Repentance or Remorse? You Choose

How often we say or do something we wish we could change later!  Some of us go to great lengths to fix a problem we've created--perhaps we slandered someone and that person found out, perhaps we denied a situation existed only to suffer the consequences later.  No matter what the offense, we have two choices.  We can admit our sin and turn to God, through Jesus, for forgiveness.  Or we can try to fix the problem ourselves.

Matthew 26:69-27:10


v. 75, 3-5: And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

Observation: Our sin is manifested personally, with huge consequences. No one else shares my guilt. No one else shares my despair. No one else shares my penalty. Sin is real. The results of sin are real. Both Peter and Judas sinned against Jesus personally. Both of them sinned against Jesus publicly. Both of them felt great remorse and shame and despair. But Peter knew Christ enough—had the grace to return to Jesus—and receive forgiveness. For Judas there was no faith that Jesus would forgive and receive. There was no returning. There was only death.

Application: Repentance is a repetitive act of faith in returning to the Lord Jesus Christ for acceptance and forgiveness. Repentance does not erase the sin, but Jesus covers the sin. Repentance  does not remove the consequences, but Jesus provides Himself through the consequences. Repentance does not apply to anyone but myself. The opposite of repentance is remorse—grief over having to suffer the consequences apart from the faith to return to Christ humiliated and stricken. Repetitive repentance grows and demonstrates faith. Peter chose repentance. Judas chose remorse.  It is the appeal to man for acceptance and removal of consequences that hinders faith and brings destruction.

Consumed

Have you ever been so consumed with a thought, or a problem, or a person that you struggled to get something, anything, done?  That is an annoyance of the human condition--to be overcome, emotionally, and struggle to get free.  As I read today's Scripture, I couldn't help but think that this woman was consumed with thoughts of Jesus and a driving passion to love and honor Him.  And, no, in this case, its was not an annoyance, but a God-directed prompting that could not be put aside.

Matthew 26:6-35

v. 10: But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me.”

Observation: The woman who anointed Jesus with the costly perfume did it because she loved Jesus. Her thoughts were no doubt consumed with Jesus and she could not think of anything less. She could not do the next thing until she had expressed her love for Jesus.

Application: How often am I so consumed with love for Jesus that I must do something to serve Him? How often am I so burdened to do something, anything, for Jesus that I can do nothing else until that has been accomplished? Is my life characterized by Jesus-centered words and actions? No. Too often it is full of self: self-focused thoughts, self-focused actions, self-focused plans and agendas. How does this change? Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive" (Matthew 7:7).
So, is it simply in the asking that God will grant my request?  Yes, if it is aligned with His will (1 John 5:14). I know it is because I have the assurance of His Word that He wants me to love Him with all my mind, soul, and strength (Matthew 22:37-38).  So, I'm asking.  God, will You change my focus, my thoughts, my goals, my words until You are at the center—the only One at the center--and I am peripheral. If I were simply the tool, the vessel, the conduit withYou as the content— the way You've always intended—what a different life it would be…. To make Christ seen, known, preeminent. Be the center, Lord, be my passion.

Exposure: A Heresy of the Heart

A number of years ago my husband and I attended a teen's funeral. With a heightened awareness of the pain and suffering in that sanctuary, my anger was aroused as the person in charge laid out one lie after another.  At one point I turned to my husband and whispered, "If this goes on much longer, you are going to have to restrain me."  It took all I had not to stand up and shout, "Heresy!  Heresy!  They're lies! All lies!"

That said, this morning I discovered heresy in my heart.  In an effort to better steward this earthly vessel, I am working my way through the First Place 4 Health Bible studies.  I picked up the book, "Giving Christ First Place" on the recommendation of a pastor's wife and was blessed with a 43-pound loss a few years ago.  Sadly, weight sneaks back, and before I lose complete control, I'm on to another of their studies.  This morning I discovered an insidious thought pattern as I looked at Ephesians 6--the armor of God.

"Identify an area where you have relied on the world's philosophies and psychology in a vain attempt to overcome the spiritual forces that wage war against your soul..." (Daily Victory, Daily Joy p. 63). It didn't take much prayer to recall that yesterday--after completing much of my to-do list, exercising and eating responsibly--I indulged in strawberry milk and animal crackers while running errands. That may not be your definition of gluttony--and it wasn't even a dark sin I snuck off in the corner to commit, but it was outside my allowance for the day. God and I knew it.  My accountability partner, Sara, knows it. But God wasn't finished.  It was more than the act, it was the thought behind the act.

What was I thinking?  "Because I have done this:  ___________; I deserve this:  ______________."  Look back:  because I had completed much of my to-do list, exercised, and eaten responsibly I could now celebrate with 550 "free" calories.  WOO.....hoo.

But, you might argue, that's just positive reinforcement and performance management. There's nothing wrong with rewarding yourself, la da da da da.  And that's what I've told myself, too--until today.  Once I wrote my thoughts on paper I saw their duplicity.  Do I really think that because I've done something right so-many-times-in-a-row I deserve to sin?  Does God really say, "You've been such a good girl, you're entitled to some fun.  Go dabble in your favorite sin and come back when you're ready"?  Not.  The biblical model is to keep doing right, not to grow weary in doing good, to rejoice in God and His righteousness.  There is no comfort in sin.  There is no peace or satisfaction or accomplishment.  "This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. " (Titus 3:8).

We would all agree that God doesn't give out sin-tickets for good behavior, but I have found that I live as if He does (or at least I pretend He does).  How different my life would be if I didn't justify bad behavior based on good behavior.  And how important it is to know God wholly, truly, reverently; living in constant dependence.  And, as the verse on this site reminds me frequently--refreshment follows repentance.  Praise God for revealing heresy--from what I hear, it's a lifelong process.