The elderly woman didn't like the way her pastor prayed each Sunday morning, so she told him. It bothered her that before he preached he would confess to God that he had sinned the week before. "Pastor," she said, "I don't like to think my pastor sins."
We'd like to believe that our spiritual leaders don't sin, but reality tells us that no Christian is exempt from the burdens of the sinful nature. Paul told the believers at Colosse to "put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature" (Col. 3:5 niv). The problem is that sometimes we don't do that. We yield to temptation, and we're left with a mess. But we are not left helpless. We have a pattern to follow for restoration.
That pattern comes from the heart and pen of King David, whose sin demonstrated the sad consequences of succumbing to temptation. Look closely at Psalm 51 as David owned up to his sin. First, he flung himself at God's feet, pleading for mercy, acknowledging his sin, and trusting in God's judgment (vv.1-6). Next, he sought cleansing from the One who forgives and wipes the slate clean (vv.7-9). Finally, David asked for restoration with the Holy Spirit's help (vv.10-12).
Is sin stealing your joy and blocking your fellowship with the Lord? Like David, turn it over to Him. — Dave Branon
Our sinful ways can sap our joy
And isolate us from the Lord;
Confession and repentance, though,
Provide the way to be restored. —Sper
Repentance clears the way for us to walk with God.
10 comments:
Yes...another good post. Just a daily walk with Thee...God bless!
Mary
Thanks for sharing and Thanks for the prayer regarding my result in thyroglobulin test.God bless you my friend!
Oh, I love this. Few people want to talk about sin anymore. James 5:16 first says to confess your sins to each other and THEN to pray to each other; I think God wants us to come before Him clean. And, that verse doesn't say "except for pastors and preachers, who have no sin..."! You got right to the heart of it again, dear one! love you...
It's not easy to live a christian life but for me it takes real faith to resist sin and temptations in our lives. If we truly give our life to God. Nothing is impossible, even tor resist sin :-)
A great blog...thanks.
Terry Finley
http://psalm51ministry.blogspot.com/
Excellent word for today. I sometimes think that we in the older generation have a problem forgiving ourselves.
So true. Our word today was about the need for mercy from all of us "do gooders". "For it's by grace that we've all been saved that none of us may boast..."
lurve you.
Loved this post, Denise.
I really like that my pastor so freely admits to his sins. He is modeling that we are all sinful by nature and he is modeling true repentance. I really have issues with holier-than-thou pastors because they're just as human as you or I.
King David -- boy, he was something, wasn't he? A great model of a flawed individual who desperately loved and sought God.
Loved loved loved this post.
Blessings Denise...Great post and observation of Psalm 51 and also SIN...not one of us is exempt! It's time for our nation and the church and we, as individuals to repent!
Love you so much...let's keep soaking in His Word & Presence & allow His love to cleanse us from our sins!
Love this post, blessings to you sweet Denise !
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