Two types of guilt or “Sorrow” as it reads in my Bible–

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” -2 Corinthians 7:10

All humanity is convicted over certain things…we often times call it guilt. I don’t like to use the word “guilt” in association with God, but for lack of a better term at this moment that is what we are going with. Guilt is often misunderstood but Paul here states very clearly what is a Godly “guilt” or conviction and what is a “guilt” conviction from the devil or the world.

If we feel “guilt” conviction and it leads us to repent…now remember repentance is not just saying sorry, or feeling bad, or regretting something. Repentance is all those things, but it is also TURNING AWAY from sin, we may have to turn away several times, but it is still turning away from it. But if we feel a “guilt” that leads us to repent then we are experiencing this in the Spirit of God.

If we feel a “guilt” conviction and we may say sorry, or feel bad, or even have regret, but it does not lead us to turn away from that sin or mistake it is not truly a God led conviction. Also though if we feel “guilt” and even after we repent we continue to feel miserable and like we want to die…then that guilt is a false guilt and it is from the devil! Jesus’ conviction will never lead us towards a desire to die. That is the persecution of the devil!

One other thought I had in this reading:

We see in chapter 8 another reason to give to God’s work here on earth monetarily. Not just in our labors or our words, but actual physical gifts. Paul starts off chapter 8 by sharing about a church that gave generously, even beyond their means.

He then ends chapter 8 with this:

“Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.”                          -2 Corinthians 8:24

Paul is challenging the church in Corinth to show that they are just as loving as this other church….how? Through their monetary gifts. In our modern culture Pastors can get in trouble for saying, “we need to prove our love through our tithes and offerings” and yet it seems like such a position is Biblical…oh and by the way we aren’t proving our love to God in this, this is not a work of legalism, we are doing it as a witness to our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus and thus encouraging them to do the same.

Next Reading: Exodus 21-24

My notations from this reading:

“And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.” -Mark 15:21

I never noticed this before, Simon of Cyrene’s son’s names are mentioned in this text. Why does that matter to me? It tells me that this one encounter with Jesus changed the life of Simon and thus the life of the entire family, so much so that years after Jesus’ death Mark knew not only the name of the man that carried the cross but he knew his family as well, because Simon and his family were part of the disciples family now. The power of an encounter with Jesus, converting hearts even while He is headed to the cross.

Of course He also converted hearts while hanging on the cross,

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” -Mark 15:39

The interesting point about this text is that this centurion, a Roman centurion, is the first in all the book of Mark to acknowledge Jesus as the “Son of God” which then in a way is Mark affirming the heart of this Roman soldier.

Then immediately after that the women that followed Jesus were affirmed,

There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. -Mark 15:40, 41

Mark is just going after all the biases in one fell swoop!

“After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.” -Mark 16:12, 13

Based on the two texts above the disciples should have already been out spreading the good news of Jesus’ resurrection…but they weren’t which is why,

“Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.” -Mark 16:14, 15

This text to me is powerful because there are some of us that at times think we would have greater faith if we could have seen Jesus face to face…it seems Jesus doesn’t see that as a legitimate excuse for not believing. The testimony of another is enough in the Lord’s eyes.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 6-8

The blog is back-up and here is last night’s post:

I thoroughly enjoy the flow of Jeremiah and today’s reading was no different. The entire reading is interesting and I would encourage you to delve into it; but what I am going to focus on is one of the most quoted scriptures in all the Bible which also happens to be one of the most misapplied scriptures in all the Bible…

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

Or in the NIV

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

How many graduates will receive this “promise” in a card or on the inside cover of a book or in a graduation speech over the next several weeks? And how many will receive this promise in a misused fashion?

Too many read this text and apply this text as if God is our vending machine that is just going to make everything “hunky dory” but what about the graduate from college that reads this card and then for two years can’t find a job with the degree he/she just paid $10,000’s of dollars to receive? What about the couple that gets married and they receive the promise, “I know the plans that I have for you…to give you a future and a hope,” and within two years they are filing for divorce. What about the family that on the day of the dedication of their child they receive a card affirming the promise God has for this little baby, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And then a few months later the baby is diagnosed with a terrible disease and the family realizes their child of “promise” has almost no future…no more than five years.

It is funny this text is used as a prosperity text but notice the actual context…

In chapter 28 a “prophet” named Hananiah prophesies in the empty temple of Jerusalem, it is empty because Babylon ransacked the city and took the temple pieces and most the people back to Babylon, but this guy gives a prophecy that in just two years all the people and all the belongings will be restored to Jerusalem. Jeremiah actually affirms the prophecy, not that he believes it, but, “yeah I wish God would do that…but He’s not going to…”

Then with the backdrop of a false promise of prosperity from Hananiah Jeremiah sends a letter to the Israelites exiles in Babylon and says this is what is really going to happen, “You’re going to live there a long time. Many of you will die there. Your kids will grow-up, get married and die there. And so you might as well make the best of a bad situation. In fact God states very clearly the best way for these folk to prosper in the midst of bad,

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” -Jeremiah 29:7 

That sounds a lot different than the greeting cards with promises of abundance because of Jeremiah 29:11…

So how does Jeremiah 29:11 then apply?

No matter how bad things get God does not forget and eventually all will be made right. And isn’t that a more accurate promise than prosperity here on this earth?

We are journeying through this world and the promise isn’t in this world we’ll have the greatest experience, that we’ll have no calamity, that we’ll always prosper, that we have a great future here on this earth ahead of us…

The promise is that one day maybe still years from now…maybe long after we’re gone…maybe even long after our children our gone…all things will eventually be made right…sin will be no more, death will be no more, sorrow will be no more, we will not hope against hope, no our hope will ultimately be completely fulfilled, ’till then the best thing for us to do is as we are able pray for the nations we live in and seek to live like Jesus in the midst of those that don’t believe around us and God will ultimately bless them through our prayers, and us through their blessing in some way ’till that day of ultimate blessing.

Oh and one more thing…that ultimate promise comes as a result of relationship with our Lord…

“Then you will callon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” -Jeremiah 29:12-14

Better than a false prosperity promise of Jeremiah 29:11 this year let us give to our young people and our fellow man the promise of an eternal hope that can be ours and theirs as we daily seek the face of Jesus.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Mark 15 & 16

As I have so often reading the book of Job I struggled to find the meaning of the text for myself…or even in the larger context and so I searched for help. I liked what I read in the Asbury Commentary and wanted to share it with you:

Elihu’s fourth speech has two distinct parts. In the first part he moves beyond the penal concerns of the three comforters and emphasizes the remedial implications of suffering (36:1-25). In the second part Elihu focuses on God’s activities in nature, thereby anticipating the speeches of the Lord that follow (36:26-37:24).

Although God is mighty, he does not despise his creatures (36:5). Contrary to what Job claims (21:7), the wicked are not allowed to live (36:6). When the righteous suffer, it is to alert them to their sins (v. 9) and to lead them to repentance (v. 10). Through such suffering God speaks (v. 9). If the righteous learn from their discipline, prosperity and contentment will follow (v. 11). If they do not, doom will overtake them (v. 12). Elihu now applies this principle to Job (vv. 16-21), but this strophe is so problematic that it is not clear whether Elihu is encouraging or warning Job. While there is strong scriptural support for suffering being remedial in nature, the prologue precludes its application to Job. Job’s suffering is neither penal nor remedial. It is a demonstration of his integrity.

Elihu now turns to the greatness of God as revealed in nature (36:26-37:13). This portion begins with an emphasis on the power of God as seen in the storm. God has not only created the forces of nature, he controls them. He sends the rain (vv. 27-28), the thunder (v. 29), and the lightning (v. 30). The destructive qualities of the storm suggest God’s anger and his judgment (vv. 31-32). There is no break in thought here even though the speech extends into the next chapter where there is a shift from an attitude of awe to expectation. The thunder is recognized as the voice of God (vv. 29, 33; cf. Ps 29) and the medium of a theophany. It is in the storm that God frequently reveals himself (Ex 19:18ff.; Ps 18:7-15; Jn 12:29). These verses are a preparation for the theophany Job will experience.

Do you agree w/ this commentary or no?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Jeremiah 27-31

Let us be honest for a moment. Everyone who has committed a truly horrific sin…maybe even some that have minor sins…are really, really, really glad that Psalm 51 is in the scriptures! I am raising both hands to testify of this!!

• We are glad because we see a great man that God loves who is broken over his sin and it gives us hope.
• We are glad because we are glad to know someone else, even if it is someone else from thousands of years ago can relate to what we are feeling under the weight of our sin.
• We are glad because we intrinsically know that the answer to David’s prayer is, “I forgive you My child.” And we believe and know, “then I can be forgiven too!”

Oh it is a Psalm I have gone to more times than I care to admit in my life…this and Psalm 32

I want to point out a couple key thoughts that come to me from this 51st Psalm:

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.” Ps. 51:1

David doesn’t appeal to God based on His past actions, “Oh God remember how well I’ve served You and that I have been basically good ’till now…” No, David knows that there is no reason he deserves forgiveness but that forgiveness is accessible to him through the love and power of God. Our appeals for forgiveness should not be based on negotiation of our merits, but simply asking Jesus to pour out His compassion…which He has in abundance…unlimited even.

“For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.” -Ps. 51:3, 4

David’s confession does not try and justify or rationalize his actions. There is no, “Well I was under pressure, and I messed-up this once.” He just confesses.

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” -Ps. 51:6

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” -Ps. 51:10

“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” -Ps. 51:16, 17

David doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about the actual sin of his adultery and murder…in fact read the Psalm again and notice he never mentions it directly. I point this out because how many times do we spend talking to God about the outward action of our sin but not the true sin, the true issue. David understands that the ultimate sin was not what took place with Bathsheba or Uriah, the ultimate sin was what took place in his heart that allowed him to get to that level of action. So he goes to God and acknowledges and asks God to deal with the root of the problem, his heart…what is one the inside.

“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.”-Ps. 51:13

David’s commitment to God–as you give me the joy of salvation I will teach people about You and I will lead people to follow You. I will do evangelism.

Do we go back to our sins so often because after we confess and ask forgiveness we don’t then GO TO work for the Lord’s cause?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 35 & 36

I was once told or read…I honestly do not remember which…that in the days of Israel’s early history that when a Kingdom was conquered by another Kingdom that the rulers of the conquered Kingdom would be stripped down naked and forced to dance before the people as they entered their new city. Since hearing that, if this is in fact true I have always had a new perspective on 2 Samuel 6:12-16,

“Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet. 16 Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.” 

If the historical assessment at the top is accurate than understand what David is doing…

The Ark of the Lord is being brought into Jerusalem and David is, of his own free will, stripping down and dancing before the Ark. What is he indicating? To me based on the historical understanding I have, David is communicating to the people that he, the King of Israel, is actually subject to the King of Kings. Wouldn’t this make sense as to why Michal his wife is so upset? This was the behavior of a conquered king, not a ruling king!

“But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!”” -2 Samuel 6:20

She is saying David acted like a servant, not a king…

But David understands something about Godly leadership that Michal does not, that her father King Saul did not…

“I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.”” -2 Samuel 6:22

Servant leadership is the greatest power amongst God’s movement and God’s people.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Psalm 51-53