Hey All!
Just a quick update for you today. I had a great time with my family over Christmas and New years and I hope you did as well. I am just getting back to work today from a much needed vacation. I hope the new years is finding you well!
Since I am just getting back, I wanted to take sometime right now to say a GREAT BIG THANKS to everyone who helped out over Christmas! We had so many comments on how people really enjoyed Christmas and we could not have done it with out the help of our wonderful volunteers! To view a special Christmas “Thank You” video click here. Trust me it is worth the time.
DEVOS-WEEK: Jan. 7 & 8, 2012
PASSAGE: Luke 19:1-10
Now, if you are like me...after a while...you pretty much know you are going to do the same SIN again...& yet we still asked God for forgiveness...and the question is, “WHY?” “WHY DO WE DO IT?” Why do we take the time to pray and CONFESS and ask God to forgive us when we know, there is a pretty high probability (almost a certainty in some cases) that either tomorrow or, in two days or, in two weeks we are going to do the exact same thing again.
God isn’t interested in that type of confession. As we read the passages above we saw that we need to do three things: (1) REPENTANCE - saying “I’m sorry” turning from what I have done (2) RECONCILIATION - going to the person and telling them what you have done to them. (3) RESTITUTION - doing whatever it takes to make things right.
Look at Luke 19:8, “Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord (talking to Jesus here) and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Do you see it...because there it is: (1) REPENTANCE - Zacchaeus: I am sorry for cheating and stealing from all of these people. (2) RECONCILIATION - Zacchaeus: I am going to go to them and ask for their forgiveness. (3) RESTITUTION - Zacchaeus: I am going to do whatever it takes to make it right...pay back 4x what I took!
GENUINE CONFESSION LEADS TO GENUINE CHANGE. Which is why Jesus says what he says in verse 9. Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.” True CONFESSION, not only leads to better behavior...it also leads to peace...wholeness...health...& healing.
James 5.15 says: “Confess your sins to each other and pray each other so that you may be healed.”
DEVOTIONAL POINT: We need to CHANGE THE WAY YOU CONFESS. Go to the person you hurt. Tell them what you did. Tell the person you ROBBED/INJURED/WERE INSENSITIVE TO/ARE RUNNING AROUND ON/OFFENDED...tell your TEACHER/ BOSS... Apologize and then take steps to make it right. And if it is a habit that no one knows about...one that you can’t seem to break...OPEN THE BOX & tell someone who actually has the power to help you. Stop the silly cycle and change the way you confess...and when you do, you will begin to change.
Posted on
Tue, January 3, 2012
by Jon Oney