My niece, Jessica, and her husband, Luke, were over for dinner. Following our meal, we headed for the family room to enjoy our dessert, something Luke always looks forward to! He and Jessica adhere to a fairly strict diet due to some medical issues she deals with, when eating certain foods. So, when he can get chocolate, sugar, butter, and cream all in one dessert, he gets pretty excited. We sat enjoying our trifles, layered with white chocolate pudding, whipping cream and big chunks of brownies and heath bar in between. Pretty good stuff!
Each time we get together we spend most of the evening catching up on ministry and what God is doing in each of our lives. Being Young Life area leaders, Jessica and Luke are very involved in the lives of teens around the Memphis area. Like all full time ministry, at times it can be greatly rewarding, and at other times a little frustrating.
We talked about church and ironically both our churches had adopted the theme of prayer for beginning the year 2014. Each pastor had challenged his church to fast as well as pray. Each of us had been fasting from different things, but Luke said he decided to fast each Monday from eating the entire day. He was amazed at how conditioned he was to eat. He got up one Monday morning and as he was taking out the eggs to scramble, Jessica walked in and asked if he was still fasting every Monday. Back in the refrigerator they went!
He then told us the funniest and most forthright story. Last Monday morning he met a friend for breakfast. It wasn’t until he arrived at the restaurant that he remembered he was supposed to be fasting. He greeted his friend, sat down, and the waitress walked up to take their order. His friend ordered and then turned to Luke and asked him what he was going to eat. Since he had invited his friend to breakfast, he was not sure how to tell him that he was fasting. Before he could stop the words, they slipped out, “I already had breakfast.” Almost immediately, the Holy Spirit convicted him and he had to confess his lie to his friend; he had not really eaten breakfast because he was fasting. He then said to us, “I went from being super-spiritual to being super sinner in a matter of seconds.” We all laughed so hard! I think it was because we could relate!
Jessica told about the time she broke the television antenna and did not tell Luke. When he went to turn on the television and it wouldn’t work, he asked, “Do you know what is wrong with the antenna? Did you touch it?” She said at that point, she hesitated and then under her breath muttered, “No.” From super-spiritual to super sinner! Immediately she was convicted and had to confess her sin!
Oh, the times I have gone from being “super-spiritual” to “super sinner!” I sat there that night remembering the time when as a child, my brother and I broke the church window because we were throwing rocks. My dad asked us if we knew what had happened and we denied knowing anything about it. From super spiritual to super sinner! As I thought back across my lifetime, I became very grateful for God’s grace and mercy. He has been so patient with this, His child. How thankful I am for the gentle convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, who will not tolerate anything in our lives that separates us from our heavenly Father.
Father, oh, how You desire that I develop a spiritual depth and a keen sensitivity to sin in my life. You bring conviction and a broken and contrite heart because sin cannot dwell within your Redeemed ones. Sharpen my ears to hear Your voice and move my heart to repent quickly; help me to be a reflection of You and Your righteousness.
“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:8-10
“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed. “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.” Daniel 9:4-5