The Wonderful Priviledge
If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~1 John 1:9, RSV
Let us blush at our hypocrisy, let us blush at our lukewarmness, let us blush at our carnality; and let us blush at our prayers.
~Richard Alleine
I love reading the Puritans. They are so frank and honest about their depravity that it is refreshing to a sinner like me. Richard Alleine says, “Do not mince your sins.” In other words don’t try to make them small; don’t chop them into little tiny pieces. Shame yourself before the LORD. Tell Him the truth. Why try to hide from Him what He already knows. If need be, asks Him to reveal the wickedness that has built a nest in the dark recesses of your heart. Ask Him to show you your vanity and folly, but when you asks, be prepared for a shock. There may be some things in you that you did not know were there. Don’t hide anything! As Alleine says, “Spread everything before the LORD till your soul is ashamed.” WOW!
Then and only then, will we be able to pray like Ezra, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.” I am ashamed of my sin. I do blush before the holiness of Christ.
As I was pondering Alleine’s words, I thought about the privilege we have in confession. What if we had no one to whom we could confess our sins? What a privilege to carry everything, especially our sin, to Him in prayer. I know that you do not want to listen to MY CONFESSIONS. The feeling is mutual, I don’t want to listen to yours. It is all I can do to deal with my sin. You talk about the gospel, the good news: Jesus being willing and available to hear our confessions is wonderful news. He is ready and willing to hear all our prayers all the time. Can’t I get a shout? Without this wonderful privilege, I think I would go mad. I would be like a tea kittle without a pressure flap; I would explode.
Make Psalm 73:26 a part of your morning prayer…
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
—Psalm 73:26
- Don’t forget someone out there needs you to intercede for them today.
- Outdoor Church Sunday September 6 @ 8:00
- Get the WORD TO THE WORLD Sunday September 13th. I am challenging every member to give $35 to translate a scripture verse so that people who have never had a bible in there language will have one. Our goal is to do the book of JAMES, 108 verses.
- Hamburger and Hotdog supper Wednesday night September 16. Originally had this for the 9th but we decided to use the pavilion and so maybe the weather will be cooler by the 16th. We may have to change the menu to steak, it is cheaper than hamburger.
- Monday October 26…we are hosting the pastor appreciation banquet at the POINT. Things are a little different this year. We will need a 49er type meal because this is also the annual meeting of the executive committee. Instead of feeding 20, we will be feeding 60. We will get the KFC, drinks and rolls but we need your help with the other things. Instead of having the 49er meal on Oct. 23, we are asking the 49ers to help us with the meal on Monday October 26. You do not have to attend the meeting just bring your food at lunch time and stay for lunch. It will work if we have a servant’s heart!
- October 28 is our Bill Smith Jambalaya Supper and our November Wednesday night meal falls on Veterans Day and we are having a stew and Joe is going to have us a video of our veterans at the round table.