This week on the blog, we’ve been studying the tragic events of a civil war in ancient Israel, and of palace intrigue that led to murder. Think about the numerous themes in these chapters. Weak versus strong leadership. The downfall brought about by fear and jealousy. Of course, lying, deceit and murder. What weContinue reading “How to be truly sorry, even when you don’t feel like it – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 5”
Tag Archives: repent
Why is it so difficult to admit we are wrong? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 2
Do you like to admit you are wrong? The biblical concept of repentance involves admitting that you are wrong, and generally-speaking, we humans don’t like to admit we are wrong. As we have been studying the life of David through the account in 1st Samuel, for a few weeks now, we’ve been following the storyContinue reading “Why is it so difficult to admit we are wrong? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 2”
What is true repentance? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 4
In the darkening events of 1st Samuel 15, Israel’s King Saul did not obey God, and now God declares that Saul is rejected as king. That gets Saul’s attention. In verse 24, Saul says to the prophet Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the menContinue reading “What is true repentance? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 4”
Why humility, teachability and the Korean concept of Han are vital to confession – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 5
As we learned in the previous post, when we confess our sins, we are trusting in God. But there’s more. When we confess our sins, here is what we are to do next, as David writes in Psalm 32, verses 8-9, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; IContinue reading “Why humility, teachability and the Korean concept of Han are vital to confession – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 5”
What to do when your faith feels stale – Jeremiah 48
The other day I pulled a bag of potato chips out of our pantry, looking forward to a snack. I dug around the chips, pulled out a handful and started munching. Ugh! They were stale. Soft, bland, tasteless chips. It’s the rare person that enjoys stale anything. What about your practice of faith, your discipleshipContinue reading “What to do when your faith feels stale – Jeremiah 48”
What real repentance actually looks like – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 4
But neither sorrow nor confession is repentance. Paul writes about this in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, whatContinue reading “What real repentance actually looks like – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 4”
Air Force 1 and repentance – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 1
I have a friend who is like John the Baptist. He is a pilot in the US Air Force. In addition to his primary duty flying planes, my friend has served on the Air Force’s advance team for Air Force One, the specially-fitted jumbo jet that the US President uses to fly all over theContinue reading “Air Force 1 and repentance – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 1”
Does your life need a U-turn? – Ezekiel 14, Part 5
Is there any way you might be heading in the wrong direction? Maybe it is obvious and you know it, but you are plowing ahead anyway. Maybe it is not so obvious, and you suspect it, and in your moments of quietness you long for something different, but you don’t really believe it is possibleContinue reading “Does your life need a U-turn? – Ezekiel 14, Part 5”
When you might not want God to talk to you – Ezekiel 14, Part 3
How would you describe your relationship with God? Close? Distant? In Ezekiel 14, verse 7, God describes the status of his relationship with his people. He says that they separated themselves from him. They chose to separate themselves from God, and they showed this choice by setting up idols in their hearts and putting theContinue reading “When you might not want God to talk to you – Ezekiel 14, Part 3”
God’s surprising response to idolatry in the heart – Ezekiel 14, Part 2
Have you had a person in your life who screws you over, hurts you, chooses to barely ever talk to you, and yet when they need money, they are so bold to come ask for your help? They haven’t had anything like a good relationship with you for a long time, and suddenly they appearContinue reading “God’s surprising response to idolatry in the heart – Ezekiel 14, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 