Guilty, and didn't even know it

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Leviticus 4:1–5:19 
Mark 2:13–3:6 
Psalm 36:1-12 
Proverbs 10:1-2


BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 36:7 "How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings."


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


Did you know that you could experience negative consequences from God for a sin that you didn't even commit?

That may not sound fair and it certainly doesn't sound like something we are led to believe that God would do. But, God does this sometimes.

Leviticus 4:13 "If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the LORD’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty."

Did you get that? The whole nation of Israel could be seen as guilty by God and they didn't even know that they had sinned.

One specific illustration of this is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. A man named Achan stole some items from Jericho when God had told them not to take anything. Most of the Israelites didn't even know of his private sin. Yet, listen to the following verse...

Joshua 7:1 "But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites..."

How do we make sense of this? Is God unfairly punishing us for someone else's sin? Nope!

Ezekiel 18:20 "The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness."

God is not going to punish us for someone else's sin.

So, how do we reconcile the original principle - that we can be declared guilty when someone commits a sin and we don't even know it?

Simply put, God often looks at us as part of a group. When God see us, He may look at us as part of the group of our larger family. He may also see us as a part of our church. Or, He may see us as a citizen of our country. (The possibilities are endless.)

When a country sins and falls under the judgment of God, Christ-followers aren't exempt from the trouble simply because they are Christians. As God moves against the nation, Christians will experience God's disfavor, too. Why? Because they sinned? Nope. It's because they are a part of the group that God is moving against.

When a church sins, even if it was 50-100 years ago, God's favor may never be free to rest on that congregation until they repent. Even if those who committed the sin aren't alive, the group they were a part of is not yet free to be blessed by God and anyone who partners with it will experience the same fate. Repentance - for a sin we didn't commit and yet was committed by someone in our group - needs to take place.

So, what are we to do? We realize that we can experience negative consequences for our own sin AND the sin those in the group(s) we are a part of.

Simply put, repent. If you become aware of a sin that your church (family, business, school, etc.) committed years ago and you think that the group never repented of it, ask the spiritual leadership to lead in a time of corporate confession and repentance. Maybe you will find that in doing so that you will wipe the decks clean of any sin and God will be free to bless.

Readily giving what we receive ...

The Biblical book of Jonah would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad. It begins with Jonah's sinful heart. He brazenly rebelled against his God. God told him to go to Nineveh to preach about impending judgment and Jonah went the opposite direction.

So, Jonah received judgment in the second chapter and then grace and forgiveness when he repented.

Get that point. It's very important. "Jonah was the object of God's mercy and grace and forgiveness. All the good stuff from God ... Jonah got it when he repented."

Yet, as Jonah preached to the citizens of Nineveh, they repented, too! What does God do? The same thing He did for Jonah ... He lavished His mercy and grace and forgiveness upon the Ninevites. All the good stuff from God ... Nineveh got it when they repented.

Second verse, same as the first.

How does Jonah respond when he sees that God is not going to destroy Nineveh?

Jonah 4:2 (New Living Translation)

"So he complained to the LORD about it: 'Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.'"

Let us be so careful not to fall into this mindset ... we readily receive the Lord's forgiveness and grace for our personal offenses and yet resent it when He does the same for others.

Let the true followers of Jesus develop a heart like Jesus' ... one that would much more readily desire repentance and restoration than discipline and judgment.

Sin, God's discipline and restoration

Did you know that there is comfort to be had when, after you sin, God disciplines you?

“How is that possible?!” you may ask. Well, it simply shows that God really is your Heavenly Father. It reveals that you really are God’s child and Heaven is really is going to be your eternal home.

Because if God does not discipline you when you sin, you are not His child…

Proverbs 3:12 (New Living Translation)

“For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”

Hebrews 12:5-8 (New Living Translation)

“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.”

So, God’s discipline assures us that we really are His children. But, we don’t want to remain in His discipline. We want to get right with Him so that discipline can stop. How do we do that?

In my Bible reading this morning, I came across the story of Solomon’s dedication of the new Temple. After a long, celebratory day, the Lord spoke to Solomon in a vision that evening. He conveyed to Solomon that the people would eventually sin and He would need to discipline them. But, He told Solomon how the people could get back into right standing with Him.

2 Chronicles 7:12-14 (New Living Translation)

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

God provides the remedy:

Humble ourselves – Acknowledge that we have sinned and pridefully stepped out from under God’s authority over our lives. We need to put ourselves back under His authority.

Pray – Talk to Him. Confess where we have sinned and ask for His forgiveness.

Seek His face – Make it our passion to pursue Him until we find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

Turn from our wicked ways – We cannot simply confess our sins. We must turn from them. It is impossible to follow and enjoy God if we are remaining in sin. We need to have a complete change of heart and turn from what is wrong never to do it again.

So, friend, is God worth it to you? Is He so precious to you that He is worth your life’s pursuit? Is He more valuable to you than any temporary pleasures you can gain in other pursuits?

Then do what it takes to remain in the favor of the God who loves you so much that He died to bring you into relationship with Him both now and forever!

Getting away with Kim to the Maple Hill Bed and Breakfast

Our church recently sent Kim and me off for a couple of days at a bed and breakfast. I've never been to a bed and breakfast (they sounded a little too much like a female or elderly thing) but I was fair game. Things have been more than a little rough for Kim and me, especially recently, and we needed some time away.

It took us about an hour and a half to get to Maple Hill Bed and Breakfast in Eddyville, Kentucky. The house was impressive as we approached it (the picture makes it look much smaller than it actually is).

We were greeted at the door by the host who invited us in. She took us on a brief tour of the place so that we could get our bearings. The first room we entered made it clear that this house had plenty of 'atmosphere.'

I usually don't like antiques but this house was done extremely well! It felt like we stepped back into time to a different era. After staying at my first bed and breakfast, I could see what set it apart from a hotel. A hotel provides the necessities but it is strictly focused on providing a place to sleep. 'Atmosphere' isn't their goal. A bed and breakfast strives to provide a place to rest while also giving you an experience, something that leaves you thinking about it long after you've left.

Our church paid for the second floor 'Rose Room' which seems to have been the nicest room. The amenities inside the room were very well thought-out and the view out the windows was breathtaking. Lake Barkley was visible from two of the windows and the bay behind the house was visible from the third window.

Again, Kim and I really don't care much for antiques. Yet, this room was decked out in furniture, rugs, pictures and such from years gone by. The room provided more than just a place to rest. It really felt like we were able to 'get away' from some stress for a couple of days and rejuvenate.

One place that Kim and I enjoyed retreating to when we were spending our time in our Bibles or just spending some time reflecting was on the second floor balcony. This balcony had some rocking chairs and was the private balcony for those in the 'Rose Room.' It overlooked the front of the house and also had a great view of Lake Barkley. (You can see Lake Barkley in the picture to the right.)

Kim and I had some great talks while we were on this two day get-away and some of those conversations happened on this balcony.

Another location that we enjoyed escaping to a couple of times was a dock down on the water. This was a super place to just 'veg.' Kim and I took our Bibles and some study books with us. Sometimes, we were reading and studying. Other times, we were just enjoying the beautiful scenery. All of this just enabled us to de-stress and relax.

The view to the right of this dock is seen in the next picture. This bay area was a little inlet off of Lake Barkley. It was fun just to watch the water flow and listen to the waves splash against the dock.

I don't know what it is about water but it is so therapeutic to just watch and listen. Added to this is the fish that jumped out of the water and the turtles that poked their heads out and watched us. All of this and more made for an extremely relaxing environment where our minds and bodies were able to unwind.

The fact that this bed and breakfast provides such an incredible experience as sitting on this dock is a priceless addition to all that they offer those who come to board with them.

There were many other things we enjoyed about this place. The breakfast was absolutely delicious with the candles on the table and romantic music in the background. The conversation with the hosts was really enjoyable, too. We even found out that we have some friends in common! We also found some roads to walk that provided some breathtaking views of Lake Barkley.

I could keep going but you get the idea. We really enjoyed this place!

We certainly enjoyed our time at the Maple Hill Bed and Breakfast and cannot be more thankful to our church family at the Westside Baptist Church for providing this get-away for us. Kim and I are hoping that this time of R&R will enable us to be more effective as we get back at the business of ministry and all of the other things God has allowed to come our way.

Biblically responding to those in sin…

First of all, we must begin with our own propensities toward sin. God’s Word tells us that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and that includes you and me. That knowledge of ourselves should create a sense of humility in how we respond to others. You see, if I realize my own struggles with sin and am broken by that fact, I will tend to be much more compassionate in how I respond to others in sin. I will find it easier to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) because I am all too aware that I am also flawed.

 

However, should a knowledge of our own sinfulness cause us to remain indifferent to sin and sinners? Since we are flawed, should we sit back and allow sin to run amok? Of course not. If so, what did Jesus mean when He told us to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)? To be salt and light means that we are to hold back sinful decay and expose it wherever it may be. There is no room for indifference.

 

So, as we are salt and light, do we treat saved people who are engaged in open, known sin the same as we do lost people who are engaging in the same exact sins? No.

 

Look at 1 Corinthians 5:9-13:

 

“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’”

 

If someone who claims to be a believer is engaged in sexual immorality, is greedy, has a lifestyle that shows he worships anything other than God, slanders others, is an alcoholic, isn’t honest in his financial dealings, or any number of other known, open sins, I’m not supposed to even eat with him. However, if someone who is unsaved does those same things, I can absolutely spend time with him as I seek to tell him the message of the Gospel.

 

Quite simply, unsaved people are going to act like unsaved people. How else should we expect them to act? They need the Gospel. So spend time with them!

 

But someone who claims to be a follower of Christ? Now, that’s a different story. He should know better. He claims to already have the Gospel. There’s nothing else besides what he already claims to have. So, measures are to be taken. Out of love for him and a concern for his eternal destination, we are to remove him from the protective blessings of the church (1 Corinthians 5:2) and avoid any interaction that would show acceptance of his behavior (1 Corinthians 5:11).

 

Why is this loving? Because in being removed from the protection and blessings of a church fellowship, he may come to the end of himself and come back to Jesus! “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 5:5). The desired end result is not negative. It’s restoration!

 

Can it truly be said that we are compassionate Christians if we don’t lovingly confront our brothers and sisters-in-Christ when they are in sin in the biblically appropriate way? Can it truly be said that we are compassionate Christians if we ostracize unbelievers who so desperately need the Gospel that we can share with them?