Psalm 51 - Repentance - 1

"Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. 
Purify me from my sin. 
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just. 
For I was born a sinner--yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me--now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.
Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You. 
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth my praise You. 
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 
The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. 
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. 
Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit--with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. 
Then bulls will be sacrificed on Your altar." (Psalm 51 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.  (from previous blog)
     God isn't always silent when we sin. In fact, sometimes sin causes Him to point out our shortcomings in order for us to eliminate our sins through God (Psalm 139:21). God does this to help us avoid falling into habitual sin. Sin itself doesn't always silence God, but ignoring His voice and continually following your own desires will often silence Him. This reminds me of a discussion we had the other day at youth group about the "passive wrath of God" in which you no longer "hear" God's voice because you have rejected it for so long. God uses His voice to expose sin, like in Genesis 3 when He sought after Adam and Eve and confronted them...
     However, as you said, Jesus provides the rescue and healing for our sins: "He willingly accepted OUR punishment for OUR sin, for OUR rebellion, for OUR sin-addiction." He died for us and provided forgiveness while we were STILL sinners (Romans 5:6-8). Jesus redeemed us even during our rebellion...
     From the verses/passages you gave me, it is clear that God desires a personal relationship with believers. He confronts us with our sin because He doesn't want it to come between us and Him. However, God is also just in punishing unrepentant hearts who actively continue to choose their own way over God's. This punishment is often in the form of silence (Isaiah 58:2) or the feeling of being at a standstill with God...

Dear friend,
     As we've seen, God is always at work to draw us to Himself. Whether in silence, discipline, or warning, God calls us to repentance. He does not justify our sins (we like to provide justifications for things that we do--we are great at excuses!). He justifies the sinner! He does not cancel our debt. He pays our debt. Let's review some of the information about the redemptive work of Christ:

Romans 3 (especially verses 21-26)
Romans 4 (especially verses 5-8)
Romans 5 (especially verses 6-11, and 16-21)

• What is the difference between justifying sin and justifiying a sinner? 
• What debt did we have? Why couldn't we pay it? How was it paid?
• What foundational truths about the redemptive work of Christ stand out to you? 
• In light of these truths, what should be our response?   

     At the top of the blog today is Psalm 51. We're going to take a few blogs to break it down to see what repentance is (and isn't). I'd encourage you to begin to study this passage for yourself. Read and take notes. Memorize. May the words resonate with you and guide your heart and your mind. 

Heavenly Father, We seek to understand the truths of Your work on our behalf. Would You help us to grasp the awful and wonderful reality? Then, would You help us to live, transformed by these truths? 

"Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me. For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me." 

(Psalm 66:16-20 NLT)

"Speak, O Lord"
Will you prayerfully listen to this song? It is a musical prayer. Let this be our prayer in the days to come.

Does Sin Silence God? - 3

"Long ago the LORD said to Israel:
'I have loved you, My people, 
with an everlasting love. 
With unfailing love 
I have drawn you to Myself'." 
(Jeremiah 31:3 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.  
     God isn't always silent when we sin. In fact, sometimes sin causes Him to point out our shortcomings in order for us to eliminate our sins through God (Psalm 139:21). God does this to help us avoid falling into habitual sin. Sin itself doesn't always silence God, but ignoring His voice and continually following your own desires will often silence Him. This reminds me of a discussion we had the other day at youth group about the "passive wrath of God" in which you no longer "hear" God's voice because you have rejected it for so long. God uses His voice to expose sin, like in Genesis 3 when He sought after Adam and Eve and confronted them.
     Is it a correct assumption to believe that sin only silences God when we continually sin because of our refusal to submit, whereas sin that comes from a person who has humbled himself/herself before God and is actively seeking Him does not silence Him but rather causes Him to convict them? I worded that really weird, but I need more clarification.
     However, as you said, Jesus provides the rescue and healing for our sins: "He willingly accepted OUR punishment for OUR sin, for OUR rebellion, for OUR sin-addiction." He died for us and provided forgiveness while we were STILL sinners (Romans 5:6-8). Jesus redeemed us even during our rebellion. In this case, sin did not silence Him.
     In Hebrews 12:5-11, the concept of God's discipline towards His children is addressed. This discipline is conviction done out of love by God with the purpose of helping believers to maintain a close relationship with Him. This conviction, or even the feeling of separation is troublesome, but if we choose to respond to it with willingness and submission it will help us grow in Christ. Our view of discipline is often distorted because we live in a fallen world. We are accustomed to discipline stemming from anger rather than God's love and desire to be closer with His children.
     From the verses/passages you gave me, it is clear that God desires a personal relationship with believers. He confronts us with our sin because He doesn't want it to come between us and Him. However, God is also just in punishing unrepentant hearts who actively continue to choose their own way over God's. This punishment is often in the form of silence (Isaiah 58:2) or the feeling of being at a standstill with God.
     I am not sure if I am on the right track with this, so please let me know if I took this out of context or misunderstood. I am confused on the difference between God reacting to sin with silence and God reacting to sin with conviction.

Dear friend,
     You have correctly identified a truth: "God isn't always silent when we sin". By His sovereign wisdom, God acts righteously. Will you be terribly disappointed if I say that I don't think there is an identifiable "pattern" or "method" to His response to sin? It's not that He is irrational; rather, our finite minds and sin-compromised souls cannot always see clearly. And, we are far from qualified to judge His actions.

Yet we know His character. 

He is good. 

He is both justice and mercy. 

     I love to read of God's actions in the story of the fall of man (Genesis 3). Adam and Eve had sinned, and they knew it. In the moment of disobedience, they felt the impact of sin. They were ashamed.

(side note: The world has made "shame" a negative word, and criticizes the "shaming" of people. However, shame is an appropriate response to sin.)

     When they became aware of their sin, they attempted to cover their sin and hide themselves from God. (do you see how quickly sin skews our thinking? Did they really think they could hide from God?)

     It is important to observe here that God acted first. He did not wait for repentance; He wasn't waiting for groveling. God sought them.

What a beautiful, loving question: 

"Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9)! 

     Wow! Let's not miss this truth: God's mercy precedes man's repentance.

     Are you begining to wonder if I will EVER answer all of your questions? Yes, I will. Yet, today, this is the burden on my heart: reiterating God's goodness despite man's sinful state. This is a foundational truth. This is a reason to worship. This should drive us to God in thankfulness, humility and repentance.

     I want to end here for now, and return to the discussion later (but soon). May you have great joy in meditating on God's goodness: mercy and love despite our sin and before our repentance!     

• Why is it so important to understand that God acts first? 

• How would things be different if He did not act first?    

Heavenly Father, How we praise and thank You for Your abundant mercy, forgiving us and drawing us to Yourself! We delight ourselves in You, and we give You ourselves fully.

"Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me. For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me." 

(Psalm 66:16-20 NLT)

Psalm 32 - Does Sin Silence God? - 2

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 
Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.' And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Therefore, let all the godly pray to You while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory.
The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.'
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (Psalm 32 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.  I read the verses that you had listed in the last post and realized some things: 
     I know I had asked about sin silencing God when we pray, referencing questions I had from the book (70 Years of Miracles), so your reference to Isaiah 59:2 and Psalm 66:18 clarify pretty bluntly: "It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, He has turned away and will not listen anymore" and "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." The Bible not only explains separation overs sin, but also God's anger towards sin: "But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness". The Bible is clear that unrepentant sin limits our communication with God and angers Him. 
     Luckily, the Bible provides a solution later on Psalm 66--repentance. In the verses to follow, the Psalmist praises God for listening to his prayer. He came to God confessing his sin, and God was merciful and listened to his plea. This shows that the separation from God that I'm experiencing now doesn't have to be final. If I come to Him with a repentant heart, our relationship will be restored. 
     Another passage that resonated with me was Romans 7:21-25, "I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."
     I love how Paul writes so candidly of a Christian's battle with sin. He includes, "I love God's law with all my heart," but then goes on to discuss how his sinful nature often wins, despite his deep desire to follow God. Paul talks about being a slave to sin and seeking "freedom". He concludes, "the answer is Jesus Christ, our Lord". 
     I think that the reason I'm feeling so overwhelmed by sin right now is because God is showing me that the very things I enjoy and hold onto are what is preventing me from having a relationship with Him. God's goal is not to torment me, but rather to point me in the direction of bettering my relationship with Him. God is showing me that I need to repent.
     I think that I want to take steps toward repentance rather than the alternative... (cont'd, next blog)


Dear friend,
     On many occasions we've discussed the short-term and long-term effects of sin, and the consequences of ignoring the Spirit's nudging when He is speaking. We know that sin is wrong, and that it is destructive and debilitating. It takes us captive, changes our perspectives, deafens our ears to the Spirit, and puts a wedge in our relationship with God.

This quote has a powerful message, don't you think?

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith." (1 Peter 5:8-9)

"You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at your door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." (Genesis 4:7)

Unfortunately, as you've mentioned on several occasions, 

sin is enticing. 

It draws us into a trap, 

dangling "irresistible" bait in front of us. 

It also seems to be habit-forming, 

causing a dependency and an unhealthy craving for more. Much like a drug addict, 

we are a slave to our habit, 

and we are often unable to think rationally about it. 

So, are we stuck, without a remedy?
Can we never escape?

Certainly not! As you correctly identified, the answer is Jesus Christ, our Lord. He provides the rescue, and He offers healing from sin. Praise Him! He willingly accepted OUR punishment for OUR sin, for OUR rebellion, for OUR sin-addiction. He chose to take the wrath, to die on the cross, to enter hell--to ensure our release! And, He rose again from the dead, that we might know that we can live freed from sin as well!

Before we look more at our need to repent and begin anew, I'd like to dig into some Scriptures with you. Some of these are repeated from the last post, but with a different reading focus (though I may reference only specific verses in a chapter, it's always a good idea to read the entire chapter for context):

Genesis 3 (the original sin) After Adam and Eve sinned, Who sought out whom? Did their sin silence God?
Psalm 139 (v. 23-24) Can we pray to God with sin in us? Will He hear us?
Isaiah 59 (v.1, 20, 21) Why did God send prophets to the disobedient people? Was He silent? What was the message?
Romans 3 (v.23-26) How are we made right with God?
Romans 5 (v. 6-8) When did God send Christ to die for us? (In what condition were we when He came?) Did our sin silence Him?
Hebrews 12 (v. 5-11) What is the purpose of discipline? How has our view of "discipline" been skewed/corrupted by the world's ideas/philosophies?

• Is God always silent when we sin? 

• Who acts first? God or the sinner? 

• What do we learn about God from these passages? How would you describe Him? Is he irrational? impersonal? intolerant?   

Heavenly Father, You are good, and all Your ways are perfect! We thank and praise You. We cannot give You a gift, for You are Lord of all creation. All that we have already belongs to You. But we give to You ourselves, even in our weakened, sin-corrupted state. We offer ourselves to You, and we ask You to make us like You, make us holy, help us to escape the traps of sin. Will You fill us with Your Holy Spirit? We long to be like You!

"Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me. For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me." 

(Psalm 66:16-20 NLT)

I'm leaving the lyrics and the song linked here. They continue to minister to my heart, 

and I pray that they will minister to you as well.  

Psalm 32 - Does Sin Silence God? - 1

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 
Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.' And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Therefore, let all the godly pray to You while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory.
The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.'
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (Psalm 32 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz. (cont'd from previous blog)
     The timing of me reading this couldn't have been any better. Just recently I was reading the book you gave me, 70 Years of Miracles, and I had been confused about parts that talked about how having unwillingness or sin between you and God can prevent or limit Him in hearing/answering prayers and working miracles. Specifically, I had underlines instances on pages 32 and 52 where the author claims this is the case. Is this true? Is there a wall between God and me because of my need to submit to Him in my heart? Does this prevent Him from listening to my prayers? This doesn't sound right to me...what does the Bible say?
     (from several blogs ago, with an earlier promise to return to this topic)
     I tend to think that I can get away with things; I don't think about the fact that there are consequences for my actions. This got me thinking: am I like this when it comes to my faith? Am I breaking commandments because it's convenient and easy, without realizing there are consequences for my sin?...does my continual sin and defiance mean that I am not saved? If I am not being punished for my sin right now, does that mean that I will face consequences later when I die, or just have something bad happen to me? If this is something I'm continually worried about, does that mean that I may not be on good terms with God/saved?...I haven't moved on from my sin or my "weak spots" because it's something I don't want to give up. Is that something that could cost me my salvation?
     This really makes me consider what I'm going to DO about my stubbornness. I am honestly so tired of my own BS and just talking about my unwillingness and only praying--not listening and responding. I understand that it is important to pray "to be willing to be made willing" because it is only through God changing my heart that my actions will change. It isn't my own doing, but through God's transforming me. Yet at the same time, I want to DO something. What are your thoughts on this?

 (cont'd, next blog)


Dear friend, (Note: this is now the second blog that is "Scripture heavy". I'm not trying to overwhelm you. It's just that some questions need a bigger context to handle them well. A pastor I had years ago used to say "the full counsel of God," meaning that you base your understanding on the Bible as a whole, not on a few selected verses.)

    Sin is wrong. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is an offense to God. Sin separates us from God. Sin has consequences. As you read the passages linked below, I'd encourage you to make a list of what they say about sin's effects and God's response.

Genesis 3 (the original sin)
Isaiah 59 (v.2) *it's always good to read the verses in their context, the entire chapter is linked
Habakkuk 1 (v.13)
Psalm 32 (printed at the top of the blog)
Psalm 66 (v.18)
Romans 3 (v.23)
Romans 6 (v.23)
Romans 7

     These truths are hard to swallow, but that does not make them untrue or unfair.

     Some people read or hear of these and walk away from the Christian faith; they do not want such a harsh God. They judge God based on their standards, and they justify themselves. Does denying a truth make it untrue? (see Romans 1, especially verses 18-23, 2 Timothy 3, especially verses 1-5, and verse 13)
     Other people say that this was God in the Old Testament. He has a harsh judge. Now, they say, He is a God of mercy.  (see Malachi 3, especially verse 6: I LOVE that the last book of the Old Testament contains this phrase--the New Testament is not a change, it is a FULFILLMENT.)
     There is another option. Accept the truth for what it is. Realize the weight of sin.

Then, continue reading. 

Better yet, reread those passages. 

What else is there? 

You see, 

right from the beginning, 

there was a plan...

About the references in the book 70 Years of Miracles:

     Yes, on page 32 we read of Richard's awareness of sin. Although a young child, he realized that he had sinned, and that the sin had come from inside him. Richard understood that he was a sinner by nature, and that his sin separated him from God. If he had died, he would have been separated from God in hell. This is the condition of every human. Until we come to a realization of our sins and accept the truth about us, we cannot be saved. Reading on in the story (same page), we see that later he did come to Christ, confessing his sin. Isn't it interesting that it took some time before he was ready to surrender this? It seems that he was pretty stubborn!
     Yes, on page 52, we read of an event in Richard's life when he refused to submit to God's will. God pursued him, laid His hand heavily upon him, and would not respond with healing. Richard had known since childhood that God was calling him into ministry (page 43), but he was pursuing a completely different course. Does this mean he wasn't saved, or that he was in danger of losing his salvation? No. He was disobedient. God was still at work. God was doing what was best for Richard. This story always reminds me of Jonah, often called "the reluctant prophet". (PS: I'm thrilled that you're reading the book; there is so much to glean from his personal testimony!)

I hate to stop right here, as I've only shared part of the message  But, this is excessively long. We'll have to come back. In the meantime, search the Scriptures. Talk to God. Seek Him. Remember that I am praying for you!
   

• People often reject Christianity as "judgmental," and God as "cruel". They reject the concepts of sin and hell. Does rejecting truth resolve anything?

• Why do you (and I) have hope, if sin and hell are real?

• If God confronts you with your sin, what is His purpose? Is it to punish you, to torment you, to threaten your eternal state? Or is there a different purpose?

• What do the verses about sin reveal, not just about sin, but about mercy, forgiveness, restoration?

     

Heavenly Father, we do not want to stray from You. Yet we slip into sin so easily! And our stubborn, rebellious hearts do not want to bow to Your will. We want what we want. Thank You for working in us, for convicting us of sin, and for welcoming us back. Thank You for having plans for us that are greater than we can understand or imagine. We give ourselves to You. Will You fill us, transform us, conform us to the image of Your Son, Jesus? 

"Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me. For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me." 

(Psalm 66:16-20 NLT)

These song lyrics are a "musical prayer". The link to the song follows. This has been resonating in my heart; may it likewise minister to you. 

Matthew 19 - The Cost of Following Jesus

"Then Peter said to Him, 'We've given up everything to follow You. What will we get?' Jesus replied, 'I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon His glorious throne, you who have been My followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for My sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then'." 

(Matthew 19:27-30 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz. 
     Wow! Your most recent post might be my favorite one yet! There is just so much to chew on which I love! I've been thinking about it and researching and writing down my thoughts all day.
     Jesus instructed the man to give up his wealth because He knew that this was what the man clung to the most. Jesus did not necessarily need him to give up his money, but He was testing the man's willingness to "submit" (the scary word) to God and give up what was most important to him--wealth--in order to follow Jesus. Jesus challenged where the man's heart was. Not everyone will struggle with the same issue--we all have different "idols," but this passage can be applied to anything that we hold above Christ.
     The interesting thing about Matthew 19:16-30 is that it addresses the importance of following God not just externally with actions, but also internally, by following the Spirit. The man was following the law, but not the Spirit of God within him. This is shown by his unwillingness to give up his wealth; his intentions were off because he was holding onto what he valued and not what God values.
     Peter and the other disciples responded differently than the rich man to God's call. When Jesus said, "Come, follow Me," they literally dropped their fishing nets and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:19-20). They left behind their jobs and any control they had over their lives to be disciples. (cont'd, next blog)


Dear friend,
     The Scriptures are replete with tasty morsels to chew on, and you can enjoy them for the rest of your life. Keep diggin in!
     You have correctly identified that "money" wasn't the issue keeping the man from having eternal life. Rather, he had a comfortable life because of the money, and Jesus called him to abandon that to follow Him. What was the money to him? Comfort, stability, security, future guarantees, perhaps even power and/or position. It was an idol; it was his "god" because it was where he placed his trust and found his happiness.
     When Jesus told him to sell everything, Jesus was calling him to follow with NO PROMISES for the way things would unfold. This is what God wants for each of us: to follow Him with complete abandon, wanting Him more than anyone else or anything. (Here we are, back at "Surrender" and "Submit" again!)
     By contrast, the disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus. The fishermen left their nets, the tax collector traded wealth and power. They wanted Jesus more. At times we cringe at Peter's forthright questioning: how dare he be so bold with Jesus? Yet we see that he was not chided for his question. Rather Jesus answered him, giving the disciples (and all of His followers, including you and me) an exciting peek into the eternal plan--Jesus promised His followers that in heaven all would be made right. And more than "right," all would be overwhelming joy! It would be worth it all.
     The disciples would all face choices again, much like the rich man. Some are recorded for us; I have a feeling that many more transpired that we'll never know. Here are some related passages:
Luke 9: 1-6, 21-27, 46-48, 57-62
John 6
John 18
John 21

   As this blog is getting long, I'll have to end soon and pick up at another time. But I want to give you some other passages with a call to follow:
Genesis 12 (Abram)
Isaiah 6 (Isaiah)
Amos 7: 14-15 (Amos)
Jonah 1 (Jonah)
Acts 9: 1-9 (Saul/Paul)
Acts 9: 10-19 (Ananias)

• What similarities and differences do you see in the passages where people are called?

• What is Jesus calling you to surrender to/for Him? Do you want Him, trust Him, love Him enough to surrender it to Him?

     I'm leaving my closing in here from the last blog, because I think it is still relevant to our discussion. Let us prayerfully consider it some more.

Will I surrender all of me to the Lord? 

Will I kneel and submit to His Lordship in my life? 

Will I relinquish control of the future? 

Do I want Jesus more than I want ANYTHING ELSE? 

     God wants all of us, but it is not a malevolent, manipulative control. He wants to fill us, to dwell in us. What He wants is for our GOOD. Unfortunately (and this is always what gets me), it does not guarantee a happy, pain-free life. Again, I am faced with a decision: Do I trust God fully?
     As this is getting long, I'm going to end here for now, with a promise to come back and adress your questions about willfully holding onto our sins. But, I'm putting below several links. I'd love for you to spend some time with these external resources. Know that I am praying for you.

Heavenly Father, will You show us the things in our life that we cherish more than You? 

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Endure

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." 

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.
     Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. The verses and references you listed were very helpful, but I still need some clarification.
     It wasn't really that I felt bad about the ticket alone, but rather, it made me think about the other areas in which I knowingly sin because it is easier than doing what is right. Your point #5, as well as your reference to Hebrews 3 in my area of main concern. I haven't moved on from my sin or "weak spots" because it's something I don't want to give up. Is that something that could cost me my salvation?
     Isn't part of being a Christian about surrendering ALL of yourself and ALL of your ways? It's not a "pick and choose" deal. I can't only let God into some parts of my life and not others (Luke 9:23-24). If I'm only conditionally following God when it is easy to do so, and only in some parts of my life, am I really following Him at all? Then, what happens in periods of turning away (#4)? Does God call everyone back to Him?
     I've seen a lot of progress in my attitude about life since I've accepted Christ. I have really been working on making changes, yet there are changes I avoid because I "don't want to".  Is this something that will change as I grow closer to God, or will it prevent me from growing closer to Him?
     I'm trying to come to terms with it all and figure everything out. Thank you so much for your time and patience with me. 

Dear friend,
     I don't want to make light of your concerns, yet I want you to know that you bring me great joy by the questions that you ask! I rejoice that you care, that you want to know and to grow, and that you do not take salvation lightly. Entering into a relationship with the Almighty God should never be done flippantly. At the same time, I hurt with and for you, hearing and feeling your uneasiness. Let's continue to visit this question as we study.
     You are right; we are called to surrender all of ourselves to God, and this is a terrifying thought! What if we can't? or won't? or just don't want to? or don't trust Him enough? What if He takes away all that we cherish, continually asking for more? This is a commitment not to be entered into with little thought. Yet, surrender is only fearful if you do not trust the One to Whom you are surrendering.
     In another email, you wrote about a related topic: "The word 'submit' is a little scary to me. One group of people having control over another based on something like gender is concerning. This power can, and often is, easily abused."
     You are so right! And, my friend, the words "surrender" and "submit" carry the same weight: we release control and place ourselves fully into the care of another. Wow! God designed marriage. It is good. It works when we honor Him by whom we choose to marry, and how we live out our marriage. It is probably the most important earthly decision you will make in your life (your decision to follow the Lord is obviously the most important of all). If you marry a man of God, God's man for you, you have nothing to fear. You will love and trust and honor this man, and it will be his greatest joy to love, protect, defend, and care for you his entire life. Choose carefully!
     God calls us to surrender, to submit, to Him. We can, because we know His character. He is good. He is holy. He is faithful. Let's look at a passage with a call to total surrender:

"Someone came to Jesus with this question: 'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?'

'Why ask Me about what is good?' Jesus replied. 'There is only One who is good. But to answer your question--if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.'

'Which ones?' the man asked.

And Jesus replied, 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.'

'I've obeyed all these commandments,' the young man replied. 'What else must I do?'

Jesus told him, 'If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'

But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again--it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!'

The disciples were astounded. 'Then who in the world can be saved?' they asked.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.'

Then Peter said to Him, 'We've given up everything to follow You. What will we get?'

Jesus replied, 'I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon His glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And evereyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for My sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then." (Matthew 19:16-30)

• Why did Jesus tell the man to sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow Him? What did Jesus know about the man? Will everyone struggle with the same issue?
• How do Peter's words contrast? Why do you think Peter (and the other disciples) had such a different response to Jesus' call? 
• What is Jesus calling you to surrender to/for Him? Do you want Him, trust Him, love Him enough to surrender it to Him?

     You may hear of the term "crisis of sanctification". That term confused me for a long time, because to me it sounded like I had to be in the midst of a "crisis" (tragic accident, death of a loved one, etc.). But the "crisis" is the decision:

Will I surrender all of me to the Lord? 

Will I kneel and submit to His Lordship in my life? 

Will I relinquish control of the future? 

Do I want Jesus more than I want ANYTHING ELSE? 

     God wants all of us, but it is not a malevolent, manipulative control. He wants to fill us, to dwell in us. What He wants is for our GOOD. Unfortunately (and this is always what gets me), it does not guarantee a happy, pain-free life. Again, I am faced with a decision: Do I trust God fully?
     As this is getting long, I'm going to end here for now, with a promise to come back and adress your questions about willfully holding onto our sins. But, I'm putting below several links. I'd love for you to spend some time with these external resources. Know that I am praying for you.

• Here's a short passage by A.W. Tozer that he wrote about Surrender.
• We've discussed Corrie Ten Boom's quote about asking God to make her willing to be made willing. Here's a related story that she told. The link takes you to a page with lots of subtopics. When you use this link, use the search option (CTRL F) to find the section "Total Surrender". I didn't read the other subtopics to see what they had to say. <Note: I gave you her story, The Hiding Place; you can read more about her struggle with surrender/submission there.>
• This link has the lyrics for the hymn, "I Surrender All". 
• This hymn, "Himself," sings of the joy of knowing Jesus.
• I know you're familiar with the story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. In his Narnia series, Lewis did a spectacular job of explaining spiritual truths simply and clearly. Below is a quote from the book. Can you see how it relates to our struggle to surrender?

  

Heavenly Father, we hear the words "surrender" and "submit," and we shiver with fear and repulsion. We want our own way! Yet, Lord, we know that You alone are good. You alone are worthy. Your ways are right. We are willing, yet we are weak. Will You enable us to walk in Your way, to surrender to You in absolute trust and love? Without You we cannot.

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Run with Endurance

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." 

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.
     I found an interesting connection between something that happened to me and the Bible, and I thought I'd share it with you. Today I got a parking ticket for being in a spot (for months) without a pass. I was really annoyed about it, but then I realized that I didn't have the right to be upset. I knew I wasn't supposed to park there, but I did it anyway because it was convenient and easier than my other options. I tend to think that I can get away with things; I don't think about the fact that there are consequences for my actions. 
     This got me thinking: am I like this when it comes to my faith? Am I breaking commandments because it's convenient and easy without realizing there are consequences for my sin? Do I think that, like the parking ticket, just because I'm not getting in trouble for something now means that there won't be a punishment?
     I'm worried that the answer to these questions might be yes. This brings me back to one of my earliest questions: does my continual sin and defiance mean that I am not saved? If I am not being punished for my sin right now, does that mean I will face consequences later when I die, or just having something bad happen to me? If this is something I'm continually worried about, does that mean I may not be on good terms with God? Does that mean that I am not saved?

Dear friend,

     NO. This does not mean that your salvation is in question.

1. The Holy Spirit is living and active in you. (John 14)
2. Your conscience was pricked when confronted with sin, and you accepted the blame and the consequences (how many teens, or people of any age, do that?) Yes, you were upset initially, but you heard the voice of the Spirit, and you responded. At this point you had a choice: confess, repent (remember, repentance is running in the other direction), and move on, or become angry and refuse to deal with it. I am assuming that you chose the first option? Psalm 51 is a great prayer of repentance; as you read it, can you see David's sorrow over his sin?
3. You are a child of God, and you are in a relationship with your loving Father, cleansed by the blood of the Son, and sealed as His by the Holy Spirit. Your relationship is not based on good deeds/bad deeds, and there isn't a "pay now or pay later" plan for your sins. Sin is wrong, and the Holy Spirit will continue to work in you to make you more like Him. You will not necessarily receive punishment for every single sin you commit. Remember that they have all been paid for, washed away by the blood of Jesus. There is no scoreboard. (Hebrews 12:1-11)
4. I've never been comfortable with the two "options" for salvation that believers seem to fall into: "once saved, always saved" (if someone walks away from their faith, they must not have ever been saved) or "you can lose your salvation" (if someone falls into sin too many times, they are no longer qualified for salvation). This second option seems to me like a heartless business transaction, making men and women subject to the fine print in a contract designed to make us fail. Our salvation is SONSHIP--we are ushered into the kingdom as precious children. We enter into a relationship with the One who made us, redeemed us, and loves us. We grow in that relationship, learning about our Heavenly Father, and as we learn more, we love Him more. As we love Him more, we seek to be more like Him. The more we become like Him, the more we love Him. If someone, long or short into the relationship, says, "I don't want to be like Him, I want to be ME," and begins to distance himself from God, God will continue to call and invite the person back. The person can always come back, whether he strays for 50 minutes or 50 years. God is the reconciler/restorer of relationships. (Genesis 3, Luke 23:39-43)
5. Some people don't come back. They want their own way more. (Hebrews 3)

     You have entered into a lifetime, life-changing relationship, and you are going to grow and grow. Ask the Lord to help you learn to hear His voice, to keep your heart tender toward Him, to love Him with all your heart, and to become like Him.

     This is a very incomplete and imperfect answer, but it is a start. We'll continue to delve into this. Keep asking and seeking. Here are some questions for you to consider.

• What drew you to Christ?
• What does it mean to have a relationship with God?
• How should we respond when we are confronted by our sin?
• How do you know if you love God?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." 

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)

Heavenly Father, my friend has genuine sorrow and concern. She sees how easy it is to ingore Your voice and to go her own way. Though we have committed to follow You, we see our weakness and our stubbornness, and we are overcome with grief and guilt. Will You fill us? Will You strengthen us? Will You transform us? Will You keep us in Your care until we arrive in heaven with You, where sin will never compromise us again? Will You teach us to love You and to walk in Your ways?

Let us strive not to let our hearts be hardened toward God!