Repentance

December 31, 2006

Joe,

As I am thinking about the retreat that I will be preaching on at the end of January regarding spiritual disciplines, one of the things that I have been thinking about is the discipline of confession. David wrote,

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)

Yet often we fail to attain his blessedness because we try to cover up our sins rather than run to Jesus for the mercy of the Cross. In keeping with that idea, I thought I would post these song lyrics from a guy names Derek Webb, who had been with Caedmon’s Call for awhile. I especially like the last verse:

I repent, I repent of my pursuit of america’s dream
I repent, I repent of living like I deserve anything
Of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife
In our suburb where we’re safe and white
I am wrong and of these things I repent

I repent, I repent of parading my liberty
I repent. I repent of paying for what I get for free
And for the way I believe that I am living right
By trading sins for others that are easier to hide
I am wrong and of these things I repent

Bridge
I repent judging by a law that even I can’t keep
Of wearing righteousness like a disguise
To see through the planks in my own eyes

I repent, I repent of trading truth for false unity
I repent, I repent of confusing peace and idolatry
By caring more of what they think than what I know of what we need
By domesticating you until you look just like me
I am wrong and of these things I repent

Let’s strive to practice the daily habit of confession and repentance. I say daily, because there are sins that we are in need of forgiveness of each and every day. Part of the reason why we don’t practice confession and repentance regularly is because we have such a small view of sin. If we exercise our minds and hearts to consider the blazing furnace of God’s holiness, it will not be hard to discern the ways in which we fall short of His glory. Then when we do, it is so wonderful to know that we have a merciful and faithful High Priest who has made atonement for all our sins; past, present, and future.

Larry

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Quotes, Random Musings 

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