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You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you. Proverbs 28:13 (GNT)
One time while camping in the north woods of Minnesota we saw an interesting phenomenon. When we retired for the night we’d unknowingly left a jar of peanuts open and on a table. In the early morning hours a chipmunk happened to come along and seeing an opportunity, climbed into the jar and filled his cheeks with delicious peanuts. Unfortunately, the mouth of the jar was just large enough for him to get in, too small for him to get out with his peanut-filled cheeks.
We watched from our camper as he tried repeatedly to escape, but to no avail finally, he took the only recourse he had. He emptied his cheeks and (I imagine) begrudgingly left his treasure behind.
There are times in life when we hold so tightly to things that they keep us from enjoying the freedom God intended for us to have. Guilt is one of those things. Guilt can be ‘real’ guilt, based on things we’ve done against God, against ourselves or against others. Guilt can be false as well, based on the words and activities of others who use their power to keep us subdued and imprisoned by their own anger.
Like the chipmunk, we struggle to move on with victory in sight, but never seem to be able to make that final leap, never seem to be able to rid ourselves of those feelings of guilt and failure that bog us down.
- Guilt forces you to focus on the past and clouds your vision for the future;
- Guilt focuses on your failures not your strengths;
- Guilt sends inaccurate messages about who you are. It tells you that YOU are a bad person when in reality it was your actions that were bad, not you;
- Guilt masquerades as anger (leading to bitterness);
- Guilt is a breeding ground for fear & worry;
- Guilt can shorten your life expectancy by raising your blood pressure, risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety disorders.
Millions of dollars are spent each year to find cures for a variety of illnesses. The good news is that medical science has made great strides in controlling or even curing many diseases that were once life ending.
The better news is that when we talk about guilt, the cure is already available to us…and it’s free! Guilt will never be resolved by a simple pill. Guilt will never be relieved by counselors or religion. Guilt can only be taken from us through confession to the one person who promises to grant us forgiveness and mercy.
Jesus Christ came to free you of the burden of guilt. He came to cleanse your guilty conscience. Other people may refuse to forgive you; other people may continue to remind you of your faults; there may be physical reminders of your poor choices that you will carry the rest of your life. But through confession of your sin, your guilt is taken away through Jesus Christ, who grants mercy to all of us.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I’ve been lugging this baggage of guilt with me for far too long. I confess my wrongs to you and ask you to forgive me and grant me mercy so that I can live free of the guilt that kept me captive. Amen.
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17
Every once in awhile you’ll see them at sporting events or on billboards on the commute into work. Signs bearing the words “JOHN 3:16” emblazoned on placards, bumpers and roadside signs remind those of us who are Christ-followers of God’s love for the world, others scoff and smirk. Just another weird ‘Jesus person’.
From time to time you’ll see other verses of scripture put up on display, but not very often do you see Numbers 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.
Rather than curse Israel as he intended to do, the prophet Balaam spoke words of hope for the people. His words had both a ‘present’ message and an eternal one. This small fledgling nation would someday become a great nation under a powerful leader and it’s boundaries would be expanded and secure.
But more than that, the eternal implications were great. Beyond the golden era of King David, a messiah would arise. He would take away the sins of the world! His reign would be eternal, just, and full of love. His scepter would be one of grace, compassion, forgiveness and comfort for those who followed him.
This hope, this ‘seeing him, but not now; beholding him, but not near’ is like the first light of dawn on the horizon. Barely more than a faint glow, it grows brighter as dawn approaches. For the watchful eye, the heart the fears the dark, the approaching dawn brings hope. The night will soon be over; the hidden dangers will be exposed; the enemies of our souls that love the darkness because their deeds are evil will flee.
As the horizon lightens our sense of expectancy grows. As evil seems to triumph over good; as morality and the things of God seem to be threatened, we harbor in our hearts the promise that someday our king will triumph. Some day the expectancy of the dawn will be as bright as the noonday sun!
Later, this light, this star spoken of in prophecy would say to those who would hear him, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Matthew tells us more when he quotes Jesus as saying, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14).
This light rising in the darkness; that brings hope to a hope-less world is Jesus Christ. In him we not only have our hope, but we reflect that hope to those around us. The Christmas Star is much more than a reminder of a little baby in a manger. It’s a present promise of future hope, just as the dawn promises us a new day.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus I thank you for the hope you give us on a daily basis. Help me to reflect your hope to those in need around me today. Amen.
You, Lord, know every one of my deepest desires, and my noisy groans are no secret to you.Psalm 38:9(CEV)
The low fuel light comes on as he’s driving to work and his heart sinks. No money for gas, no options available. He has to get to work but doesn’t know how he’ll get home. Borrowing gas money again didn’t seem like an option he wanted to visit. God, why…
She turns out the light and lays her head on the pillow. She did it again. She promised herself she’d stay faithful, stay pure. More importantly, she promised God. What if she gets pregnant? What if he finds out? What if? O God, please…
The pop-up on the internet entices him. Three hours later he realizes he’s wasted an entire afternoon. How can he do this to his wife? How can he do this to his God? Who can he tell? Everyone looks to him as some spiritual leader, if only they knew, but God knows. Jesus, I’m so sorry…
It’s 2 AM. The silent breathing in the next room turns to a muffled cry. “I so wish I hadn’t had him…” She catches herself…again. How can she feel this way. She wanted a baby, no THEY wanted a baby. But now, after the accident she’s alone to tend to the house, the finances, everything. The guilt she bears towards her child overwhelms here. ‘If only.’ “God how can I…”
During those deepest, darkest times of your life he hears the groans of your heart; the groans no one else knows about. The feelings you would never be able to tell anyone.
Those regrets? He hears them.
The guilt and shame? He sees the scars.
The fear and worry? Knows about that too.
No matter who you are. No matter where you are in life. Whether you are a successful businessman, a highly esteemed ministry, a best selling author or a homeless person looking for the next fix. You have those feelings, those inner groanings of the soul that you bear alone. They can attack at night, in broad daylight, during times of celebration and times of grief. Sometimes your human soul can’t even find the words to express the emotion you feel.
It’s during those times that your Heavenly Father longs to come by your side. God understands the language of half words. He knows the feelings interrupted with sighs, and interprets them as the breaths of a broken heart. Not only does he hear your broken thoughts, he has promised to never judge, never condemn, never get his ‘shocked look.’
Don’t allow the guilt, the worry, or the weakness of your soul deceive you into thinking God doesn’t care. He cares deeply and knows your thoughts before you think them.
PRAYER: Father, I praise you for the promise you have made to stay by my side. I’ve pushed you away at times. I’ve rebelled and stumbled in my weakness. I have feelings, doubts and fears I can’t express to my closest friends. I thank you that you hear me and love me. Amen.
And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. Galatians 3:27 (CEV)
Even though it happened over a half century ago, I remember it like yesterday. I proudly carried the box out of the local clothing store and excitedly climbed in the backseat of our car. Although it was a short drive home, it seemed like an eternity.
The car no sooner stopped and I was in the house and up to my room. Moments later I bounded down the stairs and outside to try out my new prize. Much to my amazement, the commercials were right! With my new ‘Keds®’ I really could jump higher and run faster. I felt like lightning running down that sidewalk!
Do you remember those new sets of clothes? Remember the first time you walked into school, or church or down the street? Remember the pride, the excitement, the feeling way down deep inside that this was going to be the turning point, that life was going to be better from here on out?
The Apostle Paul compares knowing Jesus to putting on a new outfit. This outfit doesn’t make us run faster or jump higher. It may make us look different to others. But that isn’t the real beauty to putting on Christ.
Physical clothing covers our body, but putting on Christ envelops our soul. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden they made fig leaves to cover their shame, guilt, embarrassment and fear. The fig leaves were superficial coverings that offered little protection. Their Father made clothing for them that was better. It covered their bodies well, but their souls remained exposed to the elements.
Then Jesus came. Jesus Christ died to offer the same protection of the outer clothing, but the big difference is that Jesus died to protect your heart. When you ask him to forgive you, he will. When you ask him to take away your guilt, he does. When you ask him for peace and comfort when you are scared or hurt, he will.
Like Adam and Eve, people have tried many things to try to cover the pain, the hurt, the anger, the guilt of their past and present. Some try drugs; others try a new relationship, a new church, a different religion or new surroundings. Some have tried to escape the pain by not following any religion, which is really a religion in itself. But there is nothing that will cover the wound in your heart like Jesus.
When you get ready to start the day you dress yourself according to the weather and your daily activities. Don’t forget to dress the most important part of you. Put on Jesus so that your heart will be protected. You’ll notice the difference and so will others.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus thank you for the clothing you provide for my heart. I’ve done many things that have kept me from feeling good about myself and others. Forgive me for my sins. Clothe me with the forgiveness, hope and confidence I can only get through you. May others see the difference in me because my heart is protected by you. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 