of the above, lied to yourself in an egregious way. You are deluded, your delusions springing forth from your deceitful heart like so many dandelions on a spring day. Third, pride again. Here your pride is less about you and more about Jesus. That is, our failure to understand what failures we are is in turn a reflection on the work of Christ. We diminish His work on our behalf when we diminish the scope of our own sin. Fourth, unrepentance. That is, because you are a bigger sinner, like me, than you are willing to face, you have not repented for your sins like you ought. You have repented lightly for dark sins.

What should you do? You could get mad at me for pointing this all out. Or, you could repent.

You could ask that God would forgive you for thinking too highly of yourself. Ask that He would empower you to be swift to see your own sins, and swift in turn to confess them both to Him and to those that we wrong. You could ask that you might have earned the right to have etched on your gravestone, “He was quick to repent.” And you could thank God for His provision of His Son, so that we can be forgiven. You could ask Him to gently remind you, each time you find yourself unhappy about the sins of your family, your neighbors, your fellow parishioners from your church, your parents, your elders, that such would be a prompt to you to honestly assess your own weaknesses. That we are sinners is a problem solved by the coming of Jesus the Savior. That we don't know we are sinners, that is a problem for the Holy Spirit, who convicts, and sanctifies.

The answer to every problem is simple–repent and believe the gospel.

As frustrating as our own blindness might be, the light has come into the world. As maddening as our weaknesses might be, the Sovereign One has come and dwelt among us. As embarrassing as our pride might be, the one who is poor in Spirit has sent the Spirit to lead us into all truth, including the ugly truth about ourselves.

The coming year is likely to bring political unrest. Were I a betting man, I would guess in turn that it will be a year filled to the brim with economic hardship. We can expect to see more cultural decline. All of which will be for nothing if we do not learn the first lesson, to repent and believe.

Before we take over the levers of power, before we dominion our way back to prosperity, before we press the crown rights of King Jesus over the culture, may we remember the crown of thorns, and repent. And when we have repented, let us repent again for the anemia of our repentance. Then, let us believe that He is at work in us, both to do and to will His good pleasure. And all these things will be added unto us.

via Repent, For the Kingdom of God | Ligonier Ministries.

Resolving Conflict in Blogland

I thought blogging was supposed to be fun.  It is a way to share our thoughts and our convictions.  It is a way to meet like-minded people and to encourage one another.  I am fully aware of the fact that many people (even those who should be like-minded) disagree.  It seems to me though that if you are not big enough to take a little criticism and to take it with dignity then you should maybe reevaluate your motives.  I do not mind criticism, after all,  healthy discussion brings about growth.  What I do object to is the underhandedness, dirtiness, mean spirited, name calling, slanderous parties out there!

I know that where there is conflict we do not always behave in the best manner.  I have had situations in the past which have risen from disagreements in convictions.  Some I handled well with grace and dignity and others I did not but dealt with them in a rather sinful manner.  In those cases where I did not handle things in a godly manner I have repented, asked for forgiveness from those involved, and done what works I could to make amends.  I have learned that in all cases of conflict I should flee to the Lord and beseech him to grant me wisdom, clarity of heart and mind, and graciousness even amidst difficult conversations.   I am not the best at this but am growing.

Some situations clear up easily and others do not.  Sometimes that is because of differences in personalities, differences in how to resolve issues, differences in convictions and beliefs,  an unwillingness or inability due to insecurity to let others disagree, unrepentant or perceived unrepentant hearts.  All this to say, conflicts arise and they may even be over very important issues but when one takes that conflict and rather than trying to resolve things in a godly manner begin to slander and back stab all the while justifying their actions, that is just plain sinful!  I am currently watching another one of these situations unfold online and it breaks my heart.  I see the godly character of those involved.  I fully realize that I may not be seeing the whole picture and not know everything that each individual is doing but I do see the underhanded vengeful things that are being done to them and know that these actions are not godly.

If you have a disagreement with someone here is a word of advice from one who has been there.  Make sure you are confident enough in your convictions to be ok with the fact that people may and most likely at some point will disagree with you.  Remember it is not your job to change their minds or their hearts; that is up to the Lord.  Most importantly, be willing to hear them, learn from them, and be willing to admit you are wrong!  You just might be!  Try to speak with grace even if you have words that are difficult to hear. There is nothing wrong with speaking boldly but try to have a heart of humility not arrogance.  The other party may not recognize that you are acting from a heart of grace and humility but you still need to make sure that the motives of your heart are godly.  Approach the situation with the idea that others are trying to act from godly motives as well.  They may not be but give them the benefit of the doubt.  Earnestly request wisdom, a clean and pure heart, mind, and speech from the Lord.  It is so easy to get caught up in who is right and who is wrong that you loose sight of behaving in a godly manner.  Do not fall into that trap.  Learn when you have said enough and leave the outcome of changing hearts, minds, and actions to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Pray that the Lord will reveal areas in which you may need to repent concerning the conflict.  Make sure that when you repent of those things that you also ask for forgiveness from the others involved.  Be specific too so they are fully aware of the fact that you acknowledge your part (and what that was) in the conflict and are truly repentant.  This is not necessarily required but it goes a long way to bringing healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, and humility.

Have We Forgotten?

Leap Day — Sorrow & Hope

Leap Day is actually a pretty sad reminder for me. It is not one of my most favorite days. I remember as a child it was considered a fun day, after all it only came around every four years. That little bit of excitement melted away 16 years ago. It is hard to believe that it has been that long. I thought that I would share what happened on Leap Day those many years ago to turn my enthusiasm for the day to one of sorrow, melancholy, but also one of hope.

I was 20 years old and expecting our second child. I developed pre-eclampsia with her and delivered her prematurely. It was severe and we both were at risk of loosing our lives. The doctor’s said there is no known cause for this condition. I was an even more peculiar case because this is typically a first pregnancy condition. This was my second pregnancy and I had not had the condition in my previous one. They said many factors could have caused this condition, one of them being stress. I personally think that what occurred on that Leap Day past and the stress that accompanied it contributed to this situation with our daughter. She is a very healthy girl and always has been, the Lord has indeed blessed us!

So what happened, you ask?? I received a phone call from my mother. SIDE NOTE HERE: If you are calling someone with bad news (especially someone who has anxiety) DO NOT begin like this….. “Is your husband there? You need to sit down and have him right next to you before I tell you what is going on. We have some really bad news.” Just tell me already! I was severely stressed out just getting ready for the news!

She tells me that they found my uncle. I am thinking, “ok, I didn’t know he was missing.” I ask if he is ok. The reply was no. ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: per my hubby’s professional experience, ministerally and clinically, if someone is dead, say they are dead. It is concrete and doesn’t leave people hanging or interpreting.

My favorite uncle had been shot in the back of the head while sleeping and drug to his basement and left there. He had been there a few days before they found him; it was rather gruesome. The time of death was determined by the coroner to be Leap Day, February 29. Pretty much the whole family blamed his teenage son from the very beginning. My husband and I were more gentle. We gave him the benefit of the doubt realizing he had just lost his father. Our graciousness was indeed given to a murdered. They found the gun wrapped in his blue jeans stashed away in his room. My cousin was actually still living in the house with his father in the basement. He was convicted and sent to jail. Just in the last couple of years, he was released on parole.

I have struggled with this greatly over the years for many different reasons. There have been many things about this cousin come to light. Some very heinous things that I do not need to share, but they bring grief upon grief. We seek to explain why things happen, but sometimes we just cannot find the answers. Maybe though the meaning of this is not to seek answers but to seek the Lord instead. He is the answer to our grieving, our heartache, and death.

ANOTHER AMAZING SIDENOTE: As I sit here typing those last lines, the lyrics to the song I am listening to are these.

Give Me Jesus, Give Me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I come to die
oh when I come to die
and when I come to die
Give Me Jesus!

Give Me Jesus, Give Me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

I have been to more funerals in my lifetime than I care to really remember. I can say that there is a stark difference between those who know Jesus and those who do not. The difference is HOPE. Those who are not Christians have no hope or they try to cling to false hope which fails them in their time of need. Those who have Jesus as their hope find he never fails them. It is by having this hope in the Lord that we endure and come out stronger. We still must grieve and sorrow still comes but we can rest in knowing that the Creator of all gives comfort, strength, and salvation to those who believe.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the is on those who fear him,on those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 31:22 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33:20-22 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 130: 4-6 But with you there is forgiveness;therefore you are feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”