How is it that approaching God in need of
repentance is so intimidating? When he asks of us just ONE thing? To turn as seek His face because He longs to
be gracious to us? Go and proclaim these
words towards the north and say, “Return, faithless Israel,” declares the Lord;
I will not look upon you in anger. For I
am gracious; declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have
transgressed against the Lord your God and have scattered your favors to the
strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice,’ declares
the Lord. (Jeremiah 3)
The other day, I ran 5 miles. I passed a certain building that said, “The
house of self-realization.” Really??? Self-Realization??? If I wouldn’t have received Holy Spirit-revelation,
I would not be here right now! Feeling
uneasy, I started to pray to God as I ran passed this building. I cried out to God. I began to pray out loud for all the people
who came to my heart. It was a flood! At one point, it may have been best to get on
my knees in the middle of the dark running path because I just knew I needed
to, but I didn’t. I asked God to forgive
me when I hadn’t been willing to forgive my mother-in-law. I asked God for forgiveness because I had
such a hard heart towards her. This made
me weak. I prayed that God would be with
her and become real to her, because all of her children, my husband included,
need her. How could I be so insensitive
to my husband’s mother? How dishonoring
to him. It bothers me that I can be so
callous!
Jesus came to save sinners like me, the ones
who don’t have life all together. The
ones who are not perfect! Oh perfect! He doesn’t need a perfect Me, He needs a
person who recognizes that their sin is great and their need for a Savior is
even greater! I tell you that in the
same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than
over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15) Oh how I don’t want to be part of the
ninety-nine righteous persons!!!
Please God chip away at the callousness in my
heart with your Word so that repentance in me would become more evident on this
journey. Thank you for your loving
kindness and patience with me. You know my insides, you know my sin, you know
my heart and it’s desires. Help me to
run your race laying down every sin that hinders me. Thank you that on this Easter weekend, the one
we call Resurrection Sunday, Christ gave up His life for me, died on a cross
for my sin and for the sin of those who believe, and on the third day He ROSE
again in victory over sin and death!
Running His Race
Erin Beth
Luke 5: 31
And Jesus
answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician,
but those who are sick. I have not come
to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Acts 19:4
Paul said, “John
baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him
who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.
2
Corinthians 7:10
For the
sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance that
is without regret, leading to salvation, but he sorrow of the world produces
death.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is
not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,
not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Isaiah
30:15-17
For thus
the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you
will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, and you said, “No,
for we will flee on horses,” therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,”
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; you will flee at
the threat of five, until you are left as a flag on a mountain top and as a
signal on a hill.
Isaiah
30:18
Therefore
the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have
compassion on you. For the LORD is a God
of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
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