It’s Confession Time

Colossians 3:12-17

 Do you notice anything unusual about this picture? Does anything look out of place? What about the grill? Aren’t grills normally on your deck in the back of the house? But this one is on the patio in the front of a condo…. my condo.

 For the past nine years our grill has been on the deck in the back until this year when we received a notice from our condo board that there is a state law that you can’t do that. Who would’ve thunk it? In order to comply, we moved our grill to the front patio. Problem solved right? Wrong!

 About a month ago we received a “First Notice for Rule Enforcement” from the condo board stating that our grill was on “common property” and therefore, according to the By-Laws, must be removed immediately. Even though this is a confession, I won’t share my initial, uncensored reaction when I read this notice at the end of a long day at work.

Eventually, after calming down and thinking rationally, I composed what I thought was a well-reasoned and thought out letter signed by my wife and myself. It explained why we disagreed with the board’s position and backed it up with the condo By-Laws.

That should have been good enough for me to put this matter in the past; but it wasn’t. My anger and resentment kept poking its ugly head up from beneath the surface. Then this week, in preparation of writing this devotional, I read my verses.

¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.           NLT

 Darn! There are so many times it would be much easier to not be a Christian; to not have to follow Christ. I would much rather be angry and unforgiving. I prefer to justify my actions because of some perceived wrong. It’s so much easier to be angry because people don’t live up to my expectations. Then came the dagger.

 ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  NLT

It’s confession time. Do you feel convicted after reading these verses? I do. As a result, although I’m not sure what we will do about our grill, I most certainly need to change my attitude and to represent the Lord well. 

Let Us Do the Same

1 Timothy 1:15-17

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%201%3A15-17&version=NIV;NLT

  

We honor people in lots of ways. It could be something as simple as opening the door for

someone or buying a meal or calling them sir or madam. It could be something more significant like an award. For example, last Sunday was The Oscars and the coveted golden statue was awarded to a number of individuals in the movie industry.

 

¹⁵ This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.        NLT

 

When you read this verse, do you have trouble believing that Paul was really the worst

sinner? After all, he wrote the majority of the New Testament and almost single handedly spread the Gospel throughout the known world in the first century. However, previous to that, he assisted in stoning Stephen and zealously persecuted the church. Basically, Paul was a murderer and a bully.

 

¹⁶ But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.  NLT

 

Despite what Paul had done, or maybe because of it, God chose him to be an apostle. He chose him as someone who would change, not only the first century world, but the world for centuries to come. Ironic isn’t it?

 

Paul’s conversion is an example that gives me hope; hope that all that I have done or will do, can and will be forgiven. Hope that God will use me in His redemptive work here on earth.

 

Often times, our service men and women have been honored publicly by recognizing their service and sacrifice; sometimes, their ultimate sacrifice. God understands this depth of sacrifice. Because He too made the ultimate sacrifice by sending His one and only son to die, not only for Paul’s sins, but for ours.

 

¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory

for ever and ever. Amen.      NIV

 

Paul responds to God’s mercy and grace by recognizing His ultimate sacrifice. He gives God all the honor and glory. Let us do the same.