_______, My child, come/turn to Me. Day 4

Repentance 3

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

There are four major tennis tournaments – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Winning a major is considered a great achievement and as of today only two men and three women have won all four majors in the same year- and that is called a Grand Slam.

Golf also has four majors – the Masters, the US Open, the British Open and the PGA. There has never been a golf Grand Slam but Jack Nicklaus has won the most majors-18. For that reason, Jack Nicklaus is considered the greatest golfer that ever played the game. However one day, to the surprise of many, Jack took a month off from golf. He did that to correct a part of his game. He tried and tried himself but could not correct the flaw. So he went back to the first coach that taught him the game and the flaw was corrected. And Jack went on to win more majors.

Dear Brother and Sister and Christ, coming to repentance I asked (day 3) when a sinner ‘repents’ of his sin, is it true repentance if he turns to another sin?  Of course the answer is NO. True repentance is turning to the God and the Cross. So what are we do when we repent?  Turn away from the sin and turn to Christ.   And God in all His Mercy and Grace will welcome us like the Prodigal’s father.

So let’s turn and return to God, joyful that He will lead us to himself through Jesus.

Merciful Father, I realize that whenever I sin I grieve you. Equip me to turn from my sin. Also, teach me to be like a child, to run to you and to trust and obey You. In Jesus name, Amen. 

P.S. Please try the following: On a piece of paper write -          _______, My child, turn to Me.

                                                    and  _______, My child, come to Me.

Write your name on both blanks (remember our God knows you by YOUR name) and reflect on the two sentences. Grace and Peace!

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Running to …. and Regretting! Day 3

Repentance 2

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

A husband and wife are travelling in their car and the husband driving. At one point the wife tells her husband to turn right and by mistake he turns left. Immediately he says, “I am sorry dear, I should have listened to you.” And just make sure that she heard him, he says  “Sorry. You are right, I took the wrong turn.” But that’s all he does – he says sorry but keeps on driving in the wrong direction. So the truth is, they are travelling away from their destination.  To reach the destination, he needs to turn the car around and go the opposite direction. Continuing in the same direction or turning any other direction will not make them reach their destination. Neither do acknowledging the error and apologizing!

Dear Friend in Jesus, you might be wondering why another day on repentance. Let me begin by humbly suggesting an exercise – next week ask three of your Christian friends the question “What is true repentance?” If all three of them answer this question correct, I will say this – you are truly blessed to have them as friends. On the other hand, don’t be surprised if your friends do not know the answer (sadly most don’t – I didn’t know until my late 30s)

So what is true repentance? Yesterday I wrote it ‘entails changing our ways’. That is good but is it enough? If I run after a sin and then regret and run to another sin, is that true repentance?

Please indulge me as I use this illustration (a true story) once again. One of my relatives, a chain smoker, attended a very strict Bible church that taught smoking tobacco was a sin. For years he was told to quit but it was not was not easy for him. Then one Sunday during testimony time, he stood up and announced he quit smoking with by the grace of God. The church members praised God and were all happy for him but soon everyone realized that he gave up cigarettes for snuff. He gave up one form of tobacco for another form of tobacco!

So once again, when a sinner ‘repents’ of his sin, is it true repentance if he turns to another sin?  So where to turn? (More tomorrow)

Blessed and Heavenly Father! My life is nothing but running to sin and later regretting. In Your kindness and patience, please help me to truly repent of my sins. In your Son’s name I plead. Amen.

The Demand! Day 2

Repentance 1

⁴⁶ and (Jesus) said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)

A Peanuts comic strip has Lucy and Charlie Brown practicing (American) football. Lucy is the holder and Charlie is the kicker. Regular readers know that every time Charlie approaches to kick the ball, Lucy picks up the ball and Charlie ends up kicking air and his momentum causes him to fall flat on his back.

So this particular comic strip opens with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown does not want to kick the ball. Lucy begs him to kick the ball. Charlie Brown says, "Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back." They go back and forth and finally Lucy breaks down in tears and admits, "Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I’ve seen the error of my ways! I’ve seen the hurt look in your eyes when I’ve deceived you. I’ve been wrong, so wrong. Won’t you give a poor penitent girl another chance?" Charlie Brown is moved by her display of grief and responds, "Of course, I’ll give you another chance." He steps back as Lucy holds the ball, and he runs. At the last moment, Lucy once again picks up the ball and Charlie Brown, as always, falls flat on his back. Lucy’s last words - "Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!" 

According to Matthew, Jesus begins his ministry declaring (IMHO demanding) “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”(Matt 4:17).

True repentance is important in a believer’s life. But many do not understand true repentance. Repentance as we can learn from Lucy is not just recognizing our faults/sins. Repentance is entails changing our ways. (More to follow)

So Dear Brother and Sister – let us approach God with a true repentant heart.

Abba! Father! I am grateful that ‘Your kindness leads me to repentance’ (Romans 2:4). Bless me this day forward. In Jesus name I thank and pray. Amen.

Ashes? Ashes? We don't need no Ashes! Day 1

DAY1 Why Ashes?

Beginning today many observe the 40-day Lent season! But if you were to count the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter it would be more than 40 days. So what is the deal? The truth is Lent is not observed on Sundays because every Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!

 
So we begin by observing, not celebrating, Ash Wednesday. Now you might wonder -Why Ashes? How can we follow something that is Catholic? Also don’t many cultures associate ashes with dirt and death? Don’t we clean our fireplaces and wood-ovens of ashes and people dispose of cremated body ashes? Also, don’t we get dirty when we touch ashes?

The truth is ashes symbolize our ‘dust to dust-ness’ (…for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19). Without Jesus we would still be dirty, dead and far from God. Jesus came to the earth, lived among men, suffered, died on the cross for your sins and mine and on the third day rose for our salvation. And because of Jesus and His cleansing blood, we are presented pure to God. So we remember and reflect on what Jesus did for us.

Other Questions:

How are the ashes made?

By burning palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.

Do I have to put Ashes on my forehead?

There is no such requirement.

I should always be joyful because I belong to Christ! So why do I have to feel sad during Lent?

You are correct to be full of Joy because of and remembering the good that Christ brings. At the same time you and I should never forget Jesus’ suffering for our sins.

Does the Bible teach the observance of Ash Wednesday?

While Ash Wednesday and Lent are not in the Bible, the ideas are.  In the Bible ashes represent humility, remorse, repentance and mourning.

Why 40 days?

Jesus, after 40 days of fasting, overcame the temptation by the devil and began his ministry. We also spend the 40 days of Lent reflecting on our temptations and our sinful lives and repent and rely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessed and heavenly Father: I thank You for giving me the privilege and right to be Your child through Jesus! Bless me from this day and season with Your Grace, Mercy, and above all Your Love to always remember everything You did for me through Your Son. In His name I pray! Amen!