Above is a pic of my youngest daughter and me.
My Husband, My brother in Christ
Thursday Thoughts: It's NOT about you, Stupid!!!
(I'm talking to myself...)
On Thursday nights in our home we have our church over. We are studying The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character by Gardiner Spring. Great meaty stuff... both convicting and edifying.
This week is called Repentance for Sin (Lesson 9). He writes:
...In the order of gracious exercises, repentance follows love to God. An affectionate view of God prepares the mind to take a just view of sin. As it is impossible to repent of having sinned against a God that we hate, so it is impossible not to repent of having sinned against a God that we love. When the heart has been renewed, when the soul enlightened by the Divine Spirit, sees the beauty and the lovliness of the Divine character, it cannot seriously reflect upon a life of sin without unfeigned grief. True repentance is "to abhor sin as committed against God; to abhor ourselves for sin, and to reform."...The leading thought which influences the soul in all godly sorrow is the instrinsic vileness of sin. It is not enough to feel and acknowledge we are sinners; the mind must be imbued with a deep and settled conviction of the great evil of sin as committed against God, and as a wanton and wicked violation of His most holy law...
...the main thought that affects the mind of the penitent is that he has sinned against God! ... And the penitant sinner feels rising up in rebellion against His legitimate authority; ... to trample upon His goodness and forebearance, to despise His grace... He has not only done this, but he has done it with a calm deliberate purpose...
...[the penitent sinner] has sinned always ... he has no excuse for his iniquity, and is altogether criminal; that the evil of his transgression is chargeable upon himself alone, that he deserves to be blamed rather than pitied.
Pay attention... (I'm, talking to myself again)
...An essential part of TRUE REPENTANCE also consistes in actual reformation. It exhibits itself in real life... [the penitant] is afraid of sin and dreads its aggravated guilt... He manifests a desire to honor the God he has so long dishonored... Still to go on in sin, to practice iniquity with greediness, with constancy, and with perseverance, is incompatable with the nature of that sorrow which is unto salvation....there is a false and spurious repentance, a "sorrow of the world that works death." (II Cor. 7:10) ...The damned in hell are weeping and mourning without end; but they are not the subjects of godly sorrow... It is one thing to mourn for sin because it exposes us to hell, and another to mourn for it because it is an infinite evil. It is one thing to mourn for it because it is injurious to ourselves, another to mourn for it because it is offensive to God.... It is one thing to be terrified, and another to be humbled.
Do I hate sin because it is offensive to God?
What grieves me most, my sin or my misfortune?
Do I abhor sin and turn from it?
(...but by the grace of God alone...)
"...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light."--Col. 1:10-12
