A Time to Stop Asking
Sunday, December 30th, 2007There is a time to ask for cleansing from the Lord. The Psalmist David, after the exposure of his sins of adultery and murder by the prophet Nathan, humbled himself in genuine repentance and cried out to God: “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
God heard his prayer.
After a period of fasting and mourning and prayer for the critically ill son of David and Bathsheba, the child died. Instead of wallowing in remorse and grief, King David immediately rose up and began to live life again. The time for asking, the time for mourning was over.
In today’s church, many times it seems like the people of God fail to discern that there is a time to stop asking God to cleanse us. There is a time to appropriate by faith His forgiveness and cleansing and instead of prayers of petition and pleading, offer up shouts of gratitude and proclamations of victory and of the goodness of the Lord.
“Religion” is always asking but never receiving. That kind of false piety presents its subjects as permanent victims. There is a pretense of humility- but that kind of posturing is in actuality a manifestation of faithlessness.
What if my toddler spilled her milk intentionally in a show of disobedience. I lovingly and firmly discipline her, instructing her that that kind of behavior would not be tolerated. She cries tears of genuine contrition and, of course, I let her know that she is forgiven. I forget the offense and finish the meal.
How would I feel if, after granting her a “clean slate and absolution”, she continued to wail and sob and cry, “Please forgive me daddy, I’m sorry… please forgive me- I am so sorry… Oh Daddy i’m so sorry, please forgive me.” I know the example may seem a bit melodramatic, but that is what much of the church is doing with our songs of “woe-is-me”, “I’m
unworthy”, “please forgive me for being such a dirtbag”. Many times it is not the lyrics to the songs themselves (which can be great prayer-songs for genuine repentance and forgiveness), but the timing of when to sing them. The church as a whole is too sin-conscious and not enough goood-news conscious!
Lest you think that I am advocating arrogance or pride before a Holy God, please re-read the first paragraph. My point is that I would think a healthy relationship with God is evidenced by the belief from His sons and daughters that our God is quick to forgive and plenteous in mercy and has sufficient grace and mercy to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Then, forgiven- and with an attitude of humble thanksgiving- we can be about our lives; showing forth the praises of He Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light!!
Godrest and Godspeed in 2008,
Pray for Pakistan, Kenya,Greece, Iraq, Iowa and New Hampshire!
David Baroni