Thursday 1-31-08

Greetings Internet Campus,

2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

The last step in simplifying our spiritual lives is perhaps the most difficult. It involves a complete change of course...a shift in thinking...a 180 degree turn in the status quo...it's called repentance. And repentance can be tough.

In this passage, God calls us to turn from our "wicked ways". Now I know it's easy to dismiss that remark...after all...what we do each day isn't really "wicked"...it's just a white lie...or just a little bit of gossip...or a little lack of grace... But remember, in God's eyes, sin separates us from Him. Without Jesus, we have no hope....no redemption...no chance. I'd like to tell you today that God ranks sins according to their severity...that some are REALLY wicked and some are kinda wicked and some are sorta wicked and even others are barely wicked. I can't tell you that. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. All sin is wicked. Equally. In God's eyes...we all have wicked and sinful ways to turn from. But there's hope.

If you are a Christ-follower, you have already had all of that wickedness paid for by Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. God sees you as unblemished and His Son as the sacrifice. That's why He came. In today's passage...God is telling us that if we are to be forgiven and restored....we have to turn from our wicked ways and find Christ. Have you done that? Our spiritual lives can't be made simpler if one doesn't even exist! If you don't know Christ as Lord and Savior...I'd love to talk with you about that...(954)434-1500 X234 or brian.vasil@flamingoroad.org.

If you have committed your life to Him...and really want to simpify your spiritual life...look back again at today's passage...
1) Humble yourself - Recognize the fact that you aren't God. You don't have to be.
2) Pray - Talk to God....daily. Don't ever forget that you can and should connect directly to Him.
3) Seek His face - Keep looking for Christ! He may not appear physically to you...but you can still see Him in others.
4) Repent - Make a decided effort to be more like Christ. Give up those things that the Holy Spirit is nudging you to turn away from. And never go back to them...

Remember, every step that you and I make toward Christ...is one step away from the enemy.

Let's walk together.

Write it Down: In your journal today, list the 3 things that you need to turn from. This needs to be gut-level honest if you are going to grow! Write them in code if you have to...then pray that God will help you overcome their pull on your life. Repentance isn't necessarily a one-time thing...there might be things in your life that you have to turn from daily! It's worth it!

See you tomorrow!

Pastor Brian