Devotional Saturday 10/12/16 – John 18:27 Dealing with regret Part 2

LAST JOHN BLOG UNTIL MONDAY 28th FEBRUARY 2017

Asking for forgiveness and giving forgiveness is too often neglected – I know I neglect it anyway (I’m sure you’re doing better than me but I write these blogs mainly for me anyway!)

To meditate/pray upon

John 18:27 ‘Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.’

1 Jn.1:8-10 ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.’

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Psalm 32:5 ‘Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.’

Psalm 103:12 ‘as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.’

Dealing with regret for our failures

In order to deal with regret for our sin we must:

·      Recognise our mistakes (even if others have sinned and contributed to it)

·      Confess our sin to God, express our decision to repent (turn from it)

·      Receive God’s forgiveness, give thanks for it

·      Confess our sin to people who have been affected by us (if wise to do so)

·      Move on. Learn from mistakes but refuse to entertain regret or guilt – it’s gone!

Dealing with the regret of what others do to us

In dealing with regret, it’s also important to think about those whom we need to forgive – those who ‘sin against us’. We can regret things that are done to us as much as the things that we do.

Forgiveness is vital in dealing with our failures and the failure of others toward us. To forgive is to not treat people as their sins deserve – it’s a living out of the gospel as we, like Christ, bear the pain of what has been done to us whilst refusing to take vengeance in thought of action. (refusing to take vengeance is not the same as refusing to get authorities involved if crime has been committed – please take advice on this)

Bitterness binds us to the past and allows the person and their sin toward us to continue to hurt us. Forgiveness releases us from the past as we give people into the hands of our perfect God who is also the perfect judge! As Lewis Smedes, wrote, ‘To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you’.

Forgiveness- It is a life-long commitment

‘This means that you keep on doing it - as long as you live. It won’t do to forgive today and then return to folly tomorrow. I know of a person whose wife said, ‘I thought you forgave me.’ He replied, ‘that was yesterday’. Total forgiveness is a life-long commitment; you may need to do it every single day of your life until you die. No one said it would be easy.’ (R. T. Kendall, Total forgiveness)

We can forgive because, like Peter, we have failed God but He has forgiven us. Gospel people like amazed that the Holy God should accept us in Christ and so understand and make the effort required to forgive others. As someone wrote, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

Make giving and receiving forgiveness a daily habit

Asking for forgiveness and giving forgiveness is too often neglected – I know I neglect it anyway (I’m sure you’re doing better than me but I write these blogs mainly for me anyway!) When teaching His disciples to pray He included,

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Clearly we are taught to do this regularly, and don’t we need to!

THIS IS THE LAST JOHN BLOG UNTIL MONDAY 28^TH FEBRUARY 2017

You can catch up on all the messages in the John series at:

http://www.communitychurchputney.com/community-church-putney--audio---resources.html

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Devotional Friday 9/12/16 – John 18:27 Dealing with regret Part 1

The first step in dealing with failure and regret is to see that Jesus wants you restored to Him and He has paid a huge price to redeem you.

To meditate/pray upon

John 18:27 ‘Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.’

Mark 14:72 ‘Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.’

Peter could have been haunted by his failure forever. He had openly contested Jesus’ warning about falling away saying, “I will lay down my life for you.” (13:37) and “Even if all fall away…I never will.” (Matt. 26:33) His pride would have been destroyed; He would have felt ashamed of himself before man and God.

How will we handle things when we let God, others and ourselves down?

The wrong way to handle mistakes is to believe that there is no way back; that God has closed the door on you forever. People may cite scriptures like the ‘unforgiveable sin’ (Matt. 12:31) as grounds for their never being restored. 

Let me test if you are beyond God’s grace with a question: Do you want to serve and love Jesus? If your answer is “yes” then the Holy Spirit is still active in your life. 

Clay Jones has written,

‘It can be easy for Christians struggling with rampant but unfocused insecurities to blame their anxieties on something tangible such as, “Maybe I’ve committed the unpardonable sin!” But we must subdue such anxieties by taking every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5) and rooting our lives in the knowledge of the clear teaching of Scripture. For no one who has fixedly refused the work of the Holy Spirit would be worried that he or she might have offended the Holy Spirit. The very fact that a person would be concerned about his or her relationship with Jesus is evidence that he or she isn’t hardened against the Holy Spirit!’

The first step in dealing with failure and regret is to see that Jesus wants you restored to Him and He has paid a huge price to redeem you.

You can catch up on all the messages in the John series at:

http://www.communitychurchputney.com/community-church-putney--audio---resources.html

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Devotional Thursday 8/12/16 – John 18:19-27 Jesus’ courage, Peter’s cowardice

This dark event is a mirror and a spotlight. We see our reflection in Judas, in the authorities, in Peter, in the disciples – they are us! We have sinned just as they have. This event is also a spotlight on the courage and righteousness of Christ. In the dark night when everything and everyone is in shadows, He is the ‘light of the world’.

To meditate/pray upon

John 18:19-27 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.’

We are seeing two scenes played out in front of us: Peter moving toward betrayal and Jesus, remaining faithful, moving toward the cross.

This is the story of all of our lives. Let’s always keep both ‘chapters’ of our book open before us. We have sinned, we could never save ourselves, but Jesus is the only Saviour to whom we offer our ever-grateful hearts.

Paul kept his past and present open before him. His story, as our own, teaches us humility, mercy, and is a great source of hope for others. As Paul said,

1 Timothy 1:15 ‘Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.’

How patient and merciful are you toward other people’s failings? How ready are you to forgive or be forgiven? How soft is your heart toward those annoying people? Maybe you need to see yourself again in this story?

You can catch up on all the messages in the John series at:

http://www.communitychurchputney.com/community-church-putney--audio---resources.html

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Devotional Wednesday 7/12/16 – John 18:17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”

How do we ensure that we are not caught off-guard, but are prepared to make the most of the opportunities that God gives us every day?

To meditate/pray upon

John 18:17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter…”

1 Peter 3:15-16 ‘But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.’

How do we respond when we have opportunity to share our faith and love for Christ? “What did you do at the weekend?” “I can’t stand Christmas!” “What are your interests?” etc. at moments when we could speak out, what do we do?

How can we ensure that we are prepared for the opportunities that come our way?

Firstly, believe that God does send us opportunities. Your friendships, neighbours, place of work, school are no accident. God has put you there as a witness.

Secondly, believe that God has gifted you to share your story. We can all tell others what we believe and how we came to believe.

Thirdly, pray at the beginning of your day, for grace to deal with God’s opportunities in God’s strength

Fourthly, ensure that our lives and words are in accord. Not only will this cause people to give credence to what we say, but we gain confidence by knowing that our behaviour is, as far as is possible, authentically loving and righteous. Those with a bad conscience will not want to reveal that they are a Christian!

You can catch up on all the messages in the John series at:

http://www.communitychurchputney.com/community-church-putney--audio---resources.html

Read More