Tag Archives: repentance

May 7

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2 Samuel 5:13-16, 13:1-15:6; I Chronicles 14:3-7, 3:4-9

Did you ever want something so badly you couldn’t think of anything else? This thing, or this person would become your obsession. You’d think about what it would be like to have it, you’d dream about it, agonize over it. You get to the point where you believe you’d never be happy without it.

Maybe wanting this thing began to effect your day-to-day. You became moody or depressed or angry. You may have prayed God would give it to you, even if you knew it was a sin. You convince yourself you deserve it.

But does getting that thing ever bring the happiness you envisioned? Amnon took Tamar and once he had sex with her he hated her. His obsession ruined his life, Tamar’s life, and effected his  entire family.

Do you find yourself thinking… I’d be happy “if”? If I got married, if I had a different job, if I had a nicer house or drove a better car.

God is reminding me that if my focus is on anything or anyone other than him I am worshiping an idol. And he is very adamant about me not worshiping anyone or anything but him.

Amnon allowed himself to entertain sinful thoughts which became his focus. As he continued to feed his thoughts they grew until he was out of control. The result? Let’s just say it ended badly for all of them.

May the thoughts we think, the desires of our hearts be acceptable to God. And if we find our focus is on anything other than God, may we recognize it as sin and repent of it before we, too, are out of control. 

 

May 2

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2 Samuel 11:2-12:24, Psalms 6, 32, 38

David was so mad at the rich man who took the pet of the poor neighbor’s children to serve it for lunch. In fact, David wanted the rich man to die for being so mean and thoughtless. Until he realized he was that rich man.

It tends to be easier to recognize sin in everyone else except ourselves, don’t you think?One might call someone out for having an affair, yet visit pornography in the privacy of their own home. Another might condemn a person for murdering a neighbor yet vote for legislators who enable unborn children to be murdered without penalty. We might break off a relationship because someone lied, yet tell our boss we got caught in traffic instead of overslept.

Didn’t Jesus say something about taking care of the plank in our own eye before we worry about the splinter in someone else’s?

This is not to say that we shouldn’t identify sin in ourselves and in others. We want to hold each other accountable before God. The lesson here is that we need to be honest about our own sin as well as the sin of others. We need to ask God to forgive us before we tell someone else to do the same.

Sometimes we might think if we protest loudly and often enough about some sin in someone else’s life people won’t notice that sin in us. 

But be warned. God notices. We may be able to pull off a charade with those people around us, but God sees it all. And he paid for it all. 

May we confess our sin and accept his forgiveness. Then… and only then… may we lovingly point others to the cross where they can find forgiveness, too.

Father, may we not ignore sin in our own lives or in the lives of our loved ones. Give us the ability to see ourselves as you see us. Point out those things that need confessed. And may we fall at your feet in repentance. Thank you for the forgiveness that is ours for the asking. Thank you for the precious blood of Jesus.