Confessions
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
last night's small group was all about confession, specifically confession leading to repentance... it's something I've been dealing with personally lately. I knew it was a touchy subject because confession and repentance isn't something that one human can force on another, but I so desired the girls to realize that the beginning of an authentic relationship with Christ is our realization of our deep need for him. All this happened because Sunday I read Isaiah 53 - the prophet's foretelling of God sending his servant and the Jewish people rejecting him and sentencing him to death, even though he committed no crimes. I read it with a heavy heart, knowing that I am just like them. I saw myself in this verse the most: (3) He was despised and rejected--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
I made my own list, adding to the strikes against me of despising and rejecting him, of other ways I have failed him. It went a little something like this:
I have despised him.
I have rejected him.
I have been annoyed by him.
I have misrepresented him.
I have ignored him.
I have been impatient with him.
I have been angered by him.
I have betrayed him.
ouch.
so last night I had everyone do the same thing, and they came up with some good ones:
I have not trusted him.
I have embarrassed him.
I have taken his credit.
I have used him for my advantage.
I have walked away from him.
I have blamed him.
I have to admit, I was nervous as heck doing this last night... my goal wasn't for everyone to leave with a "man I suck" attitude, but rather "man I suck but praise God that because of Jesus I am spotless in His sight" ... my goal wasn't even to force everyone into a time of repentance. I simply wanted to plant a seed for them to carry with them as they left; a seed that, hopefully, would produce "Godly sorrow" (Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Cor 7:10). Last night was an exercise of me trusting. Something I don't do enough of.
Thank goodness the end of the story is salvation!
But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners. Isaiah 53:10-12
last night's small group was all about confession, specifically confession leading to repentance... it's something I've been dealing with personally lately. I knew it was a touchy subject because confession and repentance isn't something that one human can force on another, but I so desired the girls to realize that the beginning of an authentic relationship with Christ is our realization of our deep need for him. All this happened because Sunday I read Isaiah 53 - the prophet's foretelling of God sending his servant and the Jewish people rejecting him and sentencing him to death, even though he committed no crimes. I read it with a heavy heart, knowing that I am just like them. I saw myself in this verse the most: (3) He was despised and rejected--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
I made my own list, adding to the strikes against me of despising and rejecting him, of other ways I have failed him. It went a little something like this:
I have despised him.
I have rejected him.
I have been annoyed by him.
I have misrepresented him.
I have ignored him.
I have been impatient with him.
I have been angered by him.
I have betrayed him.
ouch.
so last night I had everyone do the same thing, and they came up with some good ones:
I have not trusted him.
I have embarrassed him.
I have taken his credit.
I have used him for my advantage.
I have walked away from him.
I have blamed him.
I have to admit, I was nervous as heck doing this last night... my goal wasn't for everyone to leave with a "man I suck" attitude, but rather "man I suck but praise God that because of Jesus I am spotless in His sight" ... my goal wasn't even to force everyone into a time of repentance. I simply wanted to plant a seed for them to carry with them as they left; a seed that, hopefully, would produce "Godly sorrow" (Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Cor 7:10). Last night was an exercise of me trusting. Something I don't do enough of.
Thank goodness the end of the story is salvation!
But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners. Isaiah 53:10-12
posted by carly at
11:15 AM
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