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We are now in Lent..... it's a church season of repentance and renewal..... it's a time to realize our sin (our grievous fault) that sent and nailed Jesus to the Cross, the necessitated the horror of the Passion. A time to repent (in sackcloth and ashes), a time to plead for MERCY, a time for renewal in faith and life.
While it is absolutely critical that we stand with the tax collector in humility in confessing that we are the sinner His Law condemns.... that what we deserve is only eternal death and hell.... while such is the successful work of the Law..... to plead exclusively for God's MERCY..... on the flip side, it's important to realize that Christians have strength to grow (never reaching perfection) and that temptation - while constant and potentially very strong - is not completely irresistable.
Getting personal....
There are many times when I have been tempted and "said" to the devil - "Get behind me and push!" When I've not resisted but appreciated the temptations of self, the world and the devil..... And I am ashamed of that. And I'd LIKE to say all that is past and now I'm this Super Christian who never sins.... well, I'd fool no one. Not even myself. Even the willful, deliberate stuff..... I sometimes do. And I repent in sackcloth and ashes, like Job.
BUT in Lent, I'm also reminded of our Gospel reading for tomorrow: Jesus' point that if Christians resist the devil, he will flee. A personal story (one of the few with a good ending, thus my sharing it - LOL)... When I was like 14, I was an avid swimmer and surfer - I hung out a lot at the beach and the pool, and most of my friends were "beach bums" I knew from that. I think I was 14 (maybe still 13) when this amazingly cute girl (a couple of years older than me) propositioned me. I'm not talking kissing and hugging here. I remember well (probably always will).... I remember every cell and every chemical in my body demanding I say 'yes.' And I remember my brain - at light speed - rationalizing this: no one would know, she was on "the pill", everyone does it, I could consider this an educational experience ("school") - amazing how my brain worked for me! All this over the course of a very few seconds. I don't recall my exact words (truth: my brain was on overload) but I refused (I hope politely). I don't remember what she said - or even exactly what happened then - only that the sex never happened (or anything else). In some ways, I'm glad for that experience (which I kept a complete secret for perhaps a decade). That temptation and that easy opportunity would repeat itself in the years that followed.... and I remembered that afternoon on the beach and that very cute girl.... and that I could (and did) resist. And even how it turned out okay. Sex waited for my wedding night. When I read that verse (in our Gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent), I often think of that afternoon on the beach....
Now, I'm no great guy. I am a terrible sinner who falls short of the mark, who misses the mark. I can only beat my chest and say "God have MERCY on me, the sinner." Spiritually, I always have a Cross made with ashes on my forehead. But on the other hand, I'm reminded I'm not the weakling I sometimes like to wish I am and my brain at times tries to convince me I am. Resist the devil and he will flee..... I can't be perfect....but I can do better than the devil tells me, lol.
Your thoughts (especially for this Season of Lent)?
Pax Christi
- Josiah
.
We are now in Lent..... it's a church season of repentance and renewal..... it's a time to realize our sin (our grievous fault) that sent and nailed Jesus to the Cross, the necessitated the horror of the Passion. A time to repent (in sackcloth and ashes), a time to plead for MERCY, a time for renewal in faith and life.
While it is absolutely critical that we stand with the tax collector in humility in confessing that we are the sinner His Law condemns.... that what we deserve is only eternal death and hell.... while such is the successful work of the Law..... to plead exclusively for God's MERCY..... on the flip side, it's important to realize that Christians have strength to grow (never reaching perfection) and that temptation - while constant and potentially very strong - is not completely irresistable.
Getting personal....
There are many times when I have been tempted and "said" to the devil - "Get behind me and push!" When I've not resisted but appreciated the temptations of self, the world and the devil..... And I am ashamed of that. And I'd LIKE to say all that is past and now I'm this Super Christian who never sins.... well, I'd fool no one. Not even myself. Even the willful, deliberate stuff..... I sometimes do. And I repent in sackcloth and ashes, like Job.
BUT in Lent, I'm also reminded of our Gospel reading for tomorrow: Jesus' point that if Christians resist the devil, he will flee. A personal story (one of the few with a good ending, thus my sharing it - LOL)... When I was like 14, I was an avid swimmer and surfer - I hung out a lot at the beach and the pool, and most of my friends were "beach bums" I knew from that. I think I was 14 (maybe still 13) when this amazingly cute girl (a couple of years older than me) propositioned me. I'm not talking kissing and hugging here. I remember well (probably always will).... I remember every cell and every chemical in my body demanding I say 'yes.' And I remember my brain - at light speed - rationalizing this: no one would know, she was on "the pill", everyone does it, I could consider this an educational experience ("school") - amazing how my brain worked for me! All this over the course of a very few seconds. I don't recall my exact words (truth: my brain was on overload) but I refused (I hope politely). I don't remember what she said - or even exactly what happened then - only that the sex never happened (or anything else). In some ways, I'm glad for that experience (which I kept a complete secret for perhaps a decade). That temptation and that easy opportunity would repeat itself in the years that followed.... and I remembered that afternoon on the beach and that very cute girl.... and that I could (and did) resist. And even how it turned out okay. Sex waited for my wedding night. When I read that verse (in our Gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent), I often think of that afternoon on the beach....
Now, I'm no great guy. I am a terrible sinner who falls short of the mark, who misses the mark. I can only beat my chest and say "God have MERCY on me, the sinner." Spiritually, I always have a Cross made with ashes on my forehead. But on the other hand, I'm reminded I'm not the weakling I sometimes like to wish I am and my brain at times tries to convince me I am. Resist the devil and he will flee..... I can't be perfect....but I can do better than the devil tells me, lol.
Your thoughts (especially for this Season of Lent)?
Pax Christi
- Josiah
.
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