Koinonia Bible Studies

As our devotions for Lent continue, the focus shifts just a bit. We began pondering the question, “Why the cross?” and rested on sin as the heart of the reason. Last week, we asked God to help us to uncover any sins that we have either overlooked or ignored. Once we come face-to-face with our sin, we cry to God, “What must I do?” Peter responds to the same question on Pentecost with, “Repent and be baptized!” How can we be sure that we have honestly repented? The first step in repentance is to have a kingdom heart.

As we contemplate being a penitent individual, let’s take some time today to do a word study on repentance. Once we understand repentance, we will look at putting it into practice by looking at three psalms this week. Today, we will look at having a kingdom heart through a handful of verses from Psalm 42.

What Does It Mean to Repent?

What does it mean to repent? How can I be a penitent individual? Since we are studying in the Psalms during Lent, there are seven psalms which are labeled “Penitential Psalms.” They are Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. These psalms express deep sorrow for sins, search diligently for God’s mercy, and request His forgiveness.

Many people have some common misunderstandings when they think about repentance. First, people think repentance means being sorry for an action. Of course sorrow is involved. The Cambridge Dictionary says that repentance is to be very sorry for something bad that you have done and to wish that you had not done it. Repentance is more than just a feeling.

Others believe that repentance means stopping. Here is a bad action that I have and now I am going to stop doing it. Again, there is some stopping probably involved in repentance, but it is bigger than just that.

Finally, many people believe that repentance comes from being caught. You were caught in your sins and so now you are almost forced to repent. If I understand repentance correctly, we need to be repentant whether we have been caught in a sin or not.

So today, let’s do a little word study about this concept of repentance. Then let’s think about repentance in three steps this week – drawing on passages from three different Psalms.

Studying the Word

The Acts 2:38 passage is probably the most well-known verse which contains the word “repent,” but the verb is scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments. The word is a compound presenting the ideas of meta (μετά ), a preposition indicating direction. The word meta in Greek is often translated “across.”

We became familiar with the word “meta” recently when Facebook changed the name of its parent company to “meta.” In addition to the connection with the “metaverse,” the new name represents the attempt to bring a message “across” the channels of social media: Facebook, Instagram, What’s App.

The other part of the word is the verb naheo (νοέω ), the Greek word for mind.  Literally, the two words mean “to move from one position of the mind to another” or “to alter the direction of the mind.” Over time, the nuance of the word has come to mean “to change one’s mind” about bad behavior or about Jesus.

Changing Our Mind

So when we are told to repent, what are we to change our mind about? Sometimes the context makes it very specific. On the Day of Pentecost, the people were told to repent – to change their mind about Jesus. Instead of being seen as a rebel, the people should embrace Jesus as God’s Messiah.

When we talk about repenting of our sins, the change of mind needs to be how we think about sin.  Pause a moment to ponder how humans have perceived sin for centuries. First, we consider, “Is this really sin?” We will debate, allow social and cultural changes, and even look for loop-holes in what the Bible has presented. The action no longer is a sin, but simply a choice.

The second thing we consider, “Is this really my fault?” follows close behind. If I cannot escape the lable of sin, perhaps I can place the blame elsewhere. Doesn’t that sound like Adam? “The woman who you gave me made me taste the fruit.” If I cannot blame someone else, I will look to blame the circumstances. “I know it’s stealing, but my children were starving.”

Finally, we simply run and hide. “If God cannot see me, I haven’t sinned.” Adam and Eve did the same thing. They hid in the bushes. The Scripture says they covered their nakedness, but I wonder whether they just tried to cover themselves so their skin didn’t stand out. They wanted to blend in with the trees. Isn’t it interesting that we want to do the very same thing with our sin? We will cover the sins over so that we blend in with the rest of society. Maybe God won’t notice where we are and what we’ve done.

Owning and Accepting

Instead of brushing off the idea of my sin, I need to “own it,” as they say. I accept how God defines sin and I own up to my responsibility for the choices I have made. In and of itself, the change in attitude toward sin will be huge.

But there are three things we need to do to make repentance sincere and meaningful. Let’s look at Psalm 42 for the first step in creating a sincere repentance – a kingdom heart.

As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God!
2 I thirst for God,
for the living God.
I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”
3 I cannot eat; I weep day and night.
All day long they say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 I will remember and weep

Psalm 42:1-4 NET

The first step in sincere repentance is to long for God’s presence and to realize there is something that has come between you and God. The desire for the closeness to God upsets every other part of your life. You cannot eat. You cannot sleep. Somehow, you remember how that close intimacy with God actually feels – you miss it and you weep. Your spirit is developing a kingdom heart.

“Did you study for the test?”

Do you enjoy taking a test? Research shows that most people do not enjoy the process. They associate tests with high stress, anxiety, pressure, and the fear of failure. Surveys indicate that about 40% of students experience significant test anxiety that negatively impacts their health and the scores on their tests. In addition, a majority of Americans believe there is too much emphasis on standardized testing. The negative feelings impacts their creativity and keeps a student from being adequately prepared for the test.

Sin and the Test

We have been thinking about sin. We have looked at sin’s nature and how it impacts us as individuals. Our discussions have included honestly looking inside to discover our weaknesses to temptation, and the patterns of sin that we overlook or ignore. We plea for God to search our hearts and reveal our sin.

One factor that we usually overlook in preparing for a test remains for our discussion. The teacher plays an important role in preparing and administering the test. Does the teacher use standardized tests, or do they make their own? Does the teacher make a sound test, or is the test flawed?

Scholars today talk about “doing theology” and they speak in terms of the contrast of between believing only by the heart or only with the head. A theology that is just “head knowledge” can be cold, dry, and of little practical value. Scholars talk in terms of knowing “about” God instead of knowing God. But a theology that is only of the heart may be warm and practical, but it lacks substance and sustainability. Psalm 139 provides the perfect blend discussing the “head” parts of theology like God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. But the psalm is so personal. The psalmist speaks of these attributes of God in ways that impact the individual as he is being tested.

The Maker of the Test Knows All

What if your teacher – the giver of the test – knew everything about you? Would it be comforting if the teacher knew what kind of student you were? This teacher knows that you perform better on essay tests than on short answer tests. Could the teacher’s knowledge affect the design and outcome of the test?

Theologians call God’s knowledge His Omnipotence. God knows everything. The first six verses affirm God’s knowledge. Notice David says that God knows his thoughts (Psalm 139:2), his ways (Psalm 139:3), and his words (Psalm 139:4).

Thoughts from Tozer

A.W. Tozer explains the omniscience of God in negative terms:

God has never learned from anyone. God cannot learn. Could God at any time or in any manner receive into his mind knowledge that he did not possess and had not possessed from eternity, he would be imperfect and less than himself. To think of a God who must sit at the feet of a teacher, even though that teacher be an archangel or a seraph, is to think of someone other than the Most High God, maker of heaven and earth.… God knows instantly and effortlessly all matter and all matters, all mind and every mind, all spirit and all spirits, all being and every being, all creaturehood and all creatures, every plurality and all pluralities, all law and every law, all relations, all causes, all thoughts, all mysteries, all enigmas, all feeling, all desires, every unuttered secret, all thrones and dominions, all personalities, all things visible and invisible in heaven and in earth, motion, space, time, life, death, good, evil, heaven, and hell.… Because God knows all things perfectly, he knows no thing better than any other thing, but all things equally well. He never discovers anything, he is never surprised, never amazed. He never wonders about anything nor (except when drawing men out for their own good) does he seek information or ask questions

James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 1202–1203.

God knows all about the subject material on the test. He knows all about you as a test-taker.

The Maker of the Test Sees All

When you were in grade school, did your teacher walk up and down the aisles of the classroom while you were taking the test? Teachers want to be able to see if there are any improprieties taking place during the test. The teacher looks for cheat sheets or notes being passed or students whose eyes seem to stray to other desks. The problem remains that the teacher cannot be everywhere at once. There will always be things that the teacher cannot see.

Theologians talk about the omnipresence of God to describe a God that is everywhere every time. God’s presence is everywhere. Do you see how his knowledge and his presence are like a hand in a glove? Verses seven through ten are probably the most well-known verses in the Psalm and rightly so. These magnificent verses capture a truth about God. “Never has the pen of man more effectively described the omnipresence of God.” These verses are worth the most careful study. Indeed, we should memorize them and thereby hide them in our hearts.

James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 1205.

The Maker of the Test Is All Powerful

When theologians speak of the omnipotence of God, they trumpet his never-ending power. Rather than thinking of the power of God, allow your mind to think of how loving He has proven to be. God only has your good and well-being on His mind.

The test is not to trick you.

The test does not attempt to cause you to fail

God does not try to prove what a tough test-maker He can be

.The Father will never give you a question on the test that you cannot answer correctly.

God’s knowledge of what we need is so perfect, He often answers before we even cry out. Isaiah writes, “Before they call I will answer; when they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). Who can have test anxiety when we have a Teacher like that?

The other day I was helping a friend search for a set of lost keys when he made a quip that struck me funny enough to laugh out loud. My friend offered the comment, “I come from a long line of losers.”

I laughed because I, too, had family members who had special talents with lost things. My father had a talent for finding lost golf balls. Every time I would put a slice into the woods on the right – an every other stroke occurrence – Dad would come out of the woods with two sleeves filled with golf balls. Unfortunately, my Titleist 3 was never one of them.

My grandmother always had the same comment every time she found an item that had been lost. “It was in the last place I looked.” The smart-aleck teenage boy would always reply, “Of course it was. Once you found it, why would you keep on looking?”

As we conclude another week, our devotional thoughts have centered so far on our sins. We have looked at what sin is, and how it becomes a part of our nature. The sins of the world led Jesus to the cross so many years ago. As Paul tells the Corinthians, God made Christ “who never sinned to be the offering for our sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT).

The Search Continues

Our Psalm for the week talks about searching (Psalm 139).

We spend most of our lives searching, don’t we? More than keys or golf balls, we are looking for purpose, meaning, fulfillment, or happiness. Driven by a sense deep inside that we lack something important, we look for a Titleist 3 in a box marked Wilson or Pinnacle.

May I ask something personal? For what are you searching? Through almost seven full decades, I have searched for acceptance, for someone to love and spend my life with, a satisfying career, a positive environment to raise children, and enough money to pay the bills.

The things we search for often become the driving force in life. There’s nothing wrong with searching for a life that fulfills. God doesn’t mind the search.

Satan doesn’t mind the search, either. In fact, he wants to help us look. Another set of eyes will help find it faster. You want fulfillment? Here, try this. Try this. Know what you want? This way will get it faster. Cheaper. Less work. Easier.

Sin: The End of the Search

Sometimes the easier way involves sin. But it doesn’t feel like sin because it helped us reach a goal that was so good. I won’t call it a sin – I will call it a choice this time. And the next. Then the next.

For Jesus, it sounded like this: I can see how hungry you are. Why don’t you turn those stones into bread and end your suffering (see Matthew 4:2-4)?

The more we overlook sin – especially our own sin – the easier it becomes to do so. Our conscience becomes cloudy and confused.

One of the most important books published in my lifetime is a book by Karl Menninger entitled “Whatever Became of Sin?” The distinguished psychiatrist examines human morality and the existence and consequences of sin. The helpful volume offers practical hope for our troubled times. Unfortunately, the book is no longer in print.

Whatever happened to sin? We have covered it over and looked the other way for so long, we can’t see it any longer.

The Path of Pain

David concludes the 139^th Psalm with a prayer for God to search and test him. There is just a twinge of irony in the request. He is asking God who knows everything and has the hairs on David’s head numbered, to search him with a fine-toothed comb.

God is not going to find something that He doesn’t already know. It seems that David’s point is for God not only to search but to reveal. “Tell me about my sin. It is so easy for me to overlook it.”

David asks God to point out any “anxious or offensive ways” that he might have. The Hebrew for the latter phrase literally means “path of pain.” In a nutshell those two words describe what sin does to us.

Sin makes me anxious. I am afraid I will be caught. I have probably had to lie to cover it up. Who have I lied to, and what lies have I told? Has one sin led to another?

Sin also causes pain. The anxiety and guilt of sin wear on my physical and emotional health, not to mention what it does to my spiritual well-being. My sin often causes pain for others.

The problem David has – the problem we all have – is that although he wants to stay clear of evil people and sinful ways, there are threads of sin deep inside him that cloud his vision and thwart his desire for godly living. 

The path of pain leads us to the need for the cross of Christ.

Somewhere in the writings of esteemed Biblical scholar, J.I. Packer, there is a reference to Puritan theology as theology that is “older, better, wiser and of a more practical sort.” His statement applies to Puritan theology, but it applies even more to Psalm 139 – its theology is “older, better, wiser, more practical.” It is theology that is of the very best sort – it touches the heart.

As we continue our devotions through the Season of Lent, let’s pause this week with the first and last verses of Psalm 139 – another of the Psalms of King David.

Scripture

NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION (NET)

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

EASY TO READ VERSION (ERV)

OTHER TRANSLATIONS

O Lord, you examine me and know me.
² You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
³ You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
⁴ Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.
⁵ You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
⁶ Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

Lord, you have tested me,
    so you know all about me.
² You know when I sit down and when I get up.
    You know my thoughts from far away.
³ You know where I go and where I lie down.
    You know everything I do.
⁴ Lord, you know what I want to say,
    even before the words leave my mouth.
⁵ You are all around me—in front of me and behind me.
    I feel your hand on my shoulder.
⁶ I am amazed at what you know;
    it is too much for me to understand.

NASB Psalm 139:1-6 NASB

NCV Psalm 139:1-6 NCV

ESV Psalm 139:1-6 ESV

MSG Psalm 139:1-6 MESSAGE

KJV Psalm 139:1-6 KJV

NKJV Psalm 139:1-6 NKJV

GW Psalm 139:1-6 GODSWORD

HCSB Psalm 139:1-6 HCSB

NLT Psalm 139:1-6 NLT

LEB Psalm 139:1-6 LEB

Additional Scripture

Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts.
Test me, and know my concerns.
²⁴ See if there is any idolatrous way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.

Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

God, examine me and know my mind.
    Test me and know all my worries.
²⁴ Make sure that I am not going the wrong way.
    Lead me on the path that has always been right.

NASB Psalm 139:23-24 NASB

NCV Psalm 139:23-24 NCV

ESV Psalm 139:23-24 ESV

MSG Psalm 139:23-24 MESSAGE

KJV Psalm 139:23-24 KJV

NKJV Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV

GW Psalm 139:23-24 GODSWORD

HCSB Psalm 139:23-24 HCSB

NLT Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

LEB Psalm 139:23-24 LEB

There is nothing abstract about Jesus’ words. The disciple must thoroughly and systematically examine his heart to eliminate sin.

Affairs of the Heart

H.C. Leupold, the Lutheran scholar, observes that Psalm 139 “is not formulated in theological abstractions but in terms of personal religious experience. The personal theology of this psalm is the very essence of worship. While the psalm touches the depth of theology – the omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of God – its practical nature moves us as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

First, David wants to separate himself from all who deliberately practice sin. Second, he wants God to search him thoroughly to discover and purge anything that might be offensive. Is there anything more practical?

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:3,6 NIV).

Heart Comfort and Encouragement

Second, an examination should comfort us. God knows the very worst about us, and loves us anyway. Job explains, “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10).

Finally, God searching us should encourage us to pray more often. Jesus told followers to pray to God confidently, expecting answers. God’s knowledge of what we need is so perfect that He often answers before we ask.

Is your heart open to God’s search?

Our devotions for this first full week of Lent have centered on sin. We have talked about what sin is and about the deep need inside us to confess that sin to God – to agree with him about the nature and impact of sin in our lives. Today we want to think about the guilt of sin – why we have it, what it does to us, and the importance of being free from it. Let’s look again at a verse from Psalm 32.

Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins. Selah (Psalm 32:5 NET).

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 32:5 NIV).

But then I decided to confess my sins to the Lord. I stopped hiding my guilt and told you about my sins. And you forgave them all! Selah (Psalm 32:5 ERV).

NASB Psalm 32:5 NASB

NCV Psalm 32:5 NCV

ESV Psalm 32:5 ESV

MSG Psalm 32:5 MESSAGE

KJV Psalm 32:5 KJV

NKJV Psalm 32:5 NKJV

HCSB Psalm 32:5 HCSB

NLT Psalm 32:5 NLT

LEB Psalm 32:5 LEB

For All Sin

Everyone sins. Sin results in a feeling of guilt. Guilt produces emotional and mental pain for the wrong we have committed. Just like physical pain drives us to find out what is wrong, the spiritual pain of the guilt of sin stirs us to seek forgiveness. The Psalmist tells us that God promises relief from the guilt of sin when we confess our sins to Him.

Guilt serves as a two-edged sword. While the guilt of sin can prompt us to seek forgiveness and produce better behavior, unresolved guilt can lead to significant psychological distress and interpersonal difficulties. It may be necessary to understand the nature and reasons for the guilt for the feelings to be resolved.

The Guilt of Sin

Psychology Today calls guilt “an adversive agent” – unpleasant stimulii that induce changes in behavior via negative reinforcement or positive punishment. The website says that people “may feel guilt for a variety of reasons, including acts they have committed (or think they have committed), a failure to do something they should have done, or thoughts they think are morally wrong.

Guilt continues to be a natural, self-focused response. It is also highly socially relevant, serving several important interpersonal functions. Guilt encourages the repair of valuable relationships, discouraging acts that could damage them. But persistent feelings of unresolved guilt of sin can lead to a negative self-view, producing several damaging psychological effects.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often develops following the impact of guilt. Survivors of traumatic events may experience survivor’s guilt where they feel responsible for their survival while others did not fare so well. Guilt of this type overwhelms and intrudes on rational thinking.

Biblical Teaching and Observations of Psychology

Since all truth is God’s truth, let’s marry the observations of psychology with the teachings of Scripture. Both teach that guilt springs from self-reflection about acts they perceive are “morally wrong.” The Bible calls these acts “sin,” and the guilt from sin has persisted since the Garden of Eden. Throughout Scripture, we see the adverse effects of sin on the individual and their relationships.

The prophet shows us that God is willing to forgive and cleanse us from our sins when we “reason together” with Him (Isaiah 1:18). Proverbs teaches that those who conceal their sins will not prosper (Proverbs 28:13).

Truth from Psalm 32

Let’s turn our attention back to Psalm 32 and observe three things from verse five. First, this is the longest verse in the psalm. The length draws attention that this is the most important verse – probably the heart of the entire psalm. Forgiveness is the very heart of David’s testimony. In the very same way, God’s forgiveness in Christ should be the heart of our spiritual experience. When we share with others about faith, forgiveness forms the very center of our message.

Second, verse five contains each of the words for sin introduced in verses one and two. Their inclusion paints a complete picture of sin and particularly shows that all of David’s sins were confessed. He held nothing back from God. God, in turn, forgave it all.

Finally, God’s forgiveness was immediate. David follows “I will confess my transgressions” immediately with “and you forgave the guilt of sin.” Immediately following the verse is the word “selah.” The word tends to direct the progress and flow of musical poetry. The word means “to pause and take notice.”

Follow David’s reasoning. He says the Lord “forgave the guilt of my sin.” We are to pause and reflect on that concept. Sin – and its author Satan – forces the weight of guilt around our necks. God is clearly the only one who can forgive and cleanse – erase – that guilt.

This Lenten season we are striving for spiritual growth and development by taking three steps during our devotions. We want to resolve to take action; to recharge to have the strength to succeed; and to renew our minds to approach living out our faith in a new and vibrant way. But we also want to think about the nature of our sin and the gracious plan for redemption that God has provided. To do so, let’s look at some reasons for studying the Psalms.

Why study the Psalms at Easter? Don’t we usually look to Isaiah or the Gospels? Remember for a moment that the Psalms were written as music.

One of the reasons for studying the Psalms comes because music touches the soul by acting as a bridge between your emotional, psychological, and spiritual self. Music is capable of weaving a tapestry of notes and words to evoke deep feelings of emotion, reduce stress, and trigger memories. It serves as a source of comfort, healing, connection, and challenge. Music pours a cement foundation of unity.

The Power of Music

Research from Northshore University Health System in Chicago asserts that music stimulates memories that wrap themselves around us. Music increases levels of serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals elevate our mood and relieve depression. Music reduces blood pressure and lowers the stress chemical cortisol.

This Easter I want my emotions and mind sharp and stirred. Music stands a great chance at swinging my mood and emotions.

I became convinced of the power of music when I was a youth minister. When we would take trips in either a van or a bus, I noticed the mood and behavior of the kids would vary by the kind of music they were listening to. I challenged them to “tithe” their music time to God. If they would listen to 10 songs during the half hour, one of the songs needed to be Christian. If they were hooked on one kind of music, I volunteered to help them find Christian music of a similar style. 

During an extended trip, each student was “tithing” at a different time. The attitude of the group dramatically changed.

If your attitude and mood is raised, what difference will that make in your motivation and behavior as you prepare your heart for Easter?

Music Helps Us Remember

The second reason to choose the Psalms for our study is that music helps us learn and remember things. Can you recall learning your “A-B-C’s” with a jingle? When a tune comes on the radio in the morning, does it stay in your head for a long time? Music solidifies things in your mind.

When I was in high school, a teacher asked us to memorize the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. I did not like to memorize lengthy passages of prose or verse. It took too much time and focus. There was no way that I was going to memorize the words.

One of my favorite groups during those years was The Fifth Dimension. From Up, Up and Away to The Age of Aquarius, I listened to the Fifth Dimension several times a day. (I met Marilyn McCoo once, but that is a different devotion!) On their fifth, and relatively obscure album titled “Portrait” and released in 1970, the group included a song by Julianne Johnson, Rene’ DeKnight, and of course, Thomas Jefferson. The preamble to the Declaration of Independence is forever etched in my brain.

Are there biblical truths that you need to be woven into the fabric of your soul? Learning them through the Psalms will help your heart embrace and embody the important foundations of the faith.

Reasons for Studying the Psalms

Finally, we are going to study the Psalms because we want to restore the energy and vitality of our faith. We want restoration because we have somehow drifted a little farther from God than we would like to be.

Did you ever go to Florida and play on the beach when you were a little kid? Mom and Dad stayed on the shore while you and your brother wandered into the ocean. Swims and splahes, waves and wonder filled your moments in the water. Then something happened, slowly – silently.

You looked up and you could no longer see Mom or Dad. Did they blend in with the other hundreds of other people? Did they get tired and leave? Where did they go?

The tides and the currents subtly changed your lattitude. Each step seemed so small, even reasonable, unnoticeable. You drifted. You worried. Panic was written all over your face.

Fortunately, your father had his eye on you the entire time. Before you know it, he had left the sand and came splashing through the water to reel the two of you back in.

In the Psalms, your Father is splashing through the water, heading for your drifted feet. His Son is walking on top of the water.

Let the Psalms tug you back to the shore.

Drifted

We all have been there. Maybe we have drifted a few days or a week. Perhaps we have allowed months or more to pass. Crashing wave after crashing wave, we look back to the shore and see the Father.

But with each jump and splash, His image gets a little weaker, a little smaller. Our feet have wandered; our love has cooled. Our eyes have dimmed. We need restoration. We need to be brought back to the shore.

The Psalmist etched his words in your mind.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Beside still waters, he leads me.

He restores my soul.

You KNOW that Psalm – that music.

Our Lord not only specializes in saving the lost, He specializes in restoring the saved. He is the good shepherd. Setting the ninety-nine safely aside,

He comes looking for the one … looking for you.

He knows you by name, and calls it out. The hairs on your head numbered. Behind the trees, He looks under rocks and moves mountains.

Yea, he looks even beyond the valley of the shadows of death.

Do you know how far you drifted? How strong were the currents? How deathly afraid have you become?

Gracious Restoration

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to restore the heart of the contrite (Isaiah 57:15).'”

With open arms, He welcomes you back.

No expectations. No demands that you never drift again.

There is no assurance that He won’t be back in the water tomorrow.

Just gracious restoration.

Oh … my soul!

Have you ever had a movie that you loved but you were almost ashamed to admit that you liked it because it was so utterly stupid?

My life is filled with those movies. One of my all-time favorites that I am embarrassed to admit that I like is the movie “Dodgeball.” I am laughing tears to my eyes just typing about it. There is something about “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball,” that just cracks my funny bone.

Lance Armstrong, the famous cyclist, makes an important cameo appearance in the movie. Some time ago, he was quoted as saying, “If you ever get a second chance for something, you’ve got to go all the way.”

The quote prompted the thought that God is a God of second chances. The concept emphasizes that God demonstrates His grace and the opportunity for redemption, despite our past sins. One of my long-time favorite verses encourages us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2 ESV).

Let me remind you of Paul’s first two verses in the 12^th chapter of Romans:

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

Ingredients for Renewal

As we journey through the forty-some days to Easter, we will be emphasizing our need to Resolve, Recharge, and Renew. Let’s think today a bit about how we renew – how we begin again with vigor and passion – our spiritual commitments.

As I read these verses, two ideas jump out at me that are vital for real renewal to take place. (I am sure there are more than two ideas that we could talk about – but these seem to be important for renewal.)

Paul urges us to be transformed – to be different – by the renewing of the mind. He emphasizes renewal starts with how I think about things. The concept is not new for Paul. He tells the Philippians that we should focus our thoughts on the things that are true, noble, and right (Philippians 4:8). Solomon summarized that as a man thinks, so he is (Proverbs 23:7).

Follow Paul’s reasoning in Romans 12. Renew how you think about things because that will help you understand what the will of God is for you as you put it to the test during your day.

The Will of God in My Moments

Renew – change, refresh, start over – how I think about the will of God. If you are like me, you think about the will of God about the “big picture” items. His ultimate will for my life is to love Him with all of my heart. He wants me to spend eternity with Him. That is a big picture item.

Other big picture items enter the conversation.  Whom will I marry? What will be my career? Will I work for this company or that company? In what city will I live?

I also consider God’s will in decisions that have lasting effects upon my life. Should I buy a house or rent one? Do I purchase a new car or a used one? With what church should I worship? Into what ministries of the church should I become involved?

But the small things that fill my moments, I don’t think first about the will of God. My brain tells me that God has more important things to deal with – like wars in Israel or the Ukraine or Minneapolis.

But if I want spiritual renewal to happen in my life, I need to renew how I think about God’s will. God may not care about whether I order a burrito or a taco when I “head to the border,” but would the $10 I spend for lunch out be better spent given to church and my lunch be tomato soup eaten at home?

Thinking about God in my moments just makes sense. If it is important for me to consider God’s will when I choose a mate, isn’t it also important to think of Him as I make decisions about how to treat my spouse “in the moments?”

Renewal from the Inside Out

For renewal to happen, I need to change how I think about God’s will. I need to be concerned about God’s will in all of my moments. If I want renewal to happen, I need to not conform to the world, but I need to be transformed.

We spend a lot of time conforming the church so that the world will understand and accept it. Don’t misunderstand what I am about to say. Of course, we want to explain biblical truths in terms that can be understood by non-believers. But think about how we have shifted our biblical teachings over the years.

Has your church changed how it structures your corporate worship? Does it still have Sunday evening services? What about Wednesday prayer meetings? Has the music you sing changed? Do you still have revivals?

What about some of your beliefs? Has the content of your messages changed? Does divorce seem more acceptable? What about gender issues? Is the Bible still considered the ultimate authority for your teaching? Are there a host of other topics that are treated differently today than they were fifty years ago?

It is easy to want to conform. We don’t want people to object to our beliefs. We try to avoid conflict whenever possible. But Paul says if you want to be renewed you need to transform and not conform.

Let’s Be Transformed This Easter!

The word we translate “transform” is the Greek word from which we get the English word “metamorphosis.”  Your junior high science classes emblazoned the idea of the butterfly beginning life as an egg, living as a catepillar, then undergoing a complete change into a butterfly. The change takes place on the inside and it alters how the outside body appears.

Something happens on the inside of a Christian that alters how the outside looks and behaves. The believer undergoes a metamorphosis. Their mind, soul and body becomes transformed.

This word “metamorphosis” occurs one time in the gospels. The word describes Jesus on the mountain of “transfiguration” – transformation, metamorphosis. “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2). Notice that something inside Jesus changed, and that change even affected the clothes that he was wearing.

For the believer, something happens first on the inside – spiritually and morally. Then later it happens on the outside. Jesus says, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:43).

This Easter, first resolve to allow God to create a clean heart within you. Next, recharge your life so that you have the energy, motivation, and passion to allow change to happen. Finally, renew your mind by considering God’s will in every moment of your life. Rather than conforming to the standards of the world, transform your life from the inside out.

As we proceed through forty days together in a time of devotion for the Lenten Season, we need to recognize three steps to assure spiritual change and growth. Yesterday we talked about the first step – our need to resolve to take specific steps. Today, we want to look at the second step. If you wish to grow spiritually during the next forty days, you must recharge your spiritual battery. To recharge, we must connect with the correct charger. Next, we must understand what drains our battery. Finally, we need to recharge before our battery is completely drained.

There was an interesting article regarding Teslas in the Chicagoland area. The brutally cold temperatures and accumulated snow this winter led to flight cancellations, school closings, and libraries converted to warming centers. The weather also created another problem: long lines at electrical vehicle charging stations.

The bone-chilling cold causes chargers to take more time than usual. A charge the should take about 45 minutes instead was pushing 3 hours to charge. Add to that waiting lines as long as five hours and electrical car owners were spending all day attempting to charge their cars.

Problems for the Recharge

The problem was not unique to Tesla owners. Lithium-ion batteries are notably prone to problems during cold conditions, especially when temperatures drop below freezing. Several other challenges face the car owners: drained batteries make it difficult to open the doors, the battery’s internal chemistry slows, making it more difficult for the car to operate at full capacity and it decreases the car’s driving range. A car rated for 250 miles might only be getting about 135.

In addition, operating the heater, defroster, lights, and wipers all consume extra power which drains the battery faster. Driving in ice and snow increases the car’s resistance, requiring more energy to move the car.

Owner’s manuals suggest “preconditioning” the car in cold weather to prepare the battery to be charged. Several measures, like defrosting the vehicle and adjusting the cabin’s climate can warm the battery and get it ready for charging.

In addition, manuals suggest that an owner not let the battery level go below 20% and should not charge it above 80%.

Recharging a car battery – especially in the cold weather – takes a lot of effort.

The article got me thinking about recharging our spiritual batteries and opened the door to several comparisons.

Certain Circumstances Demand More Frequent Recharging

The cold weather created all kinds of problems for both the batteries and the charging. The process was slower; it did not last as long; more people needed charging; along with a host of other issues. But, remember, even in the best of circumstances, the batteries eventually needed to be recharged.

Even in the best of circumstances, eventually spiritual batteries need to be recharged. Craig Groeschel, pastor of the megachurch, life.church, recently revealed that shortly after COVID, he hit a spiritual wall that he could not break through alone. Craig became more and more frustrated with the circumstances because he had always been able to rest and recover and recharge before, but nothing was working for him at this point. His therapist, Dr. Wayne Chappelle, helped Craig recognize what was happening, and forumate a plan – which included support people – to work through the circumstances.

Chappelle believe that who we are today is different than who we were a year ago and is different than who we will be next year. Circumstances are always in constant change. What worked for us last year may not work this year and probably won’t work next year. We have to have a plan in place to recognize which circumstances cause us the feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. Once recognized we can “prep” our minds to be recharged.

Most Batteries Need Preconditioning for Optimum Charging

The car batteries needed prepping during the difficult cold circumstances before charging would be effective. The car needed to be defrosted and warmed a bit. The voltage needed to be lower. The batteries should be charged when there was still about 20% power within it. They should not be overcharged.

In order for my spiritual battery to be recharged, my mind has to be at rest. Have you ever had so much worry on your mind that you could not get it out of your head? In order for charging to work for me, I have to be at peace with my circumstances. Sometimes the location helps me do that. Believe it or not, the ocean creates that space for me. Watching a baseball game does the same thing.

When I begin to get to that resting place, I try to do two things. Christian music begins to soothe my soul. The old hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is the perfect song for me to establish the mood. Anyone singing it – and any arrangement – provides the setting. One of my favorite renditions of the song is by the group 4Him.

Two performing artists also help set the stage for me. Any of Amy Grant’s more religious numbers are helpful for me. If the season is Christmas, I can just put on one of her many albums. During other times, I love the song. “Better than a Hallelujah, Sometimes.”

The charging for me either comes from the Psalms or the Gospels. I need to spend time in the Word – and particularly in those books. Reading of the power of the emotions of David or others straightens my thinking. Looking to the life of Christ straightens my heart.

Sometimes the Charging Process Requires Patience

During the cold weather, charging took longer, needed to be done more often, and sometimes there were long lines at the charging stations. The charging process required patience. The same is true with spiritual recharging.

During times of crisis, recharging may take longer. It may take you longer to prepare for the process. Listening to one sermon or reading a Sciprture one afternoon may not be sufficient for the charge. The process may take a while. Craig Groeschel revealed that his recharging process took about 17 months.

Are there warning signs for a low spiritual battery? Are there lights that flicker on your dashboard? For me, the signs are being overly critical about things, a quicker temper, and a lack of desire to write about my faith.

Personal Recharge

So, can I get you to participate in today’s devotional process? In the comment box below, can you tell me how you recharge? I shared with you Christian music does it for me, along with the Psalms and the Gospels. What helps you recharge your spiritual battery?