Does Sin Exist #2: Guilt

I think one reason sin exists for me is the feeling of guilt associated with some things I do. The interesting thing about guilt is not everyone feels guilt the same way. Some people feel no guilt for anything they do, these people usually do not fit well into society.

Are there things you do making you feel sorry for what you did or remorsefully. Have you ever asked yourself, “I wish I never did that?”

Unfortunately, we can desensitize ourselves to the guilty feeling we have when we do something we should not. After we repeat an action enough we come to see the action as the norm. We also like to justify ourselves by telling ourselves lies about why we do things. Ever done that?

The Bible warns us about losing our sensitivity to sin. It happens outside the Church and inside the Church too. None of us are free from guilt. We like to see sin in other people to make ourselves feel better. Once, some people tried to do this in front of Jesus (always a bad idea to do).

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

We are all in desperate need of a way to remove sin and its guilt. Jesus has done that for us. And he warns us. That unless we repent we will perish.

Repent = Change

This post feels a little weak. I am probably trying to talk about too many ideas in too small a space. Both words and time. I will explore this some more later. God Bless.

Scripture from New International Version,  Gospel of Luke 13:1-5

Get Intense: Pray all Night

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. Luke 6:12 

I go through my day sending email, answering questions, and generally staying quite busy. I snatch moments through the day to spend with God. But not until recently have I actually given up sleep to spend time praying. I never viewed prayer as something so important I would give up something for it until I saw Jesus do it.

I often wonder why Jesus the very Son of God believed prayer so important. OR, if the Son of God felt it important enough why don’t I a mere man not value this time with God.

Okay, Jesus DID know how REAL God is. Jesus did have the advantage of knowing how desperately important time and a relationship with God is. The sooner I figure this out the better off I will be!

Do I see prayer as something to spend all night doing? Do I see prayer important enough to lose sleep over or food or <your thing here>?

I think I should. Don’t you.

Scripture from New International Version,  Gospel of Luke 6:12

Lessons from a Child #2

Do you know what it is like to be around a tired child? If not, let me summarize, whine, whine, whine. My youngest is a sweet heart. However, when she is tired she will ask for something over and over like a chant. She is in the habit of drinking some milk before taking a nap. So when she is tired and ready for a nap she asks for milk.

“Daddy, may I have some milk,” she asks.

I immediately think of the verse in Luke where Jesus asks, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?” I am going to get her some milk. I say, “I will get you some milk in a second.”

But, she does not just ask once. She begins her whine. “Milky, Milllkkkyyyyyy!”

Today, while I was working on getting the milk, I thought of me. Do I sound like I am whining to God when I pray? When I constantly ask for something I know he knows I need, am I whining? Do I show my lack of faith by constantly asking?

Matthew records Jesus’ comments on praying:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

I know we are to pray constantly. I just wonder if I sound like I am whining at times. I am sure I am.

I do not mind my children asking me to give them things. I love to do it. I know that God loves to give us things too. What a wonderful thought, God loves to provide for me even more than I love to provide for my children!

Scripture from New International Version,  Gospel of Matthew 6:6-8

Feel Free to Comment

Just wanted to ask those who read my blog to feel free to comment. I am especially open to any grammatical and spelling corrections. I like to joke about how poorly I spell. I have never passed a standardized test on spelling. In high school my English teacher said I was the most creative speller she had ever met and I ranked in the bottom 5% of the USA in spelling on my test scores. Oh well, you can’t be good at everything.

Thank you all for your visits and comments. God bless.

Want to Know how Rich You Are?

Jesus really gives wealthy people a hard time. His message is all about lifestyle. Our culture is all about lifestyle. It boggles my mind sometimes to think of how much energy and effort goes into acquiring wealth. Luke warns us over and over about the dangers of wealth.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53 (NIV)

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:24-26 (NIV)

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Luke 18:24-25 (NIV)

Want to know how rich you are? The rich calculator can tell you. Click here to find out.

Want to know where I fit. Well lets just say I need to do some soul searching. How about you?

Tough Lessons on Doing Good

Jesus would just be fine if he was a lot easier. You know I really like easy. Why does Jesus have to get all tough and make me think? I think left alone I would come nowhere close to the image of God. Left alone I would be lost.

What am I talking about? Well, this little set of verses in Luke are hard.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

WHAT!? It sure is easy to love people who love you. People who do good to you are easy to do good back to. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours is not scriptural. Or at least not Christ like? Seems to me what Jesus is saying is do good to people who cannot do good back to you.

Well there is more…

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

God is so good, he is even kind to the wicked. How much more to those who do good? No question Jesus challenges us everyday to be different.

Scripture from New International Version,  Gospel of Luke 6:32-36

Lessons from a Child #1

We spent some time this weekend with my parents. I got to see my children play with their Grandparents. It is odd. There was a time they played with me just the same. I do not remember much of it, too long ago. While watching them it occurred to me just how much my parents love me. I can honestly say, I never understood how much my parents loved me until I had my own children.

I can also admit, I could not understand God’s love before my children taught me. Yes, my children have taught me how much God loves me!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

When I think about how much I love my children, I cannot fathom how much God must love me. God loves perfectly so however much I love my children, God loves me more.

Now I am inclined to believe all his promises are true and he keeps them because he loves me and he loves you.

Consider the response of the Father of the prodigal son.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:20-24

This is God. God is love.

Scripture from New International Version, Gospel of John 3:16, Gospel of Luke 8:4-8, 11-15

What kind of Dirt are You?

Jesus used lots of gardening object lessons. Consider the parable of the sower.

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

In the following verses, Jesus himself explains this parable.

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

My Comments on his answers. (Warning: Opinion follows, use your own brain here)

• Seed = word of God, John says the word of God is…Jesus.
• Path = Those who refuse to believe God or hear truth
• Rock = Those who are quick to follow the fad, but their hearts do not believe
• Thorns = People too attracted to their culture to really believe
• Good Soil = People who hear, retain (believe), persevere & produce.

Jesus’ warning: ”He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

What kind of Dirt are you? I believe it is important to know and in this case, if you know, God is working on you.

Scripture from New International Version, Gospel of Luke 8:4-8, 11-15

Your Salvation Come

When Jesus’ disciples asked him how to pray He said,

When you pray say,

Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

I have often wondered what he meant when he said “your kingdom come. Reading further in Luke, I think I found the answer. In Luke 17:21, Jesus tells his disciples “the kingdom of God is within you.” Some versions say “among you.” That is referring to Himself as the kingdom.

Regardless, my point is I want this kingdom in my life. I want the salvation Jesus brings.

I hope you will join me when I say,

Father, holy is your name, your kingdom come. Give me today my bread. Forgive me of my sin. I now forgive everyone who has sinned against me. And lead me out of temptation. Amen.

Scripture from New International Version, Gospel of Luke 11:2-4.

Psalm By Steven Sutton

I have been reading Steven’s new psalms. Been looking for one to share and I really enjoyed this one and wanted to share. It is different from my usual posts. I hope you are encouraged.

Your the Maker of My Hands
by Steven Sutton

You’re the maker of my hands,
Thank you Lord,
I am made in your image,
And I proclaim your glory.

I enter in to your courts to give you praise,
Even though I have not seen you,
I now that you are there,
For your glory fills the air that I breath.

I bow before you kneel and adore you.
I offer my burdens and praise your name.
With a face shining like light,
You accept me and put me right.

And I worship you in your beauty,
Trusting in your love and holiness,
That your hands made me and I proclaim your glory.

Amen

The full post can be found here.