Repentance

I was reading an article by Mark Driscoll yesterday and, to be honest I kind of skimmed the first section talking about “Religious Repentance”, but I looked at the article again today and had a revelation of sorts.

Lately I have had free time on my hands (particularly at work) so I have had time to read various news articles and keep up on the times, it has also given me an opportunity to think and reflect. Unfortunately much of my reflection has been outward instead of inward. I haven’t thought of what I have been doing wrong, what I could be doing right or better or what I could be doing for other people. Instead I have been looking a lot on what people are doing wrong. What is wrong with our country, what is wrong with the Church what is wrong with so-and-so to the extent that I am starting to feel like the Pharasee in the parable Jesus told in Luke 9…

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

I should never forget the fact that I am a sinner and no better than anyone else.

Father God forgive me of my sin, and cleans me of my pride.

Much Love,
Ryan