What's with Regret?

Regret is one of the biggest weapons Satan has against a Christian, but at the same time it's something we choose to do. There is a time for everything, including regret, but after you have been forgiven regret is doubting God really did forgive you. I think it's safe to say most of the times you have felt regret, it was is was in a sinful manner

God feels regret (Genesis 6:7; 1 Samuel 15:11), which means that there must be times when it's okay to feel regret, but these are in very emotional times such as before the great flood.

I'm not God and so I can't give a list of all the times its okay to feel regret, but through what the bible does say, we can understand why regret is such an issue and why we shouldn't do it. First of all, I guess would be examples of people who have felt regret in the bible

1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)
2. David (1 Chronicles 21:8)
3. Ahab (1 Kings 21:27)
4. Peter (Mathew 26:75)
5. Judas (Mathew 27:3-4)

Whenever any character in the bible is described as feeling regret, they have done something terrible. These are good times to regret, but lingering on regret is when it becomes a sin.

There is the initial regret, shame, guilt, whatever you want to call it after you sin, but asking for forgiveness should follow. There can be a state mourning, but it can't last forever. Just look at this verse from 2 Corinthians:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

There is a time of sorrow, but after the mourning is up, regret needs to be gone.

I don't know how many times I've laid in bed thinking of things done and just thinking about how stupid that was. That's a sin. It's not godly.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Philippians 3:13-15

I have used this Philippians passage in many posts, but in the light of regret, it takes a whole new meaning.

Forgetting what is behind

Regret hinders us in our walk with God! In order to get to the goal, to get the prize we must forget what is behind us! Just like we ought to forgive and forget, we must also be forgiven and forget.

If you can forget the past, you'll miss out on a lot of life. God has wonderful things in store for you, but you have to look for them or you'll miss out.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 42:18-19

Sources:
http://www.openbible.info/topics/regret
http://www.gotquestions.org/shame-regret.html
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Regret

Photo Credit:
http://alexrister1.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/

Without Excuse

I think pretty much everyone hates excuses. We can make excuse now, but when God judges us after our death, there are no excuses

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32

A few posts ago, I wrote on what the bible says about homosexuality. When I read over that post a few days ago, this last verse stuck out to me. Particularly the first part, "Although they know God’s righteous decree..." 
Early in this chapter, Paul writes this famous verse:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Roman 1:20

So pretty much, Romans one is telling us that God is not one for excuses. When we die, no one is going to get to heaven by excuse (Luke 14:16-20) because we all know. No one needs to read the bible to know who God is. And no one has to read the bible to know what sin, or that it's wrong.
Then there are excuses we might try to make after we've come to Christ, but there are tons of excuses that are mentioned all throughout the bible, including these:

1. I'm not good enough (Exodus 4:10-17)
2. I'm to good to do that (2 King 5:1-14)
3. They won't listen (Ezekiel 2:1-7)
4. It wasn't me, it was _____ (Genesis 3:9-13) (1 Samuel 15:17-21)
5. Maybe tomorrow... (Proverbs 27:1)

People all over the bible make excuses time and time again and God is always shown to despise them. I think it's safe to say we all struggle with making excuse. I know I do.
But excuses go against the bible. They allow us to think that we can get away with things when really, we can't. On day, all of us will stand before God and all the excuses we've made will be worthless. Only Jesus can excuse our sin.
So stop with the excuses. You are capable of anything God calls you to do! 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Photo Credit:
http://simplechristianthoughts.com/without-excuse/

Mark 9:36-50

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
Mark 9:38-50

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.

Likewise, whoever is not for God is against him. There's no neutral zone on these battle lines. You're either fighting for God, or your fighting for Satan and there's no nice way to put this. We all have a choice and when choosing sides, there are two. I'll back track a little bit. Before this, the disciples had tried to cast some demons out of a boy, but another man was able to. And there was possibly some jealousy here.
I personally would be jealous, I don't know about you, but I think I'd be cool to do a miracle, but miracles that are done in Gods name. Everything we do should be to bring the glory to God.
John was interrupting Jesus while he was talking about children, here's what Jesus was saying before, in verse 36 and 37


He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."


And then John threw in his comment. I think either because he was jealous that a man was able to drive out demons and he couldn't, or he didn't want to hear what Jesus had to say. 


I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. 


Jesus is jumping back to his previous point now, it would seem random to mention children, had you not read verse 36 and 37 which is why it is important to read the whole passage or else scripture might be taken out of context. Keep in mind that "He took a little child and had him stand among them" So I'll assume the child hasn't moved in these few verse. So when Jesus was saying "if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin" he was most likely gesturing to the child standing among them. Even so, when "little one" is mentioned in the bible, it is generally talking about a child or infant. "it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck." This point is probably talking about if you cause a child to sin on purpose.


If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.


I always read this part in horror. It's hard to know if Jesus was trying to say that sin is a big deal, or if he wants us to really do this. It most certainly is better to be in heaven with one hand or foot than in hell with two. But you should get rid of anything that causes you to sin. I think that you should get rid of anything that bring sin, totally destroy it, but I'm not sure that I would need to cut off a hand of foot.
It seems gross to me to imagine someone having there eyes pluck out...just because they sinned. As I was writing that I realized I said just. Is it just sin to me? Sin is a big deal. Sin is such a big deal that God killed his son. Sin is not just sin. Sin is a major problem. Sin is what causes people to burn in and and writhe in pain for a eternity. Sin is a big deal, no matter what the world says. The world ranks sin, but God doesn't no matter if murdered and stole, or if you told lies, God will send all sinners to hell...or at least he if that's what he sees. When Jesus died for us, he gave us the choice of letting him cover up our sin. If you welcome Jesus into your life, then he will cover up your sin and then God will look at you and he will a holy person, though you are not holy, but God will see the who is holy and he'll let you into heaven.


Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
Mark 9:38-50


In Mathew, Jesus says that we should be salt to the earth. I have never had any salt that wasn't salty, but salt is used for flavor and Christians are called by God to flavor the word with their saltiness and bring people to Christ. If a christian lost hi saltiness, how would he bring flavor to the world? And like Jesus says, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?" In Mathew, this is what Jesus says about salt:


You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Mathew 5:13


It is so important to be salt and flavorful because Jesus went as far as to say that if you aren't salty, then you are good for nothing.
Jesus didn't just compare a christian to salt in Mathew, he also said:


You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Mathew 5:14-16


So do not stop. Don't stop lighting up or flavoring the World. Don't stop people who are spreading the gospel don't stop someone casting out demons in Jesus' name. Don't stop spreading the gospel. (If you haven't started, the you should) And don't stop doing what Jesus would. Don't stop anything that's good, but stop everything that's bad.

No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. 


Just remember that God know's what is best, he has the map and he's not just telling where your going, he's also telling you how to get there. God might be taking you on a back road, but DON'T STOP because he's holding the map. In your map, it may appear that taking the main road is better, or going a different way, but it's not the right way. DON'T STOP going the way God tells you.

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Luke 6:29-35

September 2012

“September days are here, with summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer”

-Helen Hunt Jackson

Quote of the Month:

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."
- Robert F. Kennedy

Bible Verse of the Month:

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

1 Samuel 15:22-23a

Remember!

It’s better to do something imperfect then nothing flawlessly. If your a perfectionist, then that can lead to being afraid of doing things, but if you are that way, then you need to realize this: You can't always do thing correctly, so don't be afraid to mess up. Just get back up and keep on going

Future Posts:

1. Kindness and Goodness        
2. The Smart Donkey Series                

May God bring you blessings of small and large sizes this month. Listen to God's voice as he guides you through life. Be strong.

-Ruth

Sources:

http://quotes.dictionary.com

Sin

Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
1 Samuel 15:1-3 and 7-9

You see, Saul just sinned in that passage. And now I will show you how his sin affected people later on because sin affects more people then just you. Here is what happened in Saul's case.

King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.
Esther 3:1

I bet most of you have heard the story of Esther, but you might not know that Haman was related to King Agag. Esther would never have happened if King Agag had been killed.
So the brief overview of Esther is that Esther, a Jewish girl, was chosen to be the queen of a Persian king. Her uncle told Esther that all the Jews where to be killed and Esther told this to the king. Haman was hung on the gallows and all the Jews where saved. If you'd like to know more details, read the book of Esther (The whole book is only ten chapters).
Sin is a big deal. So be careful what you do because when you step out of God's will and plan, bad thing do happen to you and possibly future generations.