My daughter has a girlfriend she is forever encouraging. She goes through episodes of fear, anxiety and stress. My daughter will try to comfort and support her during life's traumas. One day I commented to my daughter, "I think you friend just needs Jesus!" Emma acknowleged likewise, explaining everytime the subject comes up, her friend throws up a wall. "It is a belief system which works for you, but not for me." her friend states with finality. Her friend's family background is strict Catholic. She equates all talk of Jesus with the tight rules and regulations presented to her by family traditions.
It causes me to reflect how I was reared, in a Protestant denomination, where "Repent and believe!" were the mantra. Repenting was defined as turning away from sin. Sins were the activities which gratified the flesh. Oh, that awful Flesh! When I accepted Christ as Savior I was encouraged to "try not to sin again." Even as a child, I didn't think that was going to work. Every time I stumbled, I felt like the betrayer of the Savior, pausing to hear if a rooster crowed. My efforts at goodness birthed an entitlement attitude. Being an obedient daughter came with promise. It will be well with me. I was earning blessing. The disease of self-righteousness took a long time to diagnose, and so long to eradicate from my life. I am with my daughter's girlfriend when it comes to religion. Forget it!
In my Christian walk, I am happy to agree with the Psalmist who wrote, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies shall never come to an end. They are new every morning." The love of Jesus is more real to me now than every before. When you realize just how great a love Father God and Jesus had for mankind, you are in awe. Jesus died for all my sin, yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's. All was forgiven when He died in my place. I humbly accept Jesus' righteousness as my own, to wear like clothing, as at the Bridal feast in the parable. I belong at the wedding feast for I am clothed in proper wedding attire. Jesus' righteousness enrobes me. Nothing of my own efforts affords me the right to be called a brother at that fellowship, save Jesus' redemption.
Repentance is not behavior modification; repentance is a changed attitude.
If you look at sin as something which creates a riff, or separation, between you and God, then repentance should be turning from that separation. "Believe" in the Amplified Bible is described by the phrases, "trust in, cling to, rely on." "Repent and believe" implies you should turn away from your separation from God, and now, trust in, cling to, and rely on Him. Be in the moment with God. Every moment, be with Him. Acknowledge God's presence with you. The Bible is a road map to relationship. It is full of people who knew God. If you are a parent, you know every child's relationship with you is different and unique. Because we are all individuals. Our relationship with God is one of a kind. No two will look exactly alike. They are not supposed to. The Bible is a book of examples of what you could have with God individually! That is exciting! We are not in a box! Jesus said, "I am with you always." The question is, do we want to be with Him?
Gratitude is the only response. Thankfully recognizing the goodness of God's provision through Christ's sacrifice inspires worship. What does worship look like? It has so many faces!
At the inauguration of President Obama on January 21, 2012, I caught a glimpse of a man worshipping. After the ceremony when all were exiting the grand stand, heading off to the inaugural luncheon, there was a man who hung back. He tried to pause unnoticed by the door, pressed to one side. He was overlooking all the people who had come, committing the view to memory, having a moment of reverence. I had my own moment of reverence, as I prayed for mercy, wisdom and grace to follow our President, to saturate him in this next term and to fill his heart as he stood there by the door, modestly cherishing this gift, his place in history.
Sometimes worship is merely a subtle pause in our life, to commune with our loving God.
Jesus, thank you for suffering on that really, really rough day, enduring all that horrible stuff, so I could have this really, really good peace every day.
Psalm 51
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
