Blog Archives - WELCOME TO THE JOY OF TROY

May 31, 2018

5/31/2018

Repentance                        FORGIVEN MUCH--LOVE MUCH

        Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:47.

    There was a feast at Simon's house. Simon was worried that Jesus' acceptance and forgiveness were being dispensed a little too freely. So Jesus told him the parable of the two debtors. One of the debtors owed a great deal. The other's debt was small. Both were forgiven. Jesus asked, "Which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:42, 43).

    To our human understanding, the freely offered forgiveness could be dangerous. It looks as though it would lead to license. It seems that somewhere there must be a limit to the number of times we can repent, or we would continue choosing to sin and repent forever. But love is the great safeguard against license. Because the ones who have been forgiven much know better than anyone how great is the love of the One who has forgiven them, they love the most in return. "Those to whom He has forgiven most will love Him most, and will stand nearest to His throne to praise Him for His great love and infinite sacrifice. It is when we most fully comprehend the love of God that we best realize the sinfulness of sin."--Steps to Christ, p. 36.

    As we know that we are loved, unconditionally, we are freed to respond with love of our own. It is as we know and believe the love of God to us that we are led to repentance, and the more we know of His love, the more our repentance will deepen.

    If we love Him we will keep His commandments. It is only as we love Him that we can keep His commandments. "All true obedience comes from the heart."--The Desire of Ages, p. 668. When we come to Jesus each day, just as we are, we realize His acceptance of us. When He gives us His gift of repentance, we come to understand something of the love that is great enough to offer repentance and forgiveness, even to those of us who need to be forgiven "much." And love for Him springs up in our hearts. As we love Him, we desire to obey. God's forgiveness, so freely offered, not only does not lead to license but it is the only basis of true obedience that there is. Romans 2:4 tells us that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.

May 30, 2018

5/30/2018

Repentance                        UNLIMITED FORGIVENESS

        Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Matt. 18:21,

    The disciples came to Jesus and asked how often they should forgive one another. The Pharisees said three times and you're out. The disciples wanted to show that they had learned something about the kind of forgiveness that Jesus offered, so they upped it to seven times. But Jesus said, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but Until seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22).

    Which is easier to forgive: the first time someone offends you, or the tenth time that same person offends you? How about the hundredth time? Usually in our dealings with one another, we feel quite self-righteous in forgiving the first time. But if the offense is repeated and repeated, it isn't long until we come to the conclusion that the repentance on the part of the offender isn't genuine anyway.

    In Luke 17:4 the lines are drawn even closer. Jesus said that if your brother trespasses against you "seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith"! It takes a lot of faith to give that kind of forgiveness! But what is Jesus really saying in these instructions? True, He intends that we be forgiving toward those who sin against us. But this is simply another example of the kind of love and forgiveness that God has toward us.

    This is the kind of love and goodness that comes only from God. He is the author of it, and it is good news that John 6:37 has no date on it. Today, again, regardless of how often you have failed, how often you have sinned, if you come to Him, you will be accepted, you will not be cast out.

May 29, 2018

5/29/2018

Repentance                        "SAY YOU'RE SORRY!"

        Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance. 2 Cor. 7:9.

    When I was in third grade, we were playing outside at recess time. When we came in, hot and dusty, to clean up in the boy's washroom, we forgot to do it quietly. Suddenly the teacher from the room next to us burst into the washroom and said, "What's the matter with you? You sound like a bunch of wild Indians!"

    Well, in the first place, I didn't think she had any business coming into our washroom. And in the second place, I didn't like what she said. So I replied sassily. She thought I was acting a little big for my britches and told my teacher about it. My teacher told me to tell her I was sorry.

    But I wasn't sorry. So I didn't go and apologize. The next day when I arrived at school, my teacher stopped me and said, "Did you tell her you were worry?" I was in a tight place. I said, "Yes, I did." But she had the goods on me. She had already checked with the other teacher. She replied, "I was just talking to Miss Brown, and she said you didn't."

    Now I was in bigger trouble. So I said, "But I did! She must not have heard me." My teacher dropped the matter.

    We finished the school year, and my family moved to another town. But every time I opened my Bible I'd remember the lie I had told my teacher. To convict of sin is the Spirit's work, and He does a pretty good job of it, doesn't He? Finally, I sat down and wrote a note to my teacher, confessing the lie I had told. But I still wasn't sorry about Miss. Brown!

    I told this story at a camp meeting, and after the meeting there was a lady waiting to see me. It was Miss. Brown! More than thirty years had gone by. I still wasn't sorry! We talked for a little while, and when I got home, there was a letter from Miss. Brown. She was sorry! But when she was sorry, then I was sorry! I've thought about it many times since. Why wasn't I sorry earlier? Well, I didn't know her very well. About the only contact I ever had with her was that day in the washroom. If our only contact with God is a casual, once-in-a-while kind of meeting, we will never come to the place of being sorry when we hurt Him. It's when we see His love and know He is our friend that we are led to genuine repentance.

May 28, 2018

5/28/2018

Repentance                        AN HONEST CONFESSION

        Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. James 5:16.

    Have you ever wondered how to know whether or not to confess a particular sin to God or to other people? Have you ever pondered what to confess and what not to confess, wondering where to draw the line? We have evidence that we should be very careful in our confessions. "In many of our religious awakenings mistakes have been made in regard to confession. While confession is good for the soul, there is need of moving wisely."--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 645. The question of how and to whom sins should be confessed is one that demands careful, prayerful study. We must consider it from all points, weighing it before God and seeking divine illumination (ibid., pp. 645, 646).

    So when the question comes, To whom should I confess my wrongs? there are several guidelines we have been given. First of all, don't neglect to confess your faults to your fellow men when they have a connection with them (Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 239). Second, as a general rule, confess the sins of a private nature to Christ (Councils on Health, p. 374).

    If I have a valid relationship with God, I do not have to sit down and take inventory of my life and try to figure out how many I have wronged, and lie awake at night making a list and checking it twice. God, in the setting of my relationship with him, has ways of impressing me with what to confess.

    The responsibility of convicting us of what we need to confess belongs to God and the Holy Spirit. Our part is to respond to Him immediately, not to wait. If we have sins to confess, we should lose no time in making them right. It's hard to admit that you are wrong. But when we understand that lack of confession and making things right is blocking our continuing relationship with Christ, when we see the close connection that confession has with our growth in the Christian life, it appears not quite so difficult.

    We all have struggles on this subject. But we can be thankful for the lovingkindness of Jesus today. He is still big enough to communicate to us, in our relationship with Him, just what to confess and how to go about it.

May 27, 2018

5/27/2018

Repentance                        NO EXCUSES IN CONFESSION

        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.

    It is only when we have experienced genuine repentance that we can make a genuine confession. Perhaps one of the best ways to test the genuineness of a confession is to realize whether or not there is any excuse added to the confession. If I come to you and say, "I'd like to ask you to forgive me. I am sorry that I lied about you, but if you weren't such an ugly person I wouldn't have lied in the first place," you can know immediately that I have not had genuine repentance!

    The problem of self-justification began in Eden. Adam blamed Eve for his problems, and Eve blamed the serpent. We are told that "when sin has deadened the moral perceptions, the wrongdoer does not discern the defects of his character...and unless he yields to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin....To every acknowledgment of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse."--Steps to Christ, p. 40.

    There is no chance whatever for genuine reformation apart from repentance. Have you ever had someone tell you to "say you're sorry"? Did that make you sorry? Have you ever told someone else, perhaps your children, "Tell them you're sorry"? Does that make them sorry? Unless we are truly sorry, our confessions will be worthless, and no reformation will result. We all know by experience that we cannot reform ourselves, but as we get a glimpse of Jesus, and see the disappointment on His face, and see His love for us and His long-suffering, then we will experience true sorrow for sin.

    It is only as we accept the mercy and the compassion of Jesus that He can, through us, pass on His mercy and compassion to others. Jesus is the only One who can give you peace. He loves you. He gave Himself for you. He will not judge you unfairly. His heart of love is touched with the feelings of your infirmities. As we come to understand His love and how much pain we have brought to His heart by our sins, we will be truly repentant, truly sorry for what we have done to hurt Him. The confession that springs from sorrow for hurting One who loves us will not give excuses, but will be heartfelt. And the result of that will be reeformation.

May 26, 2018

5/26/2018

Repentance                        NO RIGHTEOUSNESS BY CONFESSION

        He hat covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.   Prov. 28:13.

    One of the first steps in coming into a meaningful relationship with God is to admit that we are sinners, to admit that we have a sinful nature, and that, apart from Christ, that sinful nature is going to control us. Until we face our problem, we will not realize our need of Christ. We must recognize that we are sinners by nature. Whether we are lying, cheating, or stealing is beside the point. When we see our need and come to Christ, He gives us repentance. It is only when we have accepted this gift of repentance that confession can be genuine.

    Notice what is necessary to precede genuine confession: "If we have not experienced that repentance which is not to be repented of, and have not with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit confessed our sins, abhorring our iniquity, we have never truly sought for forgiveness of sin; and if we have never sought, we have never found the peace of God."--Steps to Christ, p. 38. It is important to understand that repentance precedes confession. Repentance comes after we have come to Christ, not before. And confession follows repentance. This is one of the reasons why so many people have problems with confession. We have gotten the idea that confession is the way to get to Christ, or that we get repentance by confession.

    Have you ever had the idea that there is a certain merit in confession? Have you ever felt that if you were sure to have all your sins confessed every night before you went to bed, you would be sure of salvation? There is no such thing as "righteousness by confession"! It is pointless to try to confess if you haven't repented, because you will end up with confession as a system of merit, a way to try to work your way into God's favor. Confession comes as a result of genuine sorrow for sin. It is not the cause (Steps to Christ, p. 39).

    Confession includes two aspects. It is not merely a listing of our specific shortcomings and mistakes and failures. Genuine confession also acknowledges our continuing condition as sinners, and in brokenness of spirit admits our need of Christ and our dependence upon Him.

May 25, 2018

5/25/2018

Repentance                        BROKEN LAW AND BROKEN HEART

        But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. Isa. 53:5.

    When I was in seventh grade I attended a school in Michigan that had one room with thirteen students in eight grades. Our teacher was only 17 years old. It was her first year of teaching. She loved us and did the best she could for us. She knew how to teach, but she had a problem keeping law and order. In fact, about halfway through the school year the school board met to consider seriously whether to allow her to finish the year.

    The students seemed gradually to lose respect for her. Students like to know what their limits are, and they began to criticize her instead of thinking of all that she had done for us. One day after school as I was starting home, I met some students below the classroom window, talking about how they didn't like the teacher and hoped that she would leave. When everyone else is talking about how they don't like the teacher, guess what you do? Have you even been in that situation? Peer pressure, they call it. So I chimed right in. "That's right, she's no good. I don't like her either." Just as I said it, I looked up through the open window above. Our teacher was standing behind the piano where she didn't think she could be seen. Her face was pointed downward, and the tears were dropping to the floor. I'll never forget the look of hopeless despair on her face that day.

    I tore myself from the scene and headed home. I kept seeing that face. The disappointment of someone who had done the best she could for me was too much. I didn't sleep well that night. I kept remembering how at Christmas time she had bought every one of of us a worthwhile gift. She had gone out of her way to be friends with each of us. She loved to read stories after lunch. She had done so many things for me, and I had disappointed her. The next day I had to sit down and write a note telling her I was sorry. I really was sorry. Why? Because I had done something more than break a rule. I had broken someone's heart. There's a difference, isn't there?

    Genuine repentance comes only in the setting of a one-to-one personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. When the reality of that friendship is recognized, and we see that our sins have broken His heart, then it is that our own hearts break.

May 24, 2018

5/24/2018

Repentance                        THE GOODNESS OF GOD BRINGS REPENTANCE

        Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31.

    My brother and I used to be roommates in college. This was rather unexpected because we had spent much of our time up until then fighting with each other. Our parents used to worry that we would never live to grow up. But we found out when we got to college that we were very close. Psychologists tell us that you have to love someone in order to fight with them--that if you didn't love them, you wouldn't waste your time! Maybe that was the underlying cause of all our arguments. But when we were roommates we got along very well.

    We used to clean the room every Friday, for Sabbath. But one week I was behind on some of my studies, trying to finish a term paper before the deadline. When my brother came in, I was still typing away. "Quick! Hurry!" he said, "We've got to do the room."

    And I said, "You do it. I can't. I'm too busy." And we began to teeter on the edge of the combat precipice again.

    But then he relaxed and said, "That's all right. That's perfectly all right. I understand. You must be under terrible pressure. It must be mighty hard for you. I'll clean the room. I'm happy to clean the room. I'll do it all by myself. You go ahead and work on your paper."

    And he broke my heart! I put down my paper and I helped clean the room. We used that approach on each other many times after that. It was a different approach; it was only in fun. But it was a simple illustration of the fact that when someone doesn't act against you, but rather gives evidence of loving acceptance, this wins you--right? The "goodness" of my brother led me to help clean the room.

    The Bible says in Romans 2:4 that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. But when we talk about the goodness of God, it's real. It's not faked. It's the only kind of real goodness there is. Are you seeking for genuine repentance? As you come to Christ, study His life, contemplate His character and mission, and understand His great love and acceptance for you, you will be brought to repentance.

May 23, 2018

5/23/2018

Repentance                        REPENTANCE IS A GIFT

        For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Cor. 7:10.

    Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are. Repentance is not our work, not a condition for acceptance with Him. We are told that this is "a point on which many err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent."--Steps to Christ, p. 26. But repentance is a gift. We receive this gift when we come to Christ.

    In Revelation 3:19, the Laodicean church is admonished to be zealous and repent. For those of us living during this time in earth's history who are at least potential Laodiceans, it is of utmost importance that we understand the nature of true repentance. It is not a matter of working hard, trying to make yourself sorry. Acts 5:31 tells us, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." "Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification, and it cannot be experienced except as it is given to the soul by Christ."--Selected Messages, book 1, p. 391. So if I want repentance for today, I can go to my knees and ask God for it, because it is a gift and He delights to give good gifts to His children. Notice all of 2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Where do you get godly sorrow? From God! You don't work it up yourself.

    We need to understand what it is that Laodicea needs to repent of. It is not primarily immorality. Laodicea is quite moral. Laodicea is known for its external goodness. But in spite of that, the Saviour is standing on the outside, knocking, seeking admission. What Laodicea needs to repent of is its morality, its many good works apart from Jesus. Is it possible that Jesus can still stand outside the great churches and institutions we have built, still knocking for entrance?

    We need to repent of living a life whose center and focus is anything other than Christ. Is Jesus the central focus of your home, your life, your relationships? Is He the theme of your thoughts, your conversations?  Or do you need to come to Him for repentance for having kept Him knocking on the outside of your heart?

May 22, 2018

5/22/2018

COME AS YOU ARE

        Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 22:17.

    The story is told of a man whose horn on his car wouldn't work. So he went to the garage in town to have it fixed. When he got there, it was raining, and he found that the door to the garage was closed. On the door was a sign that said, "Honk for service"! Have you ever felt that repentance was something like that?

    I'll never forget trying to convert my boy. I was worried about him. There were problems in the town where we were living at the time. Kids were being jailed for dealing in street drugs. I was afraid he would become involved. I talked until I had talked too much, and finally realized that I'd better stop talking and begin praying.

    Then some kids that he admired from the academy invited him down to a discussion at the Bible teacher's house. He decided to go and ask some hard questions. He liked to ask hard questions. So he went and began to play his game. But about halfway through the evening he began listening. He didn't know until later that some of those other kids were prying for him. But before the evening was over he heard something that he had never heard before--although I can assure you that he had too heard it before! It had simply never registered. He heard that we never change our lives in order to come to Jesus. That we always come to Jesus just as we are, and He is the one who changes our lives.

    He came home about ready to speak in tongues! He was so excited. He came to me and said, "Listen, Dad, listen to this! We don't change our lives in order to come to Christ. We come just as we are. He changes our lives!"

    I didn't want to spoil it for him, so I said, "Really?" And the very blood in my veins began to sing. The next morning I passed by the door to his room and saw him reading his Bible. The day before, he couldn't have cared less about the Bible. Now he couldn't put it down. Before the week was out, he had an "evangelistic" meeting in the living room with some of the other academy kids, trying to share his new insights.

    When one realizes for the first time that we really can come to Jesus just as we are, it makes all the difference in the world.