The Second Wednesday In Advent

THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT

WEDNESDAY, December 8, 2010

Matthew 3:7-10  ⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  ¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

The last word about repentance – Earlier this week I shared with you an incident with my wife for which I needed to repent.  I was short and curt with her because she suggested doing something differently than the way I wanted to do it.  I failed to listen to her and to try to see things from her perspective.

So I repented.  That means I recognized that I was wrong (That’s a p.c. way of saying sin!) and turned around and acted differently.  I apologized and suggested that we revisit the situation.  At which time I resolved to listen, valued what she had to say and to do what she suggested.  The SO WHAT of all this is that it was easy for me to repent/apologize to Carolyn because I knew I was loved and had already been forgiven. 

So it is with my God.  I am able each Sunday to confess my deepest and darkest sin, all that I have done and failed to do because I know I am love and have already been forgiven.  That’s what the cross is all about.  You know, that God so loved the world that he gave his only son.  If God loves me that much, I do not have to fear confession and repentance.  When Carolyn forgives me, I experience something of what the forgiveness of God is like.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Open us to a love so great that it would give a son for us.  AMEN

(Incidentally it wasn’t that big of deal to her.  We did it the way I wanted.  The whole thing could have been averted if I hadn’t been so pig headed.  But I am learning ever so slowly.)

THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT

WEDNESDAY, December 8, 2010

Matthew 3:7-10  ⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  ¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

The last word about repentance – Earlier this week I shared with you an incident with my wife for which I needed to repent.  I was short and curt with her because she suggested doing something differently than the way I wanted to do it.  I failed to listen to her and to try to see things from her perspective.

So I repented.  That means I recognized that I was wrong (That’s a p.c. way of saying sin!) and turned around and acted differently.  I apologized and suggested that we revisit the situation.  At which time I resolved to listen, valued what she had to say and to do what she suggested.  The SO WHAT of all this is that it was easy for me to repent/apologize to Carolyn because I knew I was loved and had already been forgiven. 

So it is with my God.  I am able each Sunday to confess my deepest and darkest sin, all that I have done and failed to do because I know I am loved and have already been forgiven.  That’s what the cross is all about.  You know, that God so loved the world that he gave his only son.  If God loves me that much, I do not have to fear confession and repentance.  When Carolyn forgives me, I experience something of what the forgiveness of God is like.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Open us to a love so great that it would give a son for us.  AMEN

(Incidentally it wasn’t that big of deal to her.  We did it the way I wanted.  The whole thing could have been averted if I hadn’t been so pig headed.  But I am learning ever so slowly.)