Week 34: Lessons from a cover up exposed

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.” (NLT)

Extended reading: 2 Samuel 11, 12

In his DVD, Today, when Brian Doerksen sings “Refiner’s Fire”, he asks all men to stand up in the arena and tells the women to pray over their men. What did they pray for? To keep them pure. To keep their men’s hearts clean. Brian Doerksen understood that we live in a world with a lot of distractions. Distractions that keep us away from our family, our real purpose, our destiny.

Psalm 51 was written by David after the prophet Nathan faced him with his sin. David stole another man’s (Uriah) wife (Bathsheba) and got her husband killed (2 Samuel 11). He takes Bathsheba as his wife after and thinks everything is alright. But the Lord sends Nathan, the prophet to confront David with his sin (1 Samuel 12).

1 Samuel 12: 7 – 10 says, “Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.”

Please note here, David is a man with a lot of clout – political, military, personal. He has to say just one word and Nathan is a dead man. This could have been the world’s best cover-up. Back then, there were no pictures or emails or Internet..in fact, no proof. No proof in worldly terms. But David’s reaction is in vs. 13 “Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.””.

He goes on to write one of the greatest psalms. A psalm of humility. Of repentance. Of forgiveness. A psalm of restoration.

There is nothing we can hide from God, whoever we may be. When faced with sin or stuck in it, the only thing we can do is fall at the mercy seat of God. It does not matter what we have done. David stole, committed adultery and murder. He was forgiven. Verse 13 continues “Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.”

And please, don’t wait for someone or even God to expose you or your sin. When you are convicted within, it is better to confess to Him.

Week 32: Two sides of the Forgiveness Coin

“It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.” (NLT)

Extended reading: Philemon

I love stories of redemption. The book of Philemon talks about one.

If you have never read that small book (or page), here is a quick rundown. There is a rich man called Philemon who is also a Christian believer. He has a servant called Onesimus, who steals from Philemon and runs away. I am assuming he gets caught and meets Paul in prison, who gives him the Gospel.

Onesimus may have finished serving his time and Paul encourages him to go back to his master, Philemon. It would actually be safe to do something like that in our times than back then. In those days, Philemon had the authority to get him flogged, executed even. That was the law back then. I could understand if Onesimus was reluctant to go back, if he was.

So Paul not only convinced Onesimus to go back but vouches for him. He requests Philemon to accept him back. And not just as a slave but as a brother in Christ.

There are two things here – for Onesimus, going back means getting punished. He found new life with Paul and he could stay there. He could have a free life. Start afresh. But he decides to go back.

For Philemon, accepting Onesimus meant lowering his standards. What if other servants thought it was okay to steal from him? His honor would take a beating because instead of punishing the rogue servant, he has to aceept him and Paul says as a brother.

True repentance and forgiveness. I don’t know what happened to Onesimus. It doesn’t say in the Bible. But I am going to safely assume that Phil accepted him back. Before their meeting, both must have spent a lot of time in prayer. Praying for grace and strength for what they have to do. For the Holy Spirit to guide them and to help with the right words to say at the right time.

Many of us find ourselves on either side at differnt points in our life. Sometimes we need to forgive. Sometimes we need to ask forgiveness. Both are very difficult things to do. It is more than just saying sorry. It is about setting things right. It is about the heart more than just the words. Sometimes we give up and sometimes, we give in.

Are you ready?

Ashtiani: Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!

There is an article on CNN today about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman who has been convicted of adultery and is sentenced to be stoned to death. She is a mother of two. Human rights groups are trying to stop the stoning by building international pressure on Iran.

Reminds you of the time Jesus was confronted by the Jewish leaders. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” (John 8: 4,5)

Imagine being asked that question yourself. We found this man doing wrong. What do you think we should do with him? We caught her stealing. You tell me what should we do to her?

I do not know Sakineh personally. But I wish she had a chance. Her kids need that chance. The CNN report says she was forced to confess after being subjected to 99 lashes. Mina Ahadi is the human rights activist quoted in the article who also heads the International Committee Against Stoning. She said, “Article 74 of the Iranian penal code requires at least four witnesses — four men or three men and two women — for an adulterer to receive a stoning sentence. But there were no witnesses in Ashtiani’s case.”

I guess the authorities need to hear what Jesus replied 2000 years ago. “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8: 7).

I wonder if the Iranian authorities can live up to that test. I wonder if any of us can live up to that test.

What do you think? Comment here.

Day 24 – Jan 24 – Collateral damage

Today’s reading:
Jonah 1: 4
“But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.” (NKJV)

The boat had left the shore and was well on its journey. Everyone is enjoying their new trip. They had places to go. New people to meet. The plans were set. The route was charted. They had goods on the boat that they would sell. Money was to be made. Business was good.

But something happened. Something every seasoned sailor is wary of, that the new sailor will experience in awe – the fury of the sea. Out of nowhere, the storm came. There were waves tossing the boat all over the water. The sailors were trying to keep the sails from tearing in the heavy wind. Rains lashed against the deck and waves hit hard. The scene was absolute havoc.

When you read the following verses, you realize the boat lost everything it was set out to do. Verse 5 says that the mariners “threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load“. There goes the business! Everyone on the boat was crying out to the gods they knew. The captain looked around. “Wait a minute, wasn’t there another with us?” He got worried and decided to investigate it himself. “What if something happened to the new traveler,” he thought.

Verse 5 continues to say “But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep“.

God wanted Jonah to do something for Him but Jonah decided to go against God’s plans. He was on that boat because Jonah did not like what God told him. But does God leave Jonah? He decides to catch Jonah’s attention. The men on the boat had no clue that the storm they were facing was because of the man asleep below the deck.

I am not sure if you saw it. When Jonah rebelled, he did not put just himself in trouble. He put all the people on that boat into trouble. Everyone was being tossed around because of one person’s disobedience.

God loved Jonah. He loved Nineveh too. And He was willing to jostle the boat a little, maybe even destroy some of the cargo on board, so He could get Jonah’s attention. What if your sin and rebellion is causing discomfort to others. Inorder to remain in your comfort zone, what if you are blindly inflicting pain on others who maybe a part of your family, work or even traveling with you. Is it worth all of the sorrow?

Pray in your own words: If you are rebelling, come back. Tell God you want to come back. Ask God to forgive you. He still seeks the broken-hearted.

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 9-11 (Old Testament), Matthew 15:  21- 39 (New Testament). (Click here to read)
(This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)

Day 11 – Jan 11 – Can a murderer go to heaven?

Today’s verse:
2 Corinthians 7: 10
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (NKJV)

David Berkowitz killed six and injured seven people between July 1976 and July 1977 in New York. Known as the ‘Son of Sam’ or the ‘.44 Caliber Killer’, today he is serving his life sentence in the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. In March 2002, Berkowitz sent a letter to New York Governor George Pataki asking that his parole hearing be canceled, stating: “In all honesty, I believe that I deserve to be in prison for the rest of my life. I have, with God’s help, long ago come to terms with my situation and I have accepted my punishment.” What happened in between? Why did David Berkowitz react this way to a possible chance to be free?

In 1987, Berkowitz became a born again Christian in prison because a fellow inmate loaned him a Gideon’s New Testament Bible. The Son of Sam became a son of God. A person involved in occult practices had turned away from the darkness to light.

David Berkowitz’s crimes cannot be condoned in anyway. He destroyed individuals and families. Lives were changed permanently because of this one man’s actions. But when Berkowitz met Jesus, he changed. God gives those chances. He gives those chances to the most unworthy in society. Actually, he gives it to everybody but it is important to note that the offer is valid even for rapists, killers, prostitutes, blackmailers, gangsters and robbers.

When writing to the church at Corinth, Paul was addressing a serious issue that needed immediate and direct intervention. He did not care if the people at the church felt offended by his words. He told them where they were wrong and he expected them to turn from their ways. “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.” (2 Corinthians 7:8)

He also did not give up on them. He did not reprimand them and cast them out of the church. Paul’s correction to the Corinthians was in love. He wanted them to turn away from sin and do the right thing. It is important to note the church’s response. “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.” (2 Corinthians 7:9). The church at Corinth was not offended. They felt bad. Their sorrow turned them towards God, not away from Him. That is true repentance.

When you do something wrong, you have the choice of being sad and to move away from God thinking that He will never forgive you. Or you have the choice, from God, to say sorry and draw closer to him. There is really nothing you can do to make him stop loving you. You cannot do anything to make him forsake you or leave you. But you have the choice to turn back from your ways and look to him. To talk to him. To cry with him. To walk with him. That, really, is your choice.

When you do that, John Newton’s song makes sense -
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.”

Pray in your own words: Tell Him you are turning away from your sins. Tell Him you are coming back. Tell Him what’s on your heart. Tell Him you need Him.

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 27-28 (Old Testament), Matthew 8: 18 – 34 (New Testament). (Click here to read)
(This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)