Truth or Lies?

 

“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.”

—2 John 1:4

I have enjoyed mystery novels for a long, long time. For me, a good mystery novel has a plot that grabs me and holds my attention. Similarly, if a mystery novel can truly engage me, motivate me to think ahead and try to predict the outcome, but then, surprise me with some unique twist in the plot, that’s when a good mystery novel becomes a great mystery novel.

I particularly enjoy mystery novels that challenge me to discover which of the characters represent the “good guys” and which represent the “bad guys.” It’s not always easy to tell, at first.

However, as the plot unfolds and we see the characters in different situations, it sometimes becomes apparent which ones represent good and which ones represent evil. Occasionally, a character that I at first thought was good, turns out to be really bad. When this happens I always feel disappointed. But, I also recognize that the goodness of the good characters becomes heightened by the evil of the evil characters.

I also find it particularly fascinating when the situation in which a character finds himself or herself gives that character a chance to turn from lies and move toward and into a pathway of truth. Sometimes, the character will make that choice. Other times, the character will double-down on the pathway of lies. Each choice offers consequences. On the pathway of truth, the character will find redemption. On the pathway of lies, the character will find damnation.

The statement that the Apostle John writes in his second epistle—that’s the passage at the beginning of this blog post—has always intrigued me. John celebrates that he has found some of the Elder’s children following the truth. I have always wondered what happened to the other children.

You see, if some children walk in the truth, it goes without saying that other children must walk in lies. There’s no middle ground, no shade of gray, no compromize position. Either the children walk in the truth of God’s revelation, in and through His written Word, or they walk in a pattern governed by lies.

I wonder what turned them away from truth. They were children of the same mother. They belonged to the same family. They had the same instruction. They had the same opportunity. They had the same wealth of positive experiences. They had seen where following the truth would lead, yet they chose lies over the truth.

I suspect that, at first, they began to turn from the truth in small ways. A little lie here. Another little lie there. Instead of holding firmly to the truth, they began to cut corners, to compromize, to convince themselves that their own motives held more importance than faithfulness to the truth.

Little by little, small act by small act, they started down the pathway of lies. Soon, the truth was left far behind. The bright, shining glory of the truth became clouded in a mist of lies. Where once the truth shed strong light on their pathway, now the lies they chose blotted out that light. So, they wandered—stumbled really—along a pathway that they could no longer see clearly.

That’s how Satan works, you know. A little nudge here, a poke there, and soon the Evil One has manipulated you to leave the pathway of the truth and turn onto a pathway of lies. The darkness begins to set in and you soon do not even remember what the bright light of the day of truth even looked like.

I grieve for these other children. I long to read an account of how they came to their senses, confessed their sins, repented of their sins, made restitution for their sins, and received the reconciliation with God and man that would fully restore them and set them firmly back on the pathway of truth.

Sadly, John’s letter gives us no such end to the story. We don’t know what happens to the other children. John leaves their fate up to our imagination, at least insofar as this particular letter of his is concerned.

Fortunately in our own lives, we can rest with surety on the fact that God longs to help keep us firmly on the pathway of truth. That’s why God has given every person who truly believes in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes alongside us to guide us. He lives within our hearts to prompt us to follow the truth. If we will allow Him to do so, He will captivate our minds and make clear, truthful thinking a normality for us.

What about you, dear one? Will you consciously choose to stay on the pathway of truth? As you examine your mind and heart, consider whether your fellow believers might someday ask, “But, what about the others?” Instead, may you be one of whom the Apostle can write, “It gives me great joy to find you walking in the truth.”

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Forgiveness - Part 4: Restoration

 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

—Psalm 51:10-12

In my three previous blog posts, I laid out a new series of posts using these words:

From time to time on this blog site, I’ve written about confession, repentance, restitution, and reconciliation. These four individual elements form an interdependent, interlocking, life-sustaining process that some have called “The Circle of Forgiveness.” This process becomes a very important part of the pathway for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—that is to say a “Christian” or “Christ’s-one”—to develop into a fully obedient citizen of the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, each of these elements offers its own set of challenges to our normal understanding. While the basis for the fundamental morality of the United States has deep roots into the soil of Judeo-Christian values, time has tended to soften, or distort, some of the concreteness of certain of those values. As a result, people end up with a skewed, or distorted, view of what these values really mean. “Confession” is one such value.

“Restoration” is the final such value. It marks the end of the journey through the “Circle of Forgiveness.” Yet, in a very real sense for most of us, coming to this last value also very likely marks the beginning of another new journey through the Circle. Our sin nature will always bring us to the need for yet another cycle of Confession, Repentance, Restitution, and Restoration. Praise God that—in His mercy and grace through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ—He has made provision for us to continually keep short accounts with Him.

When one party in a relationship sins against another, the Holy Spirit begins a process of conviction. Unless the one who sinned has hardened his or her heart to the point that he or she rejects the urging of the Spirit, that process of conviction will lead the one who sinned to embark on a journey along the Circle of Forgiveness.

The one who has been sinned against plays a key role in the last element of this Circle of Forgiveness—“…forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…” By cheefully extending forgiveness to the one who has sinned, the harmed party may now lovingly assist the sinner to receive mercy, grace, and love. Once mercy and grace begin to act on the matter, the bond of Christian love will again bloom between the parties.

“If what you describe is so, why do so many in the body of believers remain estranged from each other?”

That’s an excellent question. For each individual situation, the answer comes from conducting a very careful examination to make certain every one of the four steps of the Circle of Forgiveness has been successfully completed. In any situation where you find lingering difficulty, you will find that the estranged parties have missed one of the steps, or not implemented one of them fully.

As I have suggested in several related blog posts over the last nine years or so, you can “paint over” the bad spot of sin in a relationship and try to pretend nothing has really happened. However, if the underlying sin does not become exposed and dealt with using the Circle of Forgiveness, that sin stain will always eventually reveal itself to the determent of the relationship.

Let me offer a concrete example:

Due to a bankruptcy on the part of a builder, one adult sibling in a family has an opportunity to purchase a new house at a drastic discount. This is the dream house that the sibling has longed for over many years. However, he does not have the money to purchase the house. He turns to his brother and asks the brother—who is a good deal better off financially— to loan the money in order to purchase the house until the first brother can raise the money to pay back this personal loan between brothers.

The second brother gladly complies with the first brother’s request. However, six months later when the first brother has raised the capital to settle the loan that he obtained from his brother, the second brother suddenly informs the first that he will have to pay interest on the loaned money. In fact, rather than charging a modest interest, the second brother decides to seek more interest than the current market would require, had the first brother been able to borrow the money from a bank or other financial institution.

The first brother, in shock and with a very heavy heart, grudgingly complies. But now, the relationship between brothers has been breached. Yes, the first brother remains grateful for his brother’s help in the matter—for without that help he could never have purchased the house. And, it may seem as if the incident is settled.

However, the truth is, the second brother sinned against the first. He did so by not disclosing the terms of the arrangement that he had in mind at the beginning. He further sinned by charging his brother an exorbitant rate of interest.

For many months, even years, the second brother insists that he did no wrong. He still sees his brother at family social gatherings. He even thinks that all is well between them. But, whenever he drives by his brother’s house, he remembers what he did. On the one hand, he is satisfied with himself that he made out quite well in the matter. Still, deep within his soul, the second brother realizes that he truly did harm his brother in the way he manipulated the situation to his own advantage.

You see, the second brother is being convicted by the Holy Spirit. But, the second brother does not follow the Circle of Forgiveness.

Even though the matter seems settled, every once in a while over the next twenty years, the matter pokes its head above the surface of the normally calm waters of the relationship between the brothers. And, it will continue to fester, just beneath the surface, until the second brother responds to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and employs Confession for his sin against his brother, determines to move on to Repentance for that sin—determining to never commit such a sin again—make Restitution for his sin by repaying the interest that he charged his brother, and finally receives full Restoration.

I urge you, if you have sinned against a brother or sister in Christ, to prayerfully and carefully make your way through the four steps of the Circle of Forgiveness. If you do, God will restore your relationship and restore your joy.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Forgiveness - Part 3: Restitution

 

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged…’”

—Numbers 5:5-7

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

—Luke 19:1-10

In my two previous blog posts, I continued a new series of posts using these words:

From time to time on this blog site, I’ve written about confession, repentance, restitution, and reconciliation. These four individual elements form an interdependent, interlocking, life-sustaining process that some have called “The Circle of Forgiveness.” This process becomes a very important part of the pathway for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—that is to say a “Christian” or “Christ’s-one”—to develop into a fully obedient citizen of the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, each of these elements offers its own set of challenges to our normal understanding. While the basis for the fundamental morality of the United States has deep roots into the soil of Judeo-Christian values, time has tended to soften, or distort, some of the concreteness of certain of those values. As a result, people end up with a skewed, or distorted, view of what these values really mean. “Confession” is one such value.

“Restitution” is another such value. It is also the least talked about, least recognized, and least accepted element in the “Circle of Forgiveness.” While people will often consider the possibility that they may need to employ Confession of their sins, and will even contemplate the idea that they need to turn their backs on theirs sins in Repentance, they simply cannot—or will not—consider the idea that when they have harmed someone they must make it right through Restitution.

“Wait a minute!” you interrupt. “I read the Scripture passages at the beginning of your blog post. The first one comes from the Book of Numbers. It appears to me to be part of the Mosaic Law that God gave to His chosen people, Israel. I’m a ‘New Testament Christian.’ I am not under the Law. I’m under grace. That Old Testament requirement regarding restitution certainly doesn’t apply to me!”

Let me see if I understand your position. Because the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law in our behalf and paid the penalty for our sins, we no longer need to direct any of our attention to the principles of righteousness that the Law of Moses contains, as carefully described in the Old Testament. Is that what you’re saying? If so, I simply don’t agree with you.

Of course we are under grace and not under the penalty of the Law. But, when the Law gives us conceptual guidance regarding practices that help us perfect the righteousness imputed to us in, by, and through Christ Jesus, we do well to heed what the Law has to say. Such is the case with “Restitution.”

Think carefully about what I am saying. You commit a sin against someone. In so doing you harm that one in some way. Then the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin. In response, you confess your wrongdoing to God and to the one you have harmed. Then, you take the next step and turn your back on that sin, determining to avoid repeating it. The third step in the Circle of Forgiveness requires you to make right the harm you have done. Let me give you an example.

Let’s say that you have taken some action that has deprived someone of his or her employment. You didn’t necessarily intend to inflict harm. Rather, you followed someone else’s lead and took action based on erroneous information that other person gave you. You now understand that the information you acted on was a lie. And, you recognize that you failed in your fiduciary responsibility to more carefully review the information you were given.

You should have insisted to see first-hand proof of what you were being told. Instead of relying on first sources, you took action based on what someone else told you. You did not do the kind of thorough investigation on your own that you should always do. In this failure to be more careful, you sinned. You have confessed your sin and repented of it. Now, to take the next step, you must champion the cause of restoring the one your actions harmed to his or her job. You have participated in damaging that person’s reputation. You must now do everything in your power to repair and restore that reputation. You must strive mightily to do everything you can to right the wrong—to make Restitution for what you have done to cause harm to another person.

Here’s another example.

More than 40 years ago, when I served on the fire department in the southern tier of New York State, one of our fire police officers was also a New York State Conservation Officer. One evening, he told me a story of how he had received a telephone call from one of the professors at a nearby college. The professor was calling to report that the Holy Spirit had convicted him of a sin he had committed and prompted him to confess. The professor explained that he had shot a deer out of season. He was calling the Conservation Officer in order to confess and promise to never do such an illegal act in the future.

As the conversation drew to a close, the Conservation Officer told the professor that he would meet him at the Justice of the Peace’s office in the morning to process the paperwork, so the professor could pay the several hundred dollar fine. Suddenly the professor seemed aghast. It seemed as if the professor thought that confession was all that he would need to do to clear his conscience. The Conservation Officer told the professor that he still had to make restitution to the State of New York for his crime.

You see Restitution is part of the forgiveness process. If you ignore Restitution, you can’t move on to the final step in the Circle of Forgiveness. Said another way, without following the pathway of Confession, Repentance, and Restitution, you can’t move forward in order to receive Restoration.

I urge you with every ounce of sincerity that I possess: if you desire to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit with regard to your sins, do not leave out the vital and necessary third step of “Restitution.”

Now, I realize that sometimes you will not be able to provide Restitution. Too much time may have passed. The person you sinned against may have moved away, or even died. You may find that no matter how hard you try to provide Restitution, because other people took action based on what you said or did, the action they took cannot be reversed.

Nevertheless, in every situation, you need to very thoroughly and carefully consider the steps you might be able to take to bring Restitution for the sins you have committed. Where you have harmed someone’s reputation, correct that error. If you have told ten people a lie about someone, you must go back to those ten people and correct the lie. If you failed to follow Matthew 18:15-17 in dealing with how a brother or sister in Christ treated you, you must make every effort to correct that error. In trying to deal with how someone else may have sinned against you, you must absolutely guard against committing a sin against them. Do you understand?

You won’t really have to think all that hard before God will reveal to you exactly what you need to do. After all, God wants you to receive “Restoration.” So, He wants you to complete all the steps along the way around the Circle of Forgiveness—including this vital step of “Restitution.”

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Forgiveness - Part 2: Repentenance

 

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

—1 Samuel 18:6-8

In the my last blog post, I introduced a new series of posts using these words:

From time to time on this blog site, I’ve written about confession, repentance, restitution, and reconciliation. These four individual elements form an interdependent, interlocking, life-sustaining process that some have called “The Circle of Forgiveness.” This process becomes a very important part of the pathway for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—that is to say a “Christian” or “Christ’s-one”—to develop into a fully obedient citizen of the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, each of these elements offers its own set of challenges to our normal understanding. While the basis for the fundamental morality of the United States has deep roots into the soil of Judeo-Christian values, time has tended to soften, or distort, some of the concreteness of certain of those values. As a result, people end up with a skewed, or distorted, view of what these values really mean. “Confession” is one such value.

“Repentance” is one such value.

It’s amazing how many times jealousy plants a seed that will grow into a significant sin. In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, we learn how words of deserved praise can turn the heart of a leader against the one he or she leads. The result of such jealousy is truly tragic.

Today, I want to move on to a discussion of “Repentance.” Repentance means to “turn one’s back on one’s sin.” It’s as simple as that. You just turn and walk away from a sin you’ve confessed.

To flesh this out a bit more, I want to share some wise words I received some years ago in a newsletter from my spiritual mentor, Dr. David R. Mains, who is now also the person with whom I work. In this communication with his friends and the supporters of his ministry, David writes:¹

I have a close friend with whom I’ve made a mutual spiritual journey. We have breakfast together once a month and have been doing so for over ten years. One morning he told me he had been challenged in his church to go for 30 days without saying anything negative about another person. He was tracking his progress by keeping a coin in his pocket and every time he caught himself saying something negative about someone else, he moved the coin from one side pocket to the other, and then he had to start all over—Day 1, Day 2… His goal was to make it through 30 consecutive days without having to move the coin.

“How are you doing?” I asked.

“Well it’s been hard,” he responded. “I haven’t made it through a single day yet.”

“Tell you what,” I offered. ”I’ll do it with you. Let’s try to do it for 50 days. That’s seven weeks plus a day. We’ll kind of keep each other accountable.”

Not too smart on my part. Not too smart to think this wouldn’t be tough for me, just like it was for him, and not too smart to say 50 days instead of 30 days. It took me over seven months before I could report to my friend, “I made it!”

There were many times I wanted so much to say something negative about this person or that one. Even when I drove with my wife, Karen, I wrestled with keeping my big mouth shut when certain names of people came up in conversation—all because I didn’t want to have to start over again after 26 good days, or 39, or 47.

What I discovered (again) is that a good habit can be as hard to break as a bad habit.

Here’s something else I discovered. After 50 days of trying, with God’s help, to be circumspect in an area like this, you become very conscious about your words. Everything you say becomes highly sensitized. All in all, though a struggle, my coin-in-the-pocket exercise was a good experience—so good, in fact, that I’ve tried it with other temptations. The problem with most Christians is that when they confess a sin, they don't really mean it—at least, not in doing the hard work of overcoming that sin.

The Bible gives an excellent example of a man who repented from his sins, but didn’t really mean it because his life never changed. If I had been there and heard his confession, my response would have been, “The man was deeply sorry for his actions. He wept loudly in front of everyone.” I would have predicted we’d see a major change in his life. However, King Saul was setting up a pattern of unrepentant remorse. He said the words, but his life didn’t change.

The green-eyed monster of jealousy begins to gnaw in his soul when he hears the crowds singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” The refrain galled him, Scripture says, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. (1 Samuel 18:9)

Later, near the Crags of the Wild Goats, while hunting to take David’s life, Saul chooses a cave for a restroom stop and unknown to him, but known to God, it is the very place where his prey is hiding! David refuses the urging of his men to slay the hunter, but as evidence of his restraint, he does cut off a piece of the King’s robe. “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to the Lord’s anointed or lift my hand against him…”

In a little while, after Saul leaves the cave, David calls to the king, tells him what has happened, holds up the sliced material, and Saul, struck with this commendable act calls back, “Is that your voice, David, my son?” He weeps aloud and says, “You are more righteous than I am. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly… the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.” (1 Samuel 24:3, 4)

It is here that I would have thought Saul’s confession was one of penitent remorse. I would have been wrong.

The only problem is that Saul doesn’t change his actions! You see, to truly confess to God a wrong should carry with it the assumption that you intend to change your behavior. David again spares Saul’s life when he and Abashai sneak into Saul’s camp. Replay: David shows that he has refrained from killing the king. The king repents aloud. But now David is canny enough to realize he must flee. Saul says the words, but he is not willing to change his actions.

Confession is all about wanting to be forgiven for a wrong that has been done plus the intention not to do it again.

We all need to think more seriously about the prayer of confession. Saul is, unfortunately, a good illustration of so many of us who admit we are doing something wrong—we have a habit of bad-mouthing others, for instance—but we are not all that serious about changing our ways. Sound all too familiar?

I have this great idea for you. Find a coin, any coin (but preferably one you cannot spend). Put it in a pocket and vow that you will work toward a goal of not changing that coin from one pocket to another for 30 (or 50) days. When you fail, start again—Day One. You may discover, as I did, that you are not really sorry (at least sorry enough to change your behavior) about that prevailing sin you find yourself confessing… and confessing… and confessing again.

This great prayer of confession from the Book of Common Prayer incorporates elements I mentioned above. As you are working with repentance in your own life that changes your actions, this may be of help.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your name. Amen.

God desires our obedience. And, He graciously provides ways for us to learn to become obedient. I believe and declare that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to overcome our besetting sins, one sin at a time. We can promptly confess each sin. And then, we can turn away from that sin. In other words, we can activate the second step of the Circle of Forgiveness by employing the “Repentance” of our sin.

 

______________________

1 Mains, Rev. Dr. David R. Mainstay Monthly Newsletter. Wheaton, IL: Mainstay Ministries, 2011.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Forgiveness - Part 1: Confession

 

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

—Psalm 32:1-5

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

—1 John 1:5-10

From time to time on this blog site, I’ve written about confession, repentance, restitution, and reconciliation. These four individual elements form an interdependent, interlocking, life-sustaining process that some have called “The Circle of Forgiveness.” This process becomes a very important part of the pathway for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—that is to say a “Christian” or “Christ’s-one”—to develop into a fully obedient citizen of the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, each of these elements offers its own set of challenges to our normal understanding. While the basis for the fundamental morality of the United States has deep roots into the soil of Judeo-Christian values, time has tended to soften, or distort, some of the concreteness of certain of those values. As a result, people end up with a skewed, or distorted, view of what these values really mean. “Confession” is one such value.

When I have written about the need for confession, as a part of The Circle of Forgiveness, some reader feedback has characterized this word in a way that does not synchronize consistently with the way the Bible characterizes confession. For example, one reader asked if by “confession” I meant the kind of teary-eyed response that a televangelist might make to his or her viewers when caught in some moral failure. Many of you will remember such scenes from not all that long ago. Well, I can say emphatically that such a display does not at all represent what I mean when I use the word “confession.”

Other readers have asked if I meant the kind of emotional response that certain denominations in the Protestant Christian family of churches might make when they hear a fiery sermon calling for them to confess their sins and receive God’s grace and mercy. Again, I can confirm that such a display of emotion does not fairly represent what I mean when I write about the word “confession.”

Another reader suggested that the more staid Protestant denominations might avoid talking about confession purely on the basis that it calls to their minds distasteful images of behavior that simply does not mesh with their natural reserve. I admit that I had to laugh when I read that comment. I laughed, not at the dear person writing to me, but at the very idea that some denominations believe they have risen above the obedience that comes from confession.

Still others have written to assert that each Sunday during their Worship Service, they pause in the Order of Service to pray a “Prayer of Confession.” In fact, in the church that I attend—a semi-liturgical Evangelical Presbyterian Church—not only do we have a unison corporate “Prayer of Confession,” we follow that prayer with a time of silent prayer for personal confession of sin. Nevertheless, when I write about Confession as the first step in the four-step process of Forgiveness, I mean much more than the exercise of corporate and private confession that takes place in the church I attend each Sunday.

You see, for the most part, we have lost an understanding of church history. The denominations that, today, many people think of as staid and reserved to the point that little seems to move them emotionally were actually the leaders during the times of the greatest revivals in the history of our nation. It was John and Charles Wesley’s protege, George Whitfield, through whom God brought about the national revival known as the Great Awakening in the time period just prior to the onset of the Revolutionary War. The Wesley’s, of course, were the founders of Methodism.

Similarly, significant periods of genuine revival in our nation—including the Second Great Awakening of the early 1800s and the Great Lay Prayer Revival of 1857 and 1858—had significant leadership from Presbyterians. In fact, the Welsh Revival of 1904 and 1905 began with the testimony of a young Presbyterian preacher-in-training, Evan Roberts.

So, you can see why I might laugh a little at some of the misunderstandings certain of my readers may have about the subject of Confession. The very denominations that we may think of today as “too cool for school,” at least when it comes to emotional response to a message from God, are the very denominations that God once used in a significant and mighty way to ignite the fire of sweeping revivals. Why in the Welsh Revival, within six months of its beginning, 150,000 souls were added to the church rolls because they acknowledged the Gift of Salvation that God had given them through His mercy, grace,and love.

No, Confession is not about emotion. Although at times, when people sense the Holy Spirit convicting them of their sins, they do weep in remorse. Confession is really about obedience. The Scripture passages at the beginning of this blog post capture the real idea of confession.

King David became overwhelmed by the awareness of his sin. This awareness came to him as a gift from the Holy Spirit. One of the Spirit’s principal tasks is to bring an awareness of sin to the mind and heart of a sinner. Before someone acknowledges the gift of salvation God has given that one through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that awareness opens up an understanding, deep within the human heart: that God loves us with an everlasting love and has made provision for our salvation through the suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of His precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once an individual acknowledges this work of God’s grace, the Holy Spirit becomes the One who comes alongside us on our spiritual journey and directs our pathway. Part of that pathway guidance is to convict us of sins that we commit, as we walk our daily road of life.

So you see, confession is not necessarily an emotional outburst expressing great sorrow at what one has done. Rather, it is an acknowledgement that one has committed a sin. A good example of this comes to us from Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Son in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15:

When he [the son] came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.” So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.

Did you notice what happened to the Lost Son? He came to his senses. That’s right. He came to his senses. And, when he came to his senses, he made a simple—and seemingly unemotional—acknowledgement: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”

So, when I write in my blog posts about “Confession,” that’s what I’m talking about. Not a tearful, moaning, wailing, emotional outcry concerning one’s sin. No—just a simple, straightforward acknowledgement that one has committed sin. That’s all there really is to genuine Confession.

When faced with the need to enter the Circle of Forgiveness, believers take the first step when they acknowledge that they have committed sin. That is to say, they confess their sins.

.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Renew Your Heart and Rejoice

 

“Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous…”

—Psalm 32:11

Does anyone doubt that our current culture breeds negativity? In virtually every sphere, people are polarized: about politics, about the environment, about the economy, about religion—the list goes on and on. It’s very easy to become entrapped by this negativism.

Faith in God offers us a solution. Instead of complaining and bickering, we should express gratitude for the many ways God has filled our lives with reasons to rejoice.

Instead of yielding to the pressures the culture tries to thrust on us, we should determine to live our lives inside out. We should reorder our priorities. We should turn our grumbling into rejoicing. If we do, we will join those who have overcome the world.

As the Psalmist has declared in Psalm 32:8-11:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Why not join me in determining to begin this day with rejoicing. Let us purpose to thank God for His mercy, grace, and love. At every turn throughout this day, we can choose to express gratitude to the One who loves us with His everlasting love.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Always Close By

 

“The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.”

—Job 42:12

Each one faces little annoyances in the course of our daily lives. But sometimes, something really big happens that knocks us flat.

Perhaps its the loss of a loved one, the dissolution of a marriage, a devastating accident, the termination of employment, a major health crisis, a worldwide pandemic, or some other tragic event. Whatever this intrusion into our lives may consist, it throws us for a loop. We become flabergasted, gobsmacked, frightened, confused, or depressed.

Consider the Patriarch, Job. His devotion to God was tested in a striking way. He lost his children and all of his possessions along with his health. But, the tragedy of Job’s life was not the end of his story.

Take note of these closing words to Job’s narrative, as recorded in the Book of Job 42:12-16:

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters.

The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

God has an absolutely perfect plan for each one of us who belong to Him. In the midst of the trials and tragedies of our lives, we need to learn how to fall backwards into the safety of His loving arms.

His amazing love is always present. His unfailing caring is always there to buffer whatever may befall us. He truly wants the very best for us. And, His perfect plan—no matter how difficult it may be for us to see in the moment of our crisis—always holds the key to the success of our future.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Most Awesome

 

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night…”

—Nehemiah 1:5-6

As we take time to begin another day by worshipping the God who loves us with an everlasting love, let us remember these words from Nehemiah 9:29-33:

“You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’

“Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

“Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love… In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.”

Our God is awesome. His everlasting love reaches down to us. He cradles us in His mighty Hand. He opens up a new pathway for us each day. He cleanses us from our sins through the blood of His own dear Son, Jesus.

Let us begin this day with rejoicing. Our God reigns. He reigns in our hearts and minds. He reigns over all the earth. He reigns over all the universe. Our God is an awesome God! Nothing, absolutely nothing, that we encounter along the pathway of our lives today can separate us from God’s great love for us.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Answer: Faith

 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

—Psalm 56:3-4

In the morning, we can face each new day with confidence that God goes before us, extending the pathway He intends for us to follow throughout this day. No evil can come against us to truly harm us, for the shield of faith guards us from evil’s attack.

With confidence and great joy, we can say with the Psalmist these words from Psalm 57:9-10:

“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

Back in 1904, Civilla D. Martin penned the words to the following poem that her husband, Walter S. Martin, set to music. While the language of this hymn retains the more formal prose of the Authorized Version of Scripture, what many people refer to as the King James Version, nevertheless the sentiment of the hymn rings true, especially today. In the midst of our current circumstances, we can cling to the truth contained within these words:

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.

Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.

Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

We need not fear. The God who loves us with His everlasting love stands ever ready to protect us and quiet our fears. We only need to trust in His unfailing grace.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Their Little Angel

 

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

—Hebrews 13:2

Do you recognize these three individuals? Of course, it’s Rev. Dr. Billy Graham with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Are you old enough to remember watching Roy and Dale on Saturday morning television in the 1950s? How about their closing song: “Happy Trails to You”?

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, ’till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here’s a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, ’till we meet again.

Did you know that Roy and Dale were deeply committed Evangelical Christians?

Dale wrote one of the most moving books I have ever read. It chronicled the all-too-short life of their special needs little girl: Angel Unaware. I first read this book as a small boy. It was particularly meaningful to me, since I was an adopted child. I remember feeling so very grateful for the two loving people who adopted me and raised me surrounded by much love and caring. Most importantly, these dear ones taught me about Jesus and His great love for me.

Along the trail of life, the most happiness we can obtain occurs when we place our faith and trust in God, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He places His love in our hearts. He urges us to express that great love in a myriad of ways, each unique to us, but energized by His Holy Spirit.

Roy and Dale, as well as Dr. Graham, are all now in heaven. Roy and Dale have been reunited with their lovely daughter, the subject of Dale’s book.

I would like to think that as the sun goes down after a marvelous day of fellowship at the feet of Jesus, just maybe Roy and Dale lead those gathered in singing “Happy Trails to You.”

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Not Angry, Just Frustrated!

 

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”

—Philippians 2:1-5

Temper! Temper! Temper! Anger! Anger! Anger! Mean! Mean! Mean! Bitter! Bitter! Bitter!

More and more, as I press onward along the road of life and move from “old man” to “still older man,” I find myself being accused of being angry—too angry, unacceptably angry, annoyingly angry. I readily confess that, increasingly, I am confronted with the reality that so many things frustrate me. Because I am a very verbal person, I often express my frustration out loud. I am learning that this vocalization of my frustration is perceived by many people around me as anger.

By definition, anger is “a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.” As I examine my own sense of self when I am frustrated, I find that I do not truly feel annoyed, displeased, or hostile. Rather, when I experience frustration, I feel the emotions of disappointment, discouragement, and loss.

Trying to examine the overall appearance I assume when I am frustrated, I can understand why an observer might interpret my behavior as anger. But, I know in the depth of my being that I am not truly angry, just frustrated.

Nevertheless, I am accused quite frequently of being angry. And, this appearance of anger affects how people relate to me, or perhaps more explicitly, how rapidly they want to flee from me.

One Sunday at the church I attend, not too many months ago, a woman whom I greatly admire told me that, because I am so angry, I am hard to engage in conversation. Her words actually stung. I felt quite hurt. In response to what she said, I smiled at her and she quickly tried to walk her comments back by saying she was “just kidding.” But, I know she really meant what she said. As she observed my frustration, she saw behavior that she interpreted as anger. And, she wanted no part of a mean, angry person.

In my task-oriented, dominant Concrete-Sequential™ approach to life, I can see where to some people I am difficult to approach. But, I am not nearly as mean as people think. I am actually very, very shy and very much an introvert who simply has very poor social skills.

I will not bore you with what the psychological analysis disclosed when I sought help trying to lose weight during 18 months of counseling back in the mid-1980s. As I have shared on other blog posts, I finally stopped spending $150 each week when my psychiatrist fell asleep during my counseling session. Not only am I shy and introverted, I am apparently very boring, as well.

I do think that I need to make more of a conscious and deliberate effort to not let my frustration interfere with extending kindness of spirit and openness to those who may wish to interact with me. Rather, I need to willingly allow people to have access to the gracious spirit that God has been building deep within me over a lifetime. I am quite certain that’s what Jesus would expect me to do.

Perhaps, these words of a stand-up comedian that I once heard on television can—in a humorous way—sum up what I feel much of the time:

When I was a young man, I realized I was an idiot. I presumed that as I aged, I would become less of an idiot. But, now that I am old, I realize that I am just an old idiot.

I think James Taylor says it best in the song offered in the following video:

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Loving Our Friends

 

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

—Proverbs 18:24

Genuine friendship represents a quality whose value we simply cannot measure. More valuable than silver or gold, the love, companionship, acceptance, and support of a friend can tip the balance of our lives in our favor—even when we feel assailed on every side by the cares and trials of this world.

Celebrate the joys of friendship this day. Even more so, celebrate the joy of having a friend like the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who “sticks closer than a brother.”

When God graciously brings loving friends into our lives, we must make certain that we thank Him for this evidence of His love and care. We need to recognize that, through the friends He gives us, God shows how determined He is to shower us with His love.

At the same time, we must not become ensnared by so-called “friends” who lead us down a dark path. Instead, we must turn away from those who would direct us toward evil. We must not allow false loyalties to jeopardize our faithfulness to God and to His written Word.

Let this be a day during which we rejoice in the friendships God has given us. We should take time to tell our friends how much we appreciate them. We can let them know that we do not take their friendship for granted.

At the same time, we can become instruments of God’s love in the lives of our friends. We can show them compassion, kindness, support, and acceptance. We can build them up in their faith. We can be an example to them. We can shower them with mercy and grace.

The Christian writer, Jonathan Merritt, has said it well:

In showing God’s love to your friends, when a person is truly important to you, you don’t “find time” for him or her. Rather, you “make time” for him or her.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Let Us Constantly Rejoice

 

“Rejoice always…”

—1 Thessalonians 5:16

We’ve reached the mid-point of another work week. How has your week gone so far? Mine has had its usual trials, but also some joys.

As the week continues to unfold, we will have many choices in the days ahead. We must choose wisely and heed these words of the Apostle Paul from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Even in our darkest hours, we can rejoice that God will never leave us. He will always stand before us as our protective shield against the evil one. He will guard our hearts that we will not faint. He will give us every good and perfect gift.

Because of the awareness of God’s divine Presence and because His great love fills our hearts and minds, we can face every trial that may come our way. No difficulty is too great for us. No challenge is beyond our capability. We do not face life alone. God is with us. He cares for us in an amazing way.

Let’s begin this new day with a positive outlook that comes from knowing we belong to God and He will surely care for us.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Waits for Us to Find Him

 

“Seek the Lord while he may be found…”

—Isaiah 55:6

As we rise to begin another new day, let us heed these words from Isaiah 55:6-7:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their waysand the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

In the matter of seeking, we must always remember that God chose those of us who belong to Him before the foundation of the earth. He has made Himself available to us. He sent His Holy Spirit to point us toward Him. And, God always stands ready to be found.

In His great love for us, God provided His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the one and perfect sacrifice for our sins. God made provision for us to become reconciled with Him through the blood of His Son, Jesus. God gave us His Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us along the pathway of life. Our Savior now sits at the Father’s right hand, making intercession for us.

If we respond to God’s calling and answer by seeking this One who loves us with His unfailing, undying love, He will open His arms and welcome us into His Presence. There we will find true freedom and a great outpouring of His joy, peace, and everlasting love.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Let Peace Prevail

 

“Peace I leave with you…”

—John 14:27

So many people seem to live their lives drenched in turmoil. Slogging through this angry fight and that one leaves people exhausted and filled with despair.

In our current situation where for some time we’ve tried to follow recommendations in order to quell the spread of COVID-19, it becomes very easy to invite frustration and discouragement into our lives. The very fact that we have had to severely alter our daily way of life has introduced chaos and misery into our daily walk. Is it any surprise that many people wonder, “Is it possible to find peace?”

Here’s a very appropriate thought to begin a new day taken from the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ found in John 14:27:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The Prince of Peace offers true and lasting peace to all who seek Him. So, dear friend, seek Him this day. His peace awaits you.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Precious Friendship

 

	“Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.”
	—Isaiah 32:3

Here’s an apt reminder:

If you truly love someone, tell them often that you do. If you appreciate the joy that someone brings into your life, acknowledge that often. If you feel gratitude for who someone is, don’t keep that to yourself because you think it’s not “cool” to say it out loud.

Our culture has convinced us that we should cavalierly take for granted far too many relationships.

Each friendship is precious. Live your life in such a way that you will have no regrets because you failed to tell someone how much he or she means to you.

 

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Evil Never Wins

 

	“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
	—1 Peter 3:12

 

At 2:49 p.m. EDT on April 15, 2013, two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street, killing three people and injuring 264 others, many very seriously. The dead included Krystle Marie Campbell, 29, a restaurant manager from Medford, MA; Lu Lingzi, a Chinese national and Boston University graduate student from Shenyang, Liaoning, China; and Martin William Richard, an eight-year-old boy from the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, MA.

Certain events that occur during the course of our lives merit our remembering them. This is one such event, for it represents the personification of evil. Nothing can justify the taking of innocent human lives. That this bombing took place in response to a radical perversion of religion makes it all the more tragic.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we understand that the question we should ask is not, “Why did this happen?” Rather, we should ask, “What can we learn from this terrible event?”

I suggest that one thing we can learn is that evil will never prevail. Said another way: evil will never win.

It is fitting that a few weeks ago, as we marked another anniversary of this horrible event, it fell this year in the midst of a horrible crisis in our nation: the COVID-19 pandemic. This anniversary also followed Holy Week this year. How fitting, for the very death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ set a marker in the sands of time. He conquered sin, and death, and evil. The bonds of Satan were broken at the foot of the cross. Death gave way to victory when Jesus rose from the grave.

As we continue celebrate our triumphant Lord and King each day, among other significant events, let us remember the destruction that evil caused in Boston seven years ago. But, let us also recognize that evil is an already-defeated foe. Evil will never win. The love, mercy, and grace of God will always prevail.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of this horrible bombing in Boston, I searched the internet and, to my amazement and to my somber delight, I discovered a poem written a few days after this terrible bombing by someone who was obviously moved by this event. Imagine my surprise when I learned the author of the poem was actually a high school classmate of mine.

Now, nearly 55 years have passed since we graduated from high school. During that time our paths had never crossed until that internet search reconnected us six years ago. It is really quite amazing how God can use events to reacquaint us with very special people from our distant pasts.

Here then is the poem, which perfectly expresses the reality that comes out of a tragedy that occurred seven years ago:

	Never Win
	You will never win, but you try For no bounds your ego knows You take captives But only those who allow Because your power is a sham An illusion, no depth, built on sand Beauty drives you crazy It must be marred and made ugly For beauty and truth belong to your enemy The one you want to be, but never can You thrive on lies Pain and cruelty your sidekicks You need them, no strength of your own Truth can't be destroyed But you twist and stretch Making distortion and perversion It is no use, you will never win But you don't know Devoid of wisdom, you keep trying But you will never win
	—Jackie Nuzzo    Copyright © 2013. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved.

 

Christ has won the victory. Praise God that evil never wins!

 

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Conversation on a Plane

 

	“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.”
	—2 John 1:6a

Not long ago, we celebrated Holy Week. I remembered a conversation I had on an airplane the week between Palm Sunday and Easter more than fifteen years ago. It was an early morning Delta flight from Hartford to Atlanta. I sat quietly in my seat with my Bible open to the Psalms.

“Are you a Christian?” my seatmate asked?

“I am,” I replied.

“I’ve never understood what Christianity’s all about,” he continued. “What’s the main thing?”

As I pondered how to answer, I thought of a gospel song I had learned as a teen: “I Surrender All.” I realized that this song describes what following Jesus is all about—surrendering my will to His will.

Here’s a video of one of my long-time favorite groups, Max Mace and The Heritage Singers, with their rendition of this song. I hope you enjoy it.

As this song played in my head, I had the privilege of very gently and tenderly sharing with my seatmate what following Christ meant to me. He asked a number of questions. I tried to carefully answer each one.

As we landed in Atlanta, he thanked me for sharing with him. Did he eventually become a Christian? I don’t know. But, I felt very honored and grateful that I had the opportunity to talk with him. I hope that I planted a seed in his heart and mind that God would water and bring to bud.

As we, each one, strive to remain faithful to the calling God has given us, may God grant each one of us a soul-enriching week, as we remember each day the sacrifice Christ made for us on the Cross.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Embrace Your New Life!

 

	19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: … 20 … hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
	—Galatians 5:19-21

Sometimes, hatred and negativity seem to prosper within certain families. It’s almost as if seeds of hatred and negativity have been passed down from grandparents to parents to children. Have generations past sown seeds of disharmony and discord in you that flare up to cause breaks in your relationships with family and friends?

If so, you need to embrace the new life God gives you in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle Paul reminded us in 2 Corinthians 5:17:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

If you have acknowledged that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord, embrace your new life. Put aside your hurts and grudges. Say “No!” to the discord that has separated you from friends and family.

Instead, let the love of Christ flow out from you to touch the life of everyone who crosses your pathway.

Turn your back on those seeds of negativity that were sown in you so many generations ago. Embrace your new life in Christ. You will never change what you continue to tolerate.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Warning to the Church - Part 8

 

20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

—The Book of Jude

We ended the last blog post wondering what do to if we discover that the kind of people Jude describes have wormed their way into the leadership of our churches and have set about pushing true believers out of leadership roles and out of the church. These evil people who bring corruption to the church—that is the rupture of the core—diminish the effectiveness of the ministry of the church. They profoundly damage the people of that church, especially the young people. In fact, they do such damage to the young people of the church that the effect of their corruption lasts for at least two or three generations.

Faced with such an overwhelming challenge to the cause of Christ, the Apostle Jude hastens to end his short letter with clear instructions to the true believers who want to turn this damage around and heal the wounds inflicted on the church. Specifically, Jude suggests the following:

• “Build yourselves up in the most holy faith.” Take the steps necessary to increase your own faith. Spend time in God’s written Word. Implant the Truth deep within your hearts and minds. Build a point of reference against which you can measure every action to make certain it aligns with God’s revealed instructions.
  
  
• “Pray in the Holy Spirit.” Such prayer is not a weak, pleading, selfish prayer. This is warfare praying. This is pounding on the gates of heaven. This is significant time spent—both alone and with other believers—beseeching God to act decisively to protect the church, restore wounded believers, and uproot those with evil intent.
  
  
• “Keep yourself in God’s love.” In some ways, this is one of the hardest instructions of all. In the midst of a soul-wrenching battle against the forces of evil, maintain a protective barrier around yourself with God’s unfailing, undying love. This goes against every fiber of our natural beings. When we’re attacked, diminished, disrespected, and forced out, our natural inclination is to rise up in great anger and utterly destroy those who have wounded us. But, this is not God’s way. And, Jude reminds us that we must face our attackers wrapped in a protective cocoon of God’s love.
  
  
• “Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Wow! But, we don’t want to wait. We want action, now! We want to overthrow our enemies. We want to haul them out into the streets and stone them. We want to beat them with the clubs of righteousness until they scream for mercy, sob in asking for forgiveness, wail in repentance, leap to make restitution, and humbly beg for restoration. (I can’t even write these words without laughing at our foolishness!)
  
  No! Instead, we must wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. He, and he alone, will be the One to bring justice. So, you who have jumped to your feet and drawn your swords, put your swords back in their scabbards and sit down. Now is not a time for such action. It is a time to wait for the mercies of the Lord to overtake those who have ruptured the core; those who have perpetrated evil in our midst.
  
  And, it may not happen in our lifetime here on earth. Some matters may never become settled this side of heaven. Some evil will not be overcome until Christ returns. We may step from this life into eternal life without ever seeing the resolution of the horrible deeds that have been done to us.
  
  
• “Be merciful to those who doubt.” Keep proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with love and with honesty. Make every effort to build up those who doubt or are weak. Stand in the gap for those who are not strong enough to stand for themselves. At every turn, give glory to God by sharing with others the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.
  
  
• “Snatch others from the fire and save them.” Remain watchful for those who have strayed too far from the fold. Go after them in God’s love and gently restore those who have strayed away.
  
  
• “Show mercy, but don’t become corrupted by their sin.” Stand firm on the Truth of God’s written Word. Extend mercy to those who do not deserve mercy. But, guard yourself so that you will not become stained by the evil that has driven them to sin.
  
  
• “Receive a closing benediction”—a blessing on your life—and rest in the security of knowing that you belong to God through Christ.

This brings our examination of the Book of Jude to an end. I sincerely hope that the lessons of this short, but amazing, book will remain with you throughout the days, weeks, and months ahead.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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