Text: Joel 2:13, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, John 1:19-34, 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
I am the human mama to a baby puppy and, so far, things aren’t going so great.
A dog trainer told us, when Pup was a mere eight weeks old, that we had only one job when it came to training a dog this young: teach him to come when we call his name. “No problem!” we said, and the trainer went on her way.
Well.
It’s been almost eight weeks since then, and if Pup has run off from us once, he’s run off from us a hundred times. It sounded simple in theory: preoccupy him with something, call his name, and give huge praise and a treat or two when he comes running. We’ve tried this, really we have, but do you know what our problem is? Consistency. I use his name for other things like, “Pup! Don’t chew on that!” or “Pup! Stop biting me!” or “Pup! No peeing on the floor!” And I’m not too keen on the idea of toting rewards around with me at all times like a walking dog treat dispenser.
Like I said, things aren’t going so great. And it isn’t the pup’s fault; it’s mine. That adorable, stubborn animal won’t come when I call because I haven’t given him much reason to.
Obviously, this analogy can’t go much further. You and I aren’t dogs, and our heavenly Father certainly isn’t a lazy, annoyed pet owner. But as silly as it sounds, I can see myself in that puppy when he’s looking back at me, the moment of decision in his eyes, trying to decide whether to respond to his master’s call or ignore it. (And lately, he ignores it.)
Repentance is not just turning away from something (our sin); it is turning to Someone (our God). Recognizing and acknowledging our sin is critical, but that is not repentance in full. With the turning away, there must be a turning to.
In his second letter to the early Corinthian church, Paul admits that he caused them grief with his first letter and that he wasn’t sorry about that. Because the grief they felt over their sin was appropriate grief—Paul called it “godly grief”—and it turned them to repentance. It turned them back to God.
The God whom the Corinthian believers turned to nearly two millennia ago is the same God who invites us to turn to Him today. We don’t have to wonder if He is trustworthy or consistent, if He’ll do what He says He will do. Like them, we can look to His Word and to His Son to see exactly who He is.
When I want to know who it is I’m running to, I open my Bible.
I read about the God who created mankind in love and then pursued them when they turned away, bridging the gap between their sinfulness and His holiness at His own unfathomable cost.
I read the stories of the God who never once violated His covenant to His people, despite generations of their broken promises to Him.
I read about the life of the God incarnate who entered this broken world by His own choosing, embodying love, justice, mercy, and hope as He walked among the seeking and the sick, the prideful and the weary.
When I read about this God, I see in black and white that what the prophet Joel said was, and still is, true: “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love” (Joel 2:13). He is the God who hears, forgives, and heals (2 Chronicles 7:14).
When I turn from my sin only to turn to myself or to the world, I feel distraught and paralyzed. It can truly seem like there is no way out of the death all around me. But when I turn from my sin to look at the cross—when I turn my eyes to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)—I have life. Turning from my sin to myself brings despair, but turning from my sin to God in repentance brings “seasons of refreshing” (Acts 3:19).
Friend, our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He calls us by name and is pleased to receive us, to wash us clean, and to bring abundant, everlasting life to our souls.
God stands ready to show you mercy (Isaiah 30:18). Turn to Him today.
For weeks, I have found myself annoyed and greatly distressed by the smallest of things. Any time something has not gone my way, I have felt disappointment linger deep within my heart. Like a petulant child, I have wallowed in this unwanted despair, sought desperately to control, or most times, just thrown my hands in the air and whined. (Ugh, my poor husband and anyone else who has encountered me these past few weeks – I owe apologies to them all!) But isn’t this how sin gets us? Each time, it’s less about what I do and more about the world around me messing up… which in these ugly, disappointing times are when it’s failing to revolve around me and MY way. My pride is large and all too often in charge.
Yet today, in meditating on repentance, to turn away from my sins TO God, instead of to myself – my perspective shifted. I realize that I do not sin against myself (re: those childish pity parties previously mentioned); I sin against God ALONE. Writing this seems elementary, but so often I beat myself up when I mess up. I wallow in guilt and shame and condemn my failed efforts. And this, this is “selfish grief” and not Godly grief.
Oh, how I needed my eyes opened to this truth today. Turning away from my sins and inward to myself can lead me to despair. But turning away from my sins and upward to God leads me to true repentance. To the only repentance that brings seasons of refreshing. My heart longs for that kind of Godly grief producing repentance and leading to deliverance. My selfish grief keeps me stuck. Godly grief moves me to life, to freedom. So grateful for His ways. And grateful for these “silly” disappointments lately that have stirred His spirit within me to see His truth anew.
Thank you, Lord, for your unending forgiveness and abundant mercies over my wayward heart.
Selfish grief vs. Godly grief. Oh yes, I see it in myself as well . Wisdom here! Thank you, Beverly, for sharing
Wow! Thank you for sharing this. It’s helped me understand the selfish grief in my life and where I am turning inward rather than upward to God.
Amen! Beverly has spoken to my heart. I too have been so consumed with selfish grief rather than Godly grief. You have comforted me in knowing other women experience this. I too am focusing on turning to him for He is good. Thank you for helping me also come to this realization.
“I beat myself up when I mess up. I wallow in guilt and shame and condemn my failed efforts. “And this, this is “selfish grief” and not Godly grief.” Hi Beverly I believe you just described a lot of us . I struggle with this too and today lesson shed true light on my sins . As you said , when I move within instead toward God I’m a mess . God leads us to true repentance Thank you for your email and sharing your journey that so many of us have .
This may be totally obvious, but what is the connection between the devotional and the passage in John 1?
I think it shows how Christ came to wash us clean and to take away our sins, but we have to turn to Him and repent first.
I think the connection is that John the Baptist is baptizing and calling Israel to repent, or turn back to God, just like the prophets before him did. But he’s calling for a turning back to God because Jesus the savior is coming. And Jesus is the ultimate response that God has to our sin and repentance: steadfast love and gracious mercy for people who cannot save themselves from their sin. His love does it for us so that we can turn back to God and have relationship with him. John 1 is pointing to God’s faithfulness in forgiveness.
Was at mass this evening and the priest said something that struck me to the core…. “Neutrality leads to sin”…. I have always been neutral to some issues that i consider sensitive and personal to others. Compromising with others’ way of living and their struggle with their sexuality has always been easy for me. But when the priest said that by being neutral or not doing anything that warrants justice or morally correct can lead us to sin, does it mean that we have to forego other people’s feeling and start condemning them and being judgmental towards them? Ohhh… I’m so confused now.
Becky, on thing our pastor always says is “hate the sin but love the sinner”. We are all sinners and there is no one who sins less or more. We just need to call sin for what it is and know that our Father forgives us all in His grace and mercy
I have to disagree with the “hate the sin, love the sinner” catch phrase that has become so popular. I just don’t find that it holds up biblically. Jesus never said for us to do anything of the sort. Folks like to pair it with the story of Jesus and the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11), where Jesus tells the woman to “go and sin no more.” We are missing the point when we think this passage gives us permission to call out other people’s sins. That’s Jesus’s role in the story. We are more like the Pharisees, and it’s pretty clear what Jesus tells them: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” He waits until they have left to tell the woman to go and sin no more. In my opinion, it is blasphemy to think we get to be Jesus in this story and tell others to “sin no more.” God alone determines what is sin. God alone gets to judge sins.
Reading back over this post, I am afraid my tone sounds harsh? Not my intent…goodness, Internet communication is challenging sometimes! While I do disagree, I am happy to hear others’ thoughts on “hate the sin, lover the sinner.” Grateful that SRT provides a space for us to share our thoughts with each other.
Thanks for your advice Janae… Truly appreciate it. Hod bless yiu.
Opppss… Was meaning to say… God bless you!
Hi friend! I may not have the best answer for you, but more-so a little nugget that has helped and stuck with me that my pastor at my home church shared once. While we do not have to “agree” with the ways of life of others (whether that be sexuality, or something else) it is our duty and role as followers of Christ to LOVE them. Show them outward love in all that we do. To try and be an example of Christ. Showing that we are not perfect and that we, too, are full of sin. We are in no place of judgement as we all walk different paths of sin, but by showing them (and ourselves) grace and Love, we are able to overcome and see His face more clearly, and possibly, understand where they are in regards to their walk as well.
Thanks for your view on this Samantha. Truly appreciate it.
No I don’t think it means that. I think that he was saying that if we see evil or wrong doing and do nothing, it’s like we are agreeing with it (being neutral). I don’t believe that condemning someone for their beliefs or actions is our place but our actions and words should always shine with the love of our Lord in all things .
Yes.. CandyBeth… You got my meaning right. Nevertheless, thanks forbyour view. Appreciate it.
I don’t think this issue requires the one extreme of having no opinion and doing nothing verus having an opinion and bashing others over the head with it. ;-) Becky, I would encourage you to read through and study 1 Corinthians 13. See, the Corinthians had this idea of what love was (a secular view) — i.e. if I do all these things for God to make Him happy, He’ll love me more. Paul doesn’t correct their wrong view of love by bashing them over the head. He gently shows them what love rooted in faith in Christ looks like. “…love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.” (verse 6) This is how we correct people in a loving manner, as Paul does throughout this letter. Verse 7 says, “Love bears all things…” This does not mean love believes the best of everyone, but that love never ceases to trust God, and thus leaves justice in God’s hands. It is in this sense it never loses hope–that God’s justice in the context of God’s goodness will yet prevail where there is human falleness.
There are so many examples throughout the Bible of how God’s people stand up for their faith in a loving way, despite the consequences to themselves. Look at the prophet Daniel. He had a deep compassion for King Neb, in spite of what the king had done to him (like take away his manhood, change his name to a pagan name, take him from his home, etc.), but he still spoke truth to the king and never compromised his faith, even if it meant death. Same with Shadrach, Messhach, and Abednego. Look at Stephen in Acts 7.
I don’t know if there’s a black and white answer to your confusion, but I do know that loving others, knowing when to speak or not to speak, requires wisdom and much prayer–and we’re bound to mess up, but praise the Lord that He uses us in spite of us and for His glory. Seek Him and to follow faithfully after Him and “let your light so shine before men that they see your good works (stemming from a heart of love vs. a heart that seeks to find love from God by doing works) and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5).
Tremendous wisdom you share here, Rachel. Thank you
This is beautifully written and such a thoughtful response.
Rachel, thanks for your insight. Couldn’t agree more with you on this.
That’s a tough one!
I’m Catholic and I struggle with this too, especially with homosexuality. While I don’t believe the Church should perform gay marriage ceremonies (as it’s a sacrament) I don’t have a problem with the Supreme Court legislation. I know homosexuals who are in loving relationships, and even though I know its a sinful lifestyle, I have a hard time reconciling it. I wish I had an answer, but I can relate to your struggle.
Thanks Marriah… It’s tough. But i pray that God understands where i stand on this.
Loving these truths today. When struggling with sin, I so many times have turned to myself, the world or any other distractions and not to the Lord. Needless to say, I have failed miserably when I’ve tried to ‘distract’ myself from sin. It is when I turn to Jesus is when I experience true victory.
ps. I’m also SO thankful about godly grief in my life. :)
Love this, Clara! Thanks for sharing today!
xoxo-Kaitlin
I grew up where going to church was sporadic. Then I went to a Christian college feeling like I didn’t understand scripture enough to give my input in discussions. I never really knew how to study God’s word. Much less share the word of God with others. Yesterday I set the weekly verse as my lock screen, and I simply adore it. I found my self reading it almost every time I saw it. This morning I woke up excited to get to today’s reading first thing. And even more excited to share it with others, a thing I have never been comfortable doing.
Thank you, Lord, for opening our hearts and minds to You! Something that once felt scary and uneasy and is now a place of excitement and eagerness!
I often forget to turn TO GOD. I consistently find I cannot do things on my own, yet I forget to turn to the one who will strengthen me to succeed.
This truth – and this community – is such a blessing to me daily! I don’t usually comment, but I read this verse this morning that also perfectly illustrates our amazing God and turning to Him:
Open your moth and taste,
Open your eyes and see how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to Him.
Ps. 34:8
Be blessed today, sisters!
Thanks for sharing, Jami! So glad you’re here!
xoxo-Kaitlin
This speaks to the state of my heart! When I feel overwhelmed by feelings of not doing enough or inadequacy or lack of discipline, I feel hopeless. I need to stop over thinking things and just look at Jesus. THEN I will experience what I am longing for – renewal.
Love this encouragement, friend. Praying for you to experience His renewal today!
xoxo-Kaitlin