Corrective Therapy

So often we put our focus on avoiding one sin in particular. We decide we need to stop cursing, avoid lustful temptations, or watch our tongue. While it can be good to understand our weak areas and practice smart decision making, this can lead us to miss the bigger picture.

God isn't concerned as much with correcting small character flaws as He is capturing our hearts entirely for Him. He wants us to recognize that we aren't better people because we fix a few things in our behavior, but because He makes us better when we surrender to Him. He is calling us to a new, transformed life-not a better behaved version of who we've always been. Christ didn't come to behaviorally neuter us, but spiritually empower us to be different people entirely.

Tough (But Necessary) Questions

My blog yesterday focused on the need to see the evidence of life change if it is truly taking effect. It actually led me to be fairly introspective in my own journey of transformation. I realized that I often say that I am a changed man, but where's the real proof?

• Where is my temperament different? 
• What do I allow my thoughts to settle on? 
• How are my reactions different? 
• How have my priorities been shifted? 
• How have my values been realigned? 
• Where am I committing my resources?
• What commitments do I make and how do I maintain them?
• In what positive ways do I look at people differently?
• Where is it evident that I trust God more?

I have to ask these intrusive, personal questions if I expect to measure the pace of my own transformation. I would encourage anyone who really wants to be different to figure out what they need to ask to gauge their own progress.

Looking for Results

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

Many products change their label and tout that they are now "new & improved", but haven't really made adjustments that are noticeable. I feel that this can often describe people. We talk about how we aren't the same person we used to be, but the changes (even over great time) are negligible at best. If we are truly changing directions with our life choices there should be a corresponding change in what we produce. Our thought patterns, reactions, speech, and habits will slowly be transformed as well. These changes may not be immediately evident, but there should be a collective transformation that takes place as we look to improve our lives.

Rolling

Some college students decided to build a huge snowball this past week and see how big they could make it. Unfortunately, what seemed like a good idea quickly got out of control. As the snowball continued to grow it became unmanageable and unpredictable. They were no longer able to stop its momentum and eventually it crashed into one of the dorms causing damage to the wall.

That's a very similar path to sin in our lives. We start something thinking that it's a good idea and find out quickly that we are no longer in control. As our choices pile on top of each other the results of our behaviors start to become unmanageable and unpredictable. When we operate on our own we find that we can't seem to slow down the momentum of our consequences and eventually we cause damage to the people around us.

What can we do to make sure we don't see a snowball effect in our sin?

• Recognize that something is starting to build up.
• Get outside help if we don't think we are capable of seeing these potential pitfalls.
• Stop patterns of destructive behavior before they get too big too handle.
• Fall back on the old advice, "Don't start none, won't be none."

These college students didn't intend to do any harm with their snowy experiment. For most of us the same is true in our sinful experimentation. It's best to bring it to halt while it's still within our power to do so.

What a Waste

We grew up fairly poor by most standards. There wasn't an excess of food, clothing, or new things as we struggled to meet our day-to-day needs. We very rarely threw things away as we would use them until they fell apart or were handed down to someone else. It was a common understanding that we needed to be careful with what we had because we couldn't afford to waste it. We knew that our supply was very limited so being profligate wasn't an option.

Unfortunately, this attitude of cautious usage isn't the norm. Societally we tend to be wasteful people with our food, money, energy, and relationships. Spiritually, our repetitively sinful actions reflect our waste of God's grace & mercy. We cast them aside as we seek short-term pleasures and then beg God for more as these temporary visions fall short of fulfillment. We squander His forgiveness through our own selfishness and then fall before His compassionate nature in desperation

How fortunate are we that God is recklessly extravagant with His gifts for His children? Even as I continually stumble, I am grateful that God's supply of grace is bigger than the demand of my sin.

Turning Point

I wrote yesterday about God's correction in our lives & our need to respond to it quickly. The question each of us has to answer is: What is God specifically asking us to repent of? 

• Parenting issues (addressing problems instead of ignoring them, investing specifically in their future by doing the hard work of disciplining now)
• Marriages (honestly & lovingly communicating, adding value to our spouses instead of devaluing them, refusing to participate in emotional or physical infidelity)
• Finances (borrowing more than we can repay, mortgaging our future for temporary pleasures)
• Spirituality (putting off prayer/Bible for Facebook time, filling our schedules so that church isn't an option or is the last option)
• Community (allowing ourselves to take action for those around us in need instead of thinking someone else will step up)
• Blatant, intentional sin (getting drunk & calling it "blowing off steam", addicted to porn, flirting with people not our spouse, lying to improve our position or "stay out of trouble", choosing physical intimacy outside of God's desire for short-term satisfaction)

We have to develop a desire to identify sin & remove ourselves from it. If someone dropped a hand grenade in our living room we wouldn't get as close to it as possible with our family, but would remove them from harm's way. The same caution must be shown to sin if we want to escape the direct and collateral damage it causes. Our obedience to repentance reveals our willingness to follow Christ.

Turn Around

The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they'll live 

at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! Revelation 3:19

We tend to associate correction with negative thoughts and believe that anyone who would call us to account isn't in our favor. It's also a popular misconception about God and reinforces the negative image that has been created in the minds of so many about His true nature. Part of His loving nature includes correcting us so that we can become the best possible version of us. It's what a genuine, loving parent would do for their children.

There is a sense of urgency in this verse as well. Not only is God encouraging us to pay attention to His correction, He wants us to do it quickly. The longer we put off repentance, the more damage we do to ourselves and those we care about. Running after God reveals the value we put on our intimacy with Him and our inner desire to live life His way.

It's a Trap

I was sitting on the dock this morning for my coffee & prayer time and noticed a spider web that was filled with flying insects. While I sat there I saw several bugs fly into the same web that had already captured so many of their friends. It was if the multitude of doomed bugs wasn't alarming enough to keep them away. It was an interesting lesson in ignoring warning signs and the example of others.

How often do we willingly do the same thing? We ignore our history and previous, painful experiences and continue to make destructive decisions. We regret the things that we say, think, and do and yet don't do anything to correct the behaviors that led us there. The examples of marital infidelity, financial struggles, ruined reputations, and unsatisfactory lives around us fail to keep us from making ridiculously poor decisions. 

We are certainly more intelligent than the flying insects that keep getting trapped in the spider's web. Our higher cognitive abilities don't necessarily prevent us from the sinful patterns that not only trap us, but will certainly destroy us. To prevent the same painful results we must change direction and learn from our own past and the example of those around us. 

Repentance is the beginning of restoration and learning. 

Slow Fade

One of the benefits to reading large chunks of the Bible at once is that you get a big picture of what is happening & understand cause and effect more clearly. I just finished reading through 1 & 2 Kings this morning and was struck by how quickly things fell apart for Israel due to their sin. What was once a powerful nation that worshiped God had become a scattered group of exiled slaves with no identity of their own. The once beautiful temple and palace had been stripped of anything of value. It was now a ghost town with only faint echoes of the power and promise that once lived there. It is a sad and cautionary tale of the results of choosing to ignore God after being blessed for so long.

How can this happen to us even today? I know of far too many churches that once had God's hand of favor on them, but have now dwindled in size and glocal (global & local) impact. My mind turns to families that once lived strong, passionate lives for Christ, but are now splintered and broken after unrepentant sin has ruined them.

How do we make sure this doesn't happen to our own families or to the church? By continually asking God to examine our hearts and reveal sin to us so that we can repent, confess, and receive forgiveness. It takes a concerted effort (individual & group) to study God's Word and seek His direction in constant prayer. When we humble ourselves before a great & mighty God as a people, we will find that we are following His will and honoring the covenant we have made with Him.

Against God

Recognizing that you have sinned is not comfortable. There is a realization that you have done something (or not done something) that is clearly outside of God's plan for you. The results of our sin can also damage other people around us-family, friends, co-workers, and people in our church. The regret that we feel is often a result of the fallout of those transgressions in our lives. We don't want other people to think badly of us and become focused on seeking forgiveness from those we have wounded. We repeatedly plead with people for their forgiveness, but spend cursory moments asking God to wipe away these blemishes.

True repentance & forgiveness can only begin when we understand that our greatest sin is not against the people in our lives, but against God. While this does not diminish the outcomes in this physical world it does help us gain perspective on our relationship with our King. Any sin in our lives separates us from Him and must be recognized for what it is-a rebellion against the leadership of the Holy Spirit in us. When we genuinely confess our sin to God and become overwhelmed at how we have worked against Him, we begin a transformation process in our hearts. This will lead us into a deeper walk with God that will change us more into His likeness and allow us to eventually overcome the hurt we have caused to those we care about.

Get In the Ring

The body will naturally do one of two things when confronted with stress: fight or flight. There are no other options. When confronted with a situation that causes anxiety we either use the natural rush of adrenaline to stand firm or to find a reason to quickly escape. I saw it in athletes for many years and it resulted in championships for those that refused to run and disappointment for those that didn't recognize that their bodies & emotions had betrayed them. I saw it happen many times in youth ministry as God's truth become evident to young people who either fought the good fight of faith or simply disappeared to never return.

I am pondering this natural, God-created response as I think about the people that I know need to make a decision to follow Christ. There are so many that are sitting in church (not just Northridge either) and are being exposed to the beauty of choosing God's way and yet they don't choose to follow. I sense the Holy Spirit bringing people right to the edge of radical change and then see them run. Fighting isn't easy (it's not called the "nap or flight" reaction) but it reveals our confidence in God's power over our circumstances. It's a trade-off that we are not always consciously making. Do we run from the challenge of life change or stand firm on the promises of God to give us a life that is abundantly full? It's a decision that we must continue to make daily if we want to stay on the narrow path that leads to salvation.

Torn to Shreds

God doesn't sneak judgment in on us-He doesn't play games or try to trick us. He repeatedly tells us that if we ignore His Word and choose sin that destruction will follow. We establish a pattern of ignoring His warnings and then are devastated when the consequences fall on us.

In the book of Joel, the prophet is revealing a message from God concerning the destruction that is on the way. The Israelites have forsaken God for too long and are about to suffer the consequences. Staying true to His compassionate nature, God again offers an opportunity at repentance in Joel 2:12-14. He tells them to return to Him, but to "rend their hearts and not their garments."

It was a cultural sign of sorrow to tear your clothing and it symbolized the remorse that you felt over your current circumstances. It was supposed to be a reflection of the deep anguish that was felt over sinning against God, but easily turned into a false display of humility and repentance that did nothing to bring about transformation. While we no longer tear our clothes, this disingenuous action is still seen in dashing to the altar at the end of the service for prayer while doing nothing all week to actually change our hearts.

God's greatest desire isn't for us to do the right thing externally. It is for our hearts to truly be broken over our sin against Him and for that soul transformation to be reflected in the decisions we make. Authentic pursuit of godly repentance is the key to personal and community revival.

Harvesting

Scripture repeatedly tells us that we will reap what we sow-if you plant tomatoes you will harvest tomatoes when the time is right. In other words, our current circumstances in life are a result of our efforts and investment of resources in the past.

If you neglect your children so that you can focus on your career you shouldn't be surprised when they become adults and are no longer close to you. When you live beyond your financial means each week to maintain your status you shouldn't be shell-shocked when your car is repossessed or creditors call. When you don't have the tough conversation with your spouse because it brings up things that make you uncomfortable, you shouldn't expect there to be honesty & intimacy in your relationship no matter how long you've been together. When you are difficult to work with and don't build trust with your co-workers it shouldn't be a shock to you when you are asked to leave your job. When you continually choose your addiction over real relationships, why would you be stunned to find yourself broken, alone, and desperate for something that lasts?

You can't plant squash and expect cucumbers to grow. The only way that we can harvest something different from what we have planted is through God's power. It is a result of His ability to transform our weaknesses and sinful pasts and turn it into something magnificent for Him. This is a product of our willingness to fully repent of sin and beg God to redeem our mistakes through the power of His grace.

Who Are You Hurting?

Sin is a topic we don't like to talk much about. We prefer to either ignore the things that we are doing, rationalize our behavior or belittle it to assuage our guilt and/or shame. Part of the problem is our understanding of who we are actually affecting with our sinful choices. We tend to think that unless it is a deliberate choice to hurt someone else that it can't be that bad. Looking at porn doesn't impact those around us therefore it isn't a big deal. Being prideful is really about our mindset so it won't truly cause anyone else grief. Cheating on our taxes or on a test doesn't really affect the big picture so it isn't a big deal. A small lie to make ourselves look better won't bother anyone because it's not a fallacy about them.

We have missed the point. Our sin isn't actually against the people around us or even ourselves-although the consequences of our choices can be damaging to both. We have sinned against God and it is our rebellion against Him that causes us the most grief. Even though we know it isn't right to cheat on our spouses, to get drunk every weekend, to gossip about others, to lie, to be divisive in church and to steal, it isn't until we realize that these are transgressions against God and not each other that we stand a chance of true repentance and finding forgiveness and cleansing from Him.

Psalm 51:3-4 "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what was evil in Your sight"

Face to Face

I was reading in Nehemiah this morning and in chapter 8, God's people have finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem and have gathered to celebrate. Ezra has found a copy of God's law and is reading it to the people. It's a powerful testimony to their faith as they hear God's Word read aloud and start to weep-not just a few of them, but the entire crowd. This is not a temporary moment however, as they return to the assembly three weeks later and make a covenant with God to be His people once more.

Reading this causes me to wonder about our reaction when we come face-to-face with God-whether that is through the teaching of His Word, through worship, other people or serving those around us. The Israelites who had been in exile were desperate for God's truth and the realization of how far from Him they had gone caused them great sorrow. The people in Nehemiah were not just reacting emotionally-they came back three weeks later to make a pledge to God to strive to be His people again.

What about us and the church today? How will we react when we are face to face with God and realize where we are in relation to where He wants us to be? Have we become so jaded in our Christian lives that we cannot create that same sense of longing when we encounter God? Will it be true repentance that we commit to following up with or simply an emotional reaction that is forgotten as soon as we leave the building?

Response Time

In the book of Daniel, in chapter 4 is the story of King Nebuchadnezzar who was the king of  Babylon during the Jewish exile. The king has a dream and he turns to Daniel for interpretation. The vision from God tells Nebuchadnezzar that he is destined to have his kingdom removed from him and that he will live as a wild beast for a period of time before his kingdom is restored to him. The point of the vision is that the only reason that he is in power is that God has allowed it. Nebuchadnezzar is affected by this news I am sure, but does nothing with it as time goes by until a year has passed. At this point he is boasting about how great he is and all of his power when God fulfills His promise and takes it away.

The king missed the point of what God was telling him. He was given a chance to make a change and a whole year to do it and either chickened out or he was too prideful to change and figured that God really wouldn't follow through. God has always proven to be faithful to His Word though-even when we are not faithful to ours.

I wonder how often we hear something from God and either ignore it or conveniently forget about it. Not only are we disobedient when we choose this path we also miss out on what God has for us next. I'm firmly convinced that ignoring these God messages is what holds us back as followers, spiritual leaders and His church.