I HAVE SINNED

My God of Forgiveness,

I began reading Job 15. One of Job's friends, Eliphaz, speaks words of condemnation. This is a very lengthy chapter, 35 verses. I thought to myself, "how could anyone speak hopelessness and judgment from God when his friend was hurting so".

I may not openly tell someone, who I despise, that they deserved what they got based on how much they hurt me. However, I have thought it. I have also thought that they deserved what has happened to them. On the otherhand, if a friend was having a trial, I would wonder what they had done to deserve this judgment from God.

Yes, I have felt justice was served when someone who hurt me was having a hard time. My curiousity would desire to know the sin a friend had committed. Then I would determine the how big or little the sin was before I placed judgment. All the time saying, "I would never do such a thing".

Have mercy on me, Father. Please forgive me. Thank you for revealing this sin to me. My desire is to clean my soul so that I may be more like your precious son, Jesus.

"BE REAL" with God!

Now this isn’t easy. The pressure to perform and look ‘spiritual’ amongst other Christians can be very extreme at times – especially if you are in any type of leadership role within the Church. For we all know that leaders don’t have problems, they don’t have any ‘down’ times, and are always ‘on fire’ for God, right? They’re invincible! That’s why we made them our leaders. Modern day gladiators! Ok, so I’m going over the top now. Nevertheless, it is sad but true that the extra pressure leaders face in being ‘spiritual’ does lead to ‘performances’ devoid of the right heart condition. But it’s certainly not just the leaders that feel the pressure. Let me ask you a couple of questions – when was the last time you sat in a home group setting and felt you just had to pray because everyone else was and if you didn’t, people would think you are ‘un-spiritual’? (Always a worry if you’re one of the last to pray and all the best ‘Christian’ lines and phrases have already gone!) What about worship in Church? When was the last time you lifted your hands in worship to God while all the time you were just thinking of what’s for lunch, or maybe even, who was looking at you? Should we not rather remember the words of David that the Lord ‘tests the heart and is pleased with integrity’? Come on. If you are feeling dead as a hammer then that is what the Lord would like to hear. The Holy Spirit doesn’t work the reality of His presence into our life while we are still just putting on ‘a show’. But He does delight in those who are honest about the condition of their own heart and in humility, look to Him for the reality of the Christian life. It’s meant to be about pleasing Him, not pleasing man!