Last Sunday is a day I will not soon forget. Life in Christ sent me off in retirement in style. Everything was perfect - the service, the festivities, the meal. My dear, sweet wife and I have always said that Life in Christ is the best - no other church compares (I know, we're slightly prejudiced). Praise God for His church and His people!
We flew to Florida this past Monday morning for some rest and relaxation. I took along with me a book I had read before - Brennan Manning's "The Ragmuffin Gospel." If you've not read this dandy of a book, find it and read it. I seemed to highlight something on every page.
For example, take a look at this heartfelt prayer of confession: Lord Jesus, we are silly sheep who have dared to stand before You and try to bribe You with our preposterous portfolios. Suddenly we have come to our senses. We are sorry and ask You to forgive us. Give us the grace to admit we are ragamuffins, to embrace our brokenness, to celebrate Your mercy when we are at our weakest, to rely on Your mercy no matter what we may do, Dear Jesus, gift us to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention, to do the truth quietly without display, to let the dishonesties in our lives fade away, to accept our limitations, to cling to the Gospel of grace and to delight in Your love. Amen.
They say, "Confession is good for the soul." The Psalmist David would agree. In Psalm 32 he writes how a guilty conscience leads to misery. But then in verse five he writes: I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - and You (the Lord) forgave the iniquity of my sin. It's no accident that our worship each Sunday begins with confession and absolution. We "ragamuffins" need to confess our sins. And then we hear those comforting words, "For the sake of Jesus Christ, God forgives you all your sins." As you go to worship tomorrow, praise God for His gift of forgiveness!
