Sins Are Washed Away

 

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

                                                                                     (Psalm 51:1-3 KJV)

Not a one of us are without sin. Not a one of us deserve to be reconciled to God. Not a one of us deserve to be acquitted of our sin. Yet, we can be declared righteous. We can and are cleansed from our iniquities by faith in the one who shed his blood for us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

St. Paul, after confessing what a horrific sinner he was; but, whose heart and mind were changed when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus; after sharing the story of who Jesus is and his own conversion, asked the people: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 21:16)

If you are stuck in a rut, living a life that is dragging you down, consider whether it might very well be your transgressions that are holding you back. Consider if you should accept Jesus as your savior most fully and live a new life in Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A New Day In Christ

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

                 2 Corinth 5:17 NIV

It is the first day of a new year. What has changed since yesterday? The answer for most of us is probably not much. But, over the many years a lot has changed. Years ago, I would've been laying on the couch watching television, cooking cabbage, and generally doing nothing. Today, I find that most of my family, including myself is working.

Many of you have made new year's resolutions. You have resolved to try to change something in your life this new year. I quit making them years ago. I find that I cannot wait for a new year to change. I have found that it is best to take an inventory daily; confessing my sins and resolving to try to change so that I don't keep committing them, with the help and by the power of the Holy Spirit. When I became a child of God, I did not become perfect. I still make mistakes. I still sin. But, I am also a saint (as all who believe are) because the blood of Christ washes away my sins. The blood of Christ sanctifies me.

Most of you (I hope) have changed over the years. It is not very fruitful for you or anyone else for you to not grow and change. We must change.  We must grow in Christ. Who would want to live life as a child for the rest of their lives? And, so it is as new creations, as well. When the new comes with rebirth; the old man in us is washed away. But, we are still  infants in Christ. We will grow in him, slowly but surely, if we have truly been reborn into the Body of Christ. (Yes, there are plenty of imposter Christians - wolves in sheep clothing) The new creation in Christ cannot help but grow by the power of the Spirit of Christ that abides in each of us; by the power of the Holy Spirit that regenerates us to be more like Christ each and every day.

Those of us who know Christ; who abide in him and he in us have changed drastically over the years. Little by little we have grown in him. Slowly but surely we have changed with time.  

If you can look back at your life and see that you have not changed; then please turn to Christ that he might help you grow and live life more abundantly, according to the will of our Father in heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed new year and may you continue to grow in faithfulness and love toward God and one another.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Jesus, Remember Me!

"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
                                                                                                                       (Luke 23:41-43 NIV)

The criminal on the cross was about to be executed alongside Jesus. He knew enough to confess his sins. He made his death-bed confession. He also believed, even knew, who Jesus truly was. This criminal had enough sense to confess his sins and ask Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus answered his plea with an affirmative. Today, today you will be with me in paradise.

Jesus has come into his kingdom. It is not something that going to happen at a later date. He lives and reigns now. Why is it that humankind has such a hard time recognizing this? Jesus is King. Why is it that humankind, even Christians, have such a hard time recognizing that their egos are preventing them from confessing their sins; from receiving forgiveness; from entering into the Kingdom of God, even today? Is it lack of faith? Or, maybe it really is overinflated egos that prevent us from believing that their is someone greater than ourselves; one that can save us; one that can bring us peace?

I don't have the answers as to why one would rather lift up themselves and deny Christ and not enter into the paradise; the Kingdom, that Jesus has prepared for all who believe in him.

One criminal refused to repent and derided Jesus as they both hung there. The other confessed and turned his eyes toward Jesus that he might live, even though within hours he would die. Egos must die in order for us to live.

May God help us to live life in unity in His Kingdom, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Take Up Your Cross

Christ Lutheran Church, Bunnell, FL

   But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
   Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.                                                   (Matt 16:23-25  NIV)

Years ago, I was serving as a missionary to remote areas of Upper Michigan where there was no or very little church presence.  I led Bible studies at 3 different sites and led Worship at up to 6 sites any given week.  The worship sites included a state park, house church, an historic Lutheran church, an historic Episcopal church, a community center, a youth correctional facility, and sometimes my home.  The area I covered was about 45 miles north and south and 20 miles east and west.  Yes, it was what would be considered in today's world - wilderness.  I carted everything needed for worship between sites.  Packing and unpacking - setting up and tearing down - the same stuff over and over again. We had one of those big gold crosses for the altar, which was included in the stuff I needed to carry with me from worship site to worship site.  On one Ash Wednesday afternoon as I was rushing between Worship sites about 25 miles apart when I panicked thinking that I had left the altar cross at the last site.  So driving down the road while reaching in the back seat to see if I could feel it back there someplace, I heard myself say:  "I am so sick and tired of having to carry that cross with me all the time."  Fortunately, I said it out loud so that the impact of what I had said hit me full on.  What about the cross that Jesus bore for me?  And... this little cross was a bother to me?  If I couldn't carry this little altar cross, what kind of cross was I really willing to carry?  As a reminder to myself of my own hard heartedness and of what Jesus was willing to do for me, throughout that Lent I carried that cross on the seat next to me; not just between worship sites, but every day, every where I went.  While driving from place to place, that cross would remind me of my weakness, of my sin, and I would take hold of it, confessing my sins and thanking God for the cross he bore for me.  For I know full well that the cross I have been called to carry is nothing compared to the one he bore for me.  And I cannot even carry the little one without the help of God.  

Taking up our crosses and following Jesus is not easy. It will mean that our own will may have to be crucified in order for our Father's will to be done through us. May God help each of us to take up our cross to follow him wherever he would lead us.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Water and Word

"And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." Mark 1:5

Scripture is full of stories of the water. The Israelites passing through the Red Sea; Jesus promising to give us living water; baptizing us with water and the Word; John baptizing multitudes in the River Jordan are just a few examples.

It is no secret that I love the water and I highly enjoy living near it. My last home was in an awesome cedar swamp on the edge of a bay of Lake Superior. These days, at least temporarily, I am, once again, living just a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean on a beautiful little river. The waters remind me of what God has done for us; for me. He has washed us. He has made us clean and not just with water; but, with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Word.

May God bless us with constant reminders that through Him our sins have been forgiven; we have been washed and made clean.

God's Peace - Pr. J