Audio version here
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (NIV)
I have a good friend of mine, who is a counselor, and he has a great saying, “our secrets make us sick.” We all carry secrets in our hearts of moments when we made mistakes that we later regret. The burden of such guilt can cause us to be depressed about the past and anxious concerning the future. I’ve been a pastor for over 21 years and no matter which side of the Atlantic I’ve been ministering to, people are the same all over. Guilt can grind away at our souls and diminish our happiness. Shame can sever us from God and our church.
I’m glad that I’m a Presbyterian and a part of the Reformed tradition. It means that whenever I get plagued by regret at doing something wrong, or angry at myself for disappointing others, I can freely and directly come to Christ with my inward issues and release them to God. By spiritually transferring them to Him, I feel released of the burden and totally appreciative of the grace that I experience. It makes me want to learn from the situation and try to do better next time. These secret things belong to God and my spirit is no longer oppressed by them.
For some of us, a good confessor or a wise counselor can bring them to this reality, too. The gifts of discernment that have been given to some professionals enable them to gently bring secrets to the surface, deal with the issues, and discover solutions. Hope and healing can bring about a new lease of life and a better understanding of the reasons about why we make mistakes and what we can do to avoid them. In the whole process, secrets are released and given to God. Absolution and resolution are given back in return.
Whatever you’re carrying in your heart at this time, know that God can embrace your burden and liberate your weary spirit. Confession is good for the soul and whether it is done quietly and personally to God, or professionally and diligently with a trained counselor, the results can be the same – freedom from the past and faith in the future.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died for our sins so You know every mistake that we have made. You bore the burden of our guilt, so that we could be restored to God’s love. Encourage us to seek help and healing through confession and counseling for the things that weary our souls, burden our hearts, and unsettle our minds. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Short daily devotions for busy Christians and Church meetings
Showing posts with label resolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resolution. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Robe of Righteousness
Audio version here
Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NIV)
Many years ago, when I attended the 428 Gospel Club on Wednesday nights in Glasgow, Scotland, several regular participants used to sing their own personal testimony songs. Ian, who ended up being the best man at my wedding, would sing “Supper Time.” Gwen would sing “I know who holds Tomorrow.” Dawn beautifully sang “Burdens are Lifted at Calvary.” I usually sang “Try a Little Kindness.”
There was also a guy called Stewart who sang a song called “Robe of Righteousness,” which was based on today’s scripture. I can’t remember all of the words, but the last line of the refrain went something like:
“When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”
The song was about Christ covering each of us with His robe of righteousness and sacrificial blood, so that we could stand in God’s holy presence. Instead of being cast away forever as recalcitrant sinners, we are accepted as redeemed servants through Jesus. Whatever sins we’ve committed in the past, stay there. Whatever regrets we have or mistakes we have made do not define us forever. Christ sanctifies us, or makes us holy again in God’s sight, through His own sacrifice. We are covered and cleansed by His blood. We are made brothers and sisters to Him by His blood. We are welcomed as heirs to God’s Kingdom with His blood over us and in us.
This is what it means to be a Christian. We are accepted by God when we admit our sins and seek Christ as our Savior. His robe of righteousness covers our past and completely shields us from God’s wrath so that, in the words of the song, “When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”
Perhaps you are worried about a past mistake. Maybe you still feel shame over some personal sin. Or guilt and anxiety may still be wounding your soul. Christ can cancel those wounds and wrongs. He can make all things new and let you begin again. All you have to do is sincerely ask Him for help.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes the guilt of the past wearies our souls and overwhelms our spirits. Sometimes we feel that we have let You down considerably. Touch our hearts with Your mercy and grace. Redeem us from the past and relieve us from worries. Cover us with Your robe of righteousness and bring us before God as Your servants. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NIV)
Many years ago, when I attended the 428 Gospel Club on Wednesday nights in Glasgow, Scotland, several regular participants used to sing their own personal testimony songs. Ian, who ended up being the best man at my wedding, would sing “Supper Time.” Gwen would sing “I know who holds Tomorrow.” Dawn beautifully sang “Burdens are Lifted at Calvary.” I usually sang “Try a Little Kindness.”
There was also a guy called Stewart who sang a song called “Robe of Righteousness,” which was based on today’s scripture. I can’t remember all of the words, but the last line of the refrain went something like:
“When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”
The song was about Christ covering each of us with His robe of righteousness and sacrificial blood, so that we could stand in God’s holy presence. Instead of being cast away forever as recalcitrant sinners, we are accepted as redeemed servants through Jesus. Whatever sins we’ve committed in the past, stay there. Whatever regrets we have or mistakes we have made do not define us forever. Christ sanctifies us, or makes us holy again in God’s sight, through His own sacrifice. We are covered and cleansed by His blood. We are made brothers and sisters to Him by His blood. We are welcomed as heirs to God’s Kingdom with His blood over us and in us.
This is what it means to be a Christian. We are accepted by God when we admit our sins and seek Christ as our Savior. His robe of righteousness covers our past and completely shields us from God’s wrath so that, in the words of the song, “When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”
Perhaps you are worried about a past mistake. Maybe you still feel shame over some personal sin. Or guilt and anxiety may still be wounding your soul. Christ can cancel those wounds and wrongs. He can make all things new and let you begin again. All you have to do is sincerely ask Him for help.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes the guilt of the past wearies our souls and overwhelms our spirits. Sometimes we feel that we have let You down considerably. Touch our hearts with Your mercy and grace. Redeem us from the past and relieve us from worries. Cover us with Your robe of righteousness and bring us before God as Your servants. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
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