|
|
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Since I wasn't even at Wednesday night last night (by the way, how did that go?), here is another quote, this one from Max Lucado from "In the Grip of Grace":
"Confesion does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field. Before the farmer sows the seed he works the acreage, removing the rocks and pulling the stumps. He knows that seed grows better if the land is prepared. Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our hearts. 'There is a rock of greed over here Father, I can't budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? Its roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?' God's seed grows better if the soil of the heart is cleared.
And so the Father and Son walk the field together; digging and pulling, preparing the heart for fruit. Confession invites the Father to work the soil for the soul.
Confession seeks pardon from God, not amnesty. Pardon presumes guilt; amnesty, delivered from the same Greek word as amnesia, 'forgets' the alleged offense without imputing guilt. Confession admits wrong and seeks forgiveness; amnesty denies wrong and claims innocence.
Many mouth a prayer for forgiveness while in reality claiming amnesty. Consequently worship is cold (why thank God for a grace we don't need?) and our faith is weak (I'll handle my mistakes myself, thank you). We are better at keeping God out than we are at inviting God in. Sunday mornings are full of preparing the body for worship, preparing the hair for worship, preparng the clothes for worship...but preparing the soul?
Am I missing the mark when I say many of us attend church on the run? Am I out of line when I say many of us spend life on the run?
Am I overstating the case when I announce, 'Grace means you don't have to run anymore!'? It's the truth. Grace means we can finally turn ourselves in."
So, for today, do you agree with the analogy of confession helping us ultimately prepare for a life of worship? (Assuming that worship isn't just going to church, but offering ourselves daily to God) Do we tend to live life on the run? How can confession help that? What can be done to slow life down and become more contemplative?
Brent 6:06 AM
|