"They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink." -Luke 5:7
Don't we all too often put man made limitations on what the Lord can and will do? Don't we create a box in which we believe his blessings for us will fit? In Luke 5, the fishermen, soon to be disciples, question Jesus when he tells them where to put their nets...."Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!" (Luke 5:5), then two verses later, Jesus is sinking their boat with blessings.
We serve a God of mind blowing and boat sinking proportions. Expect big things from him!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
I Found You!
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost." -Luke 15:6
What an amazing picture of Jesus. This familiar scene has developed in my mind where I leave the love and acceptance of his arms, wandering off to the worthless ways of the world and getting hurt as always. Then I just see Jesus, noticing I've strayed from his flock. He, urgently gets up and begins to GO towards me. He doesn't stand there ringing a dinner bell waiting for me to follow it back to him. He doesn't cross his arms and say "how many times do I have to tell her that when she leaves she'll get hurt? This is the last straw, I'm not bailing her out any more". No, not at all. In fact, even when I willingly walk away, even when I go seek to please my flesh repetitively, he COMES and finds me...joyfully. I think that's what I can't wrap my mind around. I see myself hiding in the midst of some mess I've put myself in because I chose not to living according to the freedom that was secured for me on the cross, and there comes Jesus...AGAIN, smiling, bringing me into his arms, and then rejoicing as he tells "his friends and his neighbors."
Our Savior is so incredibly personal and merciful!
What an amazing picture of Jesus. This familiar scene has developed in my mind where I leave the love and acceptance of his arms, wandering off to the worthless ways of the world and getting hurt as always. Then I just see Jesus, noticing I've strayed from his flock. He, urgently gets up and begins to GO towards me. He doesn't stand there ringing a dinner bell waiting for me to follow it back to him. He doesn't cross his arms and say "how many times do I have to tell her that when she leaves she'll get hurt? This is the last straw, I'm not bailing her out any more". No, not at all. In fact, even when I willingly walk away, even when I go seek to please my flesh repetitively, he COMES and finds me...joyfully. I think that's what I can't wrap my mind around. I see myself hiding in the midst of some mess I've put myself in because I chose not to living according to the freedom that was secured for me on the cross, and there comes Jesus...AGAIN, smiling, bringing me into his arms, and then rejoicing as he tells "his friends and his neighbors."
Our Savior is so incredibly personal and merciful!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
What if we took it seriously?
"Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them." -Joshua 1:6
The Lord is calling us to this today...right now. There are so many people out there waiting on the promises of our Heavenly Father. They are waiting to inherit the land, but no one has lead them into it, so they miss that it even exists. How many people on a daily basis do we interact with who are totally unaware that the Lord has life and life abundant ready for them in the form of his son?
And there we are, trying not to hurt anyone's feelings or offend other people's beliefs, mostly because of our own selfish desire to stay comfortable. I'm calling it how I see it brothers and sisters, and I'm calling it like that as a fellow offender of ignoring God's calling to be strong and courageous, but it's time this stops. Author and speaker, David Platt puts it this way in reference to how others will know about salvation through Jesus Christ, "church, we are the plan of God, and there is no plan B."
Let's go friends, be strong and courageous, die to self, and show a dying world the name that is life eternal...Jesus Christ!
The Lord is calling us to this today...right now. There are so many people out there waiting on the promises of our Heavenly Father. They are waiting to inherit the land, but no one has lead them into it, so they miss that it even exists. How many people on a daily basis do we interact with who are totally unaware that the Lord has life and life abundant ready for them in the form of his son?
And there we are, trying not to hurt anyone's feelings or offend other people's beliefs, mostly because of our own selfish desire to stay comfortable. I'm calling it how I see it brothers and sisters, and I'm calling it like that as a fellow offender of ignoring God's calling to be strong and courageous, but it's time this stops. Author and speaker, David Platt puts it this way in reference to how others will know about salvation through Jesus Christ, "church, we are the plan of God, and there is no plan B."
Let's go friends, be strong and courageous, die to self, and show a dying world the name that is life eternal...Jesus Christ!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Overtaken
"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God." -Deuteronomy 28:1-2
We serve a great God who desires to overtake us with blessings. Try to wrap your mind around that.
We serve a great God who desires to overtake us with blessings. Try to wrap your mind around that.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Pray Like Hannah
"And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord." -1 Samuel 1:20
Pretty boss story right here in first Samuel. Hannah desires something (to be with child), so she asks the Lord for it. I'm struck by her boldness and trust that the He will provide. We get to verse 20 and see the result of her seeking the Lord through prayer. While I find the phrase "in due time" to be key because the Lord's timing is perfect, and he makes all things beautiful in his time (Ecclesiastes 3:11), it's encouraging to witness his faithfulness in Hannah's life.
Do you have something in your life that you're waiting on the Lord for? What if we prayed like Hannah?
Pretty boss story right here in first Samuel. Hannah desires something (to be with child), so she asks the Lord for it. I'm struck by her boldness and trust that the He will provide. We get to verse 20 and see the result of her seeking the Lord through prayer. While I find the phrase "in due time" to be key because the Lord's timing is perfect, and he makes all things beautiful in his time (Ecclesiastes 3:11), it's encouraging to witness his faithfulness in Hannah's life.
Do you have something in your life that you're waiting on the Lord for? What if we prayed like Hannah?
Friday, July 20, 2012
"Or Current Resident"
"I have called you by name, you are mine" -Isaiah 43:2
In the pile of mail on our kitchen counter, I came across an ad from some jewelry company that was addresses to my mom, but by her name, it was also addressed to "or current resident." I think it's interesting how the world tries to sell us stuff without even knowing who we are, however, our amazing heavenly Father knows us on the most intimate level, and gifts us something totally for free, the payment for our sins, Jesus!
In the pile of mail on our kitchen counter, I came across an ad from some jewelry company that was addresses to my mom, but by her name, it was also addressed to "or current resident." I think it's interesting how the world tries to sell us stuff without even knowing who we are, however, our amazing heavenly Father knows us on the most intimate level, and gifts us something totally for free, the payment for our sins, Jesus!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Moving Sidewalks
"Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let know inquiry get dominion over me." -Psalm 119:133
Do our daily walks make sense in light of God's promises of salvation, strength, courage, love, forgiveness, and freedom? This verse reminds me of those moving sidewalks at the airport. They keep steady your step. Once you're on, there's no changing direction. Unfortunately, our human nature likes to change direction in life. I love the cry of the psalmist's heart in this verse that the Lord would keep him from straying and set him to step within what makes sense in light of the gospel.
The second part is interesting as well. Don't we have hang ups in life? It's like encountering someone who stands on those moving sidewalks instead of walking or coming up behind a stray suitcase. We get caught up on these inquires (fears, confusions, frustrations, questions), and they keep us from being most productive for Jesus and from living in the fullness of joy that he came to bring.
Let us pray in a way that shows that we expect great things from a God who keeps our steps steady and whose sovereignty clears the inquires that obstruct our view of him!
Do our daily walks make sense in light of God's promises of salvation, strength, courage, love, forgiveness, and freedom? This verse reminds me of those moving sidewalks at the airport. They keep steady your step. Once you're on, there's no changing direction. Unfortunately, our human nature likes to change direction in life. I love the cry of the psalmist's heart in this verse that the Lord would keep him from straying and set him to step within what makes sense in light of the gospel.
The second part is interesting as well. Don't we have hang ups in life? It's like encountering someone who stands on those moving sidewalks instead of walking or coming up behind a stray suitcase. We get caught up on these inquires (fears, confusions, frustrations, questions), and they keep us from being most productive for Jesus and from living in the fullness of joy that he came to bring.
Let us pray in a way that shows that we expect great things from a God who keeps our steps steady and whose sovereignty clears the inquires that obstruct our view of him!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Can't Match That
"I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt" -Joshua 2:9-10
Let's realize that there is NOTHING that can challenge God's will. Rest peacefully, act boldly, and expect huge things from a God who melts away opposition.
Let's realize that there is NOTHING that can challenge God's will. Rest peacefully, act boldly, and expect huge things from a God who melts away opposition.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
When He Chuckles and Says "Get Over it"
"The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons'"-1 Samuel 16:1
I love God's sense of humor in this passage. I picture him coming along side of Samuel who is mopping around, grumbling about Saul not being king and saying, "how about you get over it and trust that I have a plan in all of this." My two favorite words in this verse are GO and PROVIDE. See, there are surely times in life where what seemed to be the best or the right plan simply does not work out. When that happens, often times I find myself grieving the loss of my own will. Maybe we don't get the job, don't make the grade, or a relationship falls through. God promises he does PROVIDE and he really urges us to get up, stop dwelling on what we, in our limited vision, see as a failure, and GO, to continue to seek his will.
Praise Jesus that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25)!
I love God's sense of humor in this passage. I picture him coming along side of Samuel who is mopping around, grumbling about Saul not being king and saying, "how about you get over it and trust that I have a plan in all of this." My two favorite words in this verse are GO and PROVIDE. See, there are surely times in life where what seemed to be the best or the right plan simply does not work out. When that happens, often times I find myself grieving the loss of my own will. Maybe we don't get the job, don't make the grade, or a relationship falls through. God promises he does PROVIDE and he really urges us to get up, stop dwelling on what we, in our limited vision, see as a failure, and GO, to continue to seek his will.
Praise Jesus that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25)!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
It's Singular
"if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places" -Isaiah 58:10-11
I find it interesting that this is set up like a conditional statement. If we do this, then this happens. However, this is not a matter of earning God's blessings, it is all about being blessed as a direct result of following his plan. It's almost like getting wet when you run under a sprinkler. When we're willing to camp out under the designed purpose that the Lord has for us, rejoicing in his glory, we become covered with satisfaction.
The last part of the verse promises that he'll satisfy our desire. It's not plural "desires." There is one chief desire he promises to satisfy and it comes when we pour out for the glory of his name. Is it possible, that being all about spreading the name of Jesus and loving others like he does is in fact THE desire of our heart? Ruminate on that a little, because the opportunity to experience the fulfillment of that desire is more available that we realize, in fact, it's built into what drives us. Praise Jesus for allowing us to have purpose that fills!
I find it interesting that this is set up like a conditional statement. If we do this, then this happens. However, this is not a matter of earning God's blessings, it is all about being blessed as a direct result of following his plan. It's almost like getting wet when you run under a sprinkler. When we're willing to camp out under the designed purpose that the Lord has for us, rejoicing in his glory, we become covered with satisfaction.
The last part of the verse promises that he'll satisfy our desire. It's not plural "desires." There is one chief desire he promises to satisfy and it comes when we pour out for the glory of his name. Is it possible, that being all about spreading the name of Jesus and loving others like he does is in fact THE desire of our heart? Ruminate on that a little, because the opportunity to experience the fulfillment of that desire is more available that we realize, in fact, it's built into what drives us. Praise Jesus for allowing us to have purpose that fills!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Hired Hand vs. The Owner
"He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep." -John 10:12-15
I think this passage is boss! Do you have hired hands in your own life? They are those things we look towards for satisfaction, protection, joy, identity, and salvation. They walk out on us, leaving us to the consequences of our sin. The great news is that our good shepherd has already proven his willingness to stand by us through the finished work on the cross. Have we taken the opportunity to know him?
I think this passage is boss! Do you have hired hands in your own life? They are those things we look towards for satisfaction, protection, joy, identity, and salvation. They walk out on us, leaving us to the consequences of our sin. The great news is that our good shepherd has already proven his willingness to stand by us through the finished work on the cross. Have we taken the opportunity to know him?
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Magnets
"but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." -Isaiah 59:2
I get the picture of what happens when you take two magnets of the same pole and push them together. They repel. Sin is that repelling force between us and God. How sweet the nearness is when we allow his righteousness to cover our failures and his power to remake our hearts for the things that he calls good!
I get the picture of what happens when you take two magnets of the same pole and push them together. They repel. Sin is that repelling force between us and God. How sweet the nearness is when we allow his righteousness to cover our failures and his power to remake our hearts for the things that he calls good!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Like Grabbing the Trophy
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."-Romans 8:37
Imagine your favorite team winning the championship in their respective sport. The game is, over and the crowd roaring. The captain lifts that massive trophy above his head for everyone to see. Now imagine yourself, a lone fan, sprinting down onto the field, court, or rink, tapping that dude on the shoulder and asking if maybe you could also lift that trophy up and then afterward take it home with you and keep it in your room for the rest of your life so that you could show everyone you know and gaze at it every morning when you wake up. Wouldn't that be pretty strange? You didn't do anything to deserve that victory, so why would you get to relish so directly in it?
Come on brothers and sisters, Jesus paid for the victory and now he invites us to boast in it and directly reap all of the life-changing benefits of his work on the cross. Imagine him calling you out of the crowd from his triumphal seat on the throne, sitting victorious over death and Satan, offering to celebrate the victory with him and tell everyone you know about it! Do we gaze at the splendor of victory through Jesus every morning when we wake up?
Imagine your favorite team winning the championship in their respective sport. The game is, over and the crowd roaring. The captain lifts that massive trophy above his head for everyone to see. Now imagine yourself, a lone fan, sprinting down onto the field, court, or rink, tapping that dude on the shoulder and asking if maybe you could also lift that trophy up and then afterward take it home with you and keep it in your room for the rest of your life so that you could show everyone you know and gaze at it every morning when you wake up. Wouldn't that be pretty strange? You didn't do anything to deserve that victory, so why would you get to relish so directly in it?
Come on brothers and sisters, Jesus paid for the victory and now he invites us to boast in it and directly reap all of the life-changing benefits of his work on the cross. Imagine him calling you out of the crowd from his triumphal seat on the throne, sitting victorious over death and Satan, offering to celebrate the victory with him and tell everyone you know about it! Do we gaze at the splendor of victory through Jesus every morning when we wake up?
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Mysterious Friend
"that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of the understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ" -Colossians 2:2
Full assurance and some unrevealed mystery, don't we all desire that in a relationship? We have the ultimate security in Jesus, he will NEVER walk out or prove untrustworthy. Life with him is exciting, as he is continually revealing himself and his plan for our lives to us in his perfect timing.
Full assurance and some unrevealed mystery, don't we all desire that in a relationship? We have the ultimate security in Jesus, he will NEVER walk out or prove untrustworthy. Life with him is exciting, as he is continually revealing himself and his plan for our lives to us in his perfect timing.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Desperation
"And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelves years of age, and she was dying." -Luke 8:41
Jesus goes on to bring Jairus's daughter back to life. I think we run the risk of missing the power of that if we just figure "there he goes again, doing miracles." Picture it though, or read on through verse 56. Jesus responds to Jairus's faith and desperation, comes to see his daughter, says "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." Then everyone laughs at him. Apparently they think they know better than he does about matters of life and death. Then in this climactic moment, I just picture Jesus nonchalantly saying, "Child arise," as she's filled with life again. Then he tells them to go get her something to eat (that's funny considering a minute ago they were laughing at his saying that she's not dead...I wonder if he chuckled as he said that).
Don't we have things in our lives that we think are dead? Maybe it's a dream, hope, direction, purpose, relationships, passion, fire for his word. Jesus does not ignore desperate calls for his power in our lives. Let's be willing to fall at his feet, Jairus did and Jesus did miraculous work!
Jesus goes on to bring Jairus's daughter back to life. I think we run the risk of missing the power of that if we just figure "there he goes again, doing miracles." Picture it though, or read on through verse 56. Jesus responds to Jairus's faith and desperation, comes to see his daughter, says "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." Then everyone laughs at him. Apparently they think they know better than he does about matters of life and death. Then in this climactic moment, I just picture Jesus nonchalantly saying, "Child arise," as she's filled with life again. Then he tells them to go get her something to eat (that's funny considering a minute ago they were laughing at his saying that she's not dead...I wonder if he chuckled as he said that).
Don't we have things in our lives that we think are dead? Maybe it's a dream, hope, direction, purpose, relationships, passion, fire for his word. Jesus does not ignore desperate calls for his power in our lives. Let's be willing to fall at his feet, Jairus did and Jesus did miraculous work!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Triumphal Procession
"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." -2 Corinthians 2:14
I like knowing that as a follower of Christ, I am always walking in a triumphal procession. Not everything in life is going to seem to go our way when we want it to, but when the goal is his glory, any circumstance we find ourselves in will be productive. It's pretty sweet to know that no venture in him is wasted.
I like knowing that as a follower of Christ, I am always walking in a triumphal procession. Not everything in life is going to seem to go our way when we want it to, but when the goal is his glory, any circumstance we find ourselves in will be productive. It's pretty sweet to know that no venture in him is wasted.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Complaining about Free Water Ice
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." -Ephesians 2:8
Tuesday was free Rita's water ice day in celebration of the first day of spring. Being the cheap college student that I am, I stood with my roommate in a line of Philadelphia locals for over 35 minutes, waiting for my free, medium, cup of chilled sugar. Needless to say, I heard and observed some very interesting things while waiting.
The girl behind me in line complained the entire time about how "it's free water ice, it should be fast...I have things to do....I can't believe we have to wait so long." At first, I was slightly disgusted by how ridiculous she was being. It's free, I thought to myself, how can you complain about something you're getting for nothing. Who cares if you have to wait? At the end of the day, you're getting something that you don't deserve. Well....quickly my self-righteous attitude was turned on me, as the Holy Spirit reminded me of how frequently I have this same attitude, but applied to an far weightier discontent. Far too many times, I have grown frustrated with the Lord because of where he has me, what I'm doing, and yes indeed, as to why in the world I have to wait for blessings I have hope he'll provide. I soon grew disgusted with myself. Every breath, moment, and blessing is more than I deserve. Who am I to complain?
Tuesday was free Rita's water ice day in celebration of the first day of spring. Being the cheap college student that I am, I stood with my roommate in a line of Philadelphia locals for over 35 minutes, waiting for my free, medium, cup of chilled sugar. Needless to say, I heard and observed some very interesting things while waiting.
The girl behind me in line complained the entire time about how "it's free water ice, it should be fast...I have things to do....I can't believe we have to wait so long." At first, I was slightly disgusted by how ridiculous she was being. It's free, I thought to myself, how can you complain about something you're getting for nothing. Who cares if you have to wait? At the end of the day, you're getting something that you don't deserve. Well....quickly my self-righteous attitude was turned on me, as the Holy Spirit reminded me of how frequently I have this same attitude, but applied to an far weightier discontent. Far too many times, I have grown frustrated with the Lord because of where he has me, what I'm doing, and yes indeed, as to why in the world I have to wait for blessings I have hope he'll provide. I soon grew disgusted with myself. Every breath, moment, and blessing is more than I deserve. Who am I to complain?
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
When Daddy Can't Stop Smiling
"He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
-Zephaniah 3:17
Newly added to my list of top 25 most beautiful things this side of heaven....new daddies standing outside of the nursery gleaming at their hour old children on the other side of the glass. I watched as this beautiful first time father, stood outside of the nursery with the biggest smile you could imagine on his face, eyes following his son all around the nursery, waiting in anticipation for his return into his arms. This gave me an amazing picture of God....
#1.) He delights joyfully in our existence. I cannot possibly wrap my brain around this one, but I like to picture the Lord smiling down on us every day, amazingly, without regard to the reality that we ignore his presence daily.
#2.) He never takes his eyes off of us. I think of that dad watching carefully as we cleaned, assessed and medicated his son. Regardless of whether or not the little guy was crying, dad was right there, smiling away. He understood that the temporary trials of needle-sticks and a good scrub down were all a part of what his son needed to be cleanses and protected. Sound familiar to how our heavenly Father operates?
#3.) He anticipates time with us. That daddy hadn't been apart from his son for more than two minutes before he tracked down his whereabouts and waited anxiously by his side to snatch him up in his arms again. Little did that little boy know how intimate the time with his father would be in those first couple days of life.
Brothers and sister, the Lord delights in you, he desires your affection, and covets your love. Be amazed by that!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Eyes for Lies
"I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." -Isaiah 42:6-7
What are some lies that you believe deep down in your heart? Those notions that the enemy has planted that prevent you from experiencing the love of Jesus every second of every day....those perceptions of yourself and others that hinder you from the kingdom work you were made for. We've all got some.
I'm not worthy
I'll never be good enough
He doesn't really love me
I've messed up too many times
The world would function just the same without me
I deserve to be hurt
If only I then .
There's such power in these words in Isaiah 42 that reveal to us the beautiful fact that Jesus came to give us an eye to expose those lies, to pour out his grace on us that we may no longer be blind and see his love. What would life be like if we accepted that grace daily and embraced that vision?
What are some lies that you believe deep down in your heart? Those notions that the enemy has planted that prevent you from experiencing the love of Jesus every second of every day....those perceptions of yourself and others that hinder you from the kingdom work you were made for. We've all got some.
I'm not worthy
I'll never be good enough
He doesn't really love me
I've messed up too many times
The world would function just the same without me
I deserve to be hurt
If only I then .
There's such power in these words in Isaiah 42 that reveal to us the beautiful fact that Jesus came to give us an eye to expose those lies, to pour out his grace on us that we may no longer be blind and see his love. What would life be like if we accepted that grace daily and embraced that vision?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Like Spinach Stuck Between Your Teeth
" I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you." -Isaiah 44:22
Repentance is a truly amazing thing because unless we realize that there's something we need to walk away from, we have no need to walk towards something else, something better. It serves as a mechanism of release from sin and God is incredibly faithful in rewarding that repentance with blessing. The sweet thing is....repentance is not simply a vehicle to receive blessing, but is in and of itself the reward because, with Jesus, purification results.
I think it might be a little bit like when you have a huge hunk of spinach stuck between your two front teeth. Let's be honest, no one's smile looks good when that's chillin in there. Often times we have no idea. We need someone to point it out to us, so that we can go find a mirror and take care of it. The return is a beautiful smile. Praise the Lord that he sent the Holy Spirit to be the one to tap us on the shoulder and convict us of our sin, and that he sent his son to remove our transgressions from us, that we may experience the fullness of life that the Lord has promised us.
Repentance is a truly amazing thing because unless we realize that there's something we need to walk away from, we have no need to walk towards something else, something better. It serves as a mechanism of release from sin and God is incredibly faithful in rewarding that repentance with blessing. The sweet thing is....repentance is not simply a vehicle to receive blessing, but is in and of itself the reward because, with Jesus, purification results.
I think it might be a little bit like when you have a huge hunk of spinach stuck between your two front teeth. Let's be honest, no one's smile looks good when that's chillin in there. Often times we have no idea. We need someone to point it out to us, so that we can go find a mirror and take care of it. The return is a beautiful smile. Praise the Lord that he sent the Holy Spirit to be the one to tap us on the shoulder and convict us of our sin, and that he sent his son to remove our transgressions from us, that we may experience the fullness of life that the Lord has promised us.
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