Step 5: The Confession: Into the Light; Step 6: The Preparation: Became Entirely Ready
Daily Scripture
Luke 18:9-14, James 1:6-7, 5:16, 1 John 2:15-17, 3:1
Luke 18
9 Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: 10 “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”
James 1
6 Whoever asks shouldn’t hesitate. They should ask in faith, without doubting. Whoever doubts is like the surf of the sea, tossed and turned by the wind. 7 People like that should never imagine that they will receive anything from the Lord.
James 5
16 For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.
1 John 2, 3
15 Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. 16 Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God’s children, and that is what we are! Because the world didn’t recognize him, it doesn’t recognize us.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
This week’s GPS offers a very brief introduction to the Bible principles in John Ortberg’s book Steps. Please use this GPS to whet your desire to read the book, not as a substitute for it.
“To honestly acknowledge our faults is the next step on our spiritual journey. After realizing that ‘I can’t, he can, I think I’ll let him,’ and after doing the most honest self-examination that we (with God’s help) are capable of, the next step is to acknowledge the exact nature of our wrongdoings to three people: God. Myself. One other person.” * “I know I can’t change myself; that’s God’s job. But I can ask him to do it. Now I’m ready to change…. except for that part of me that isn’t ready.” **
- “Bruno works with people who badly need help… these people can be put into two categories. One category is people who sincerely want help…. They’re desperate. The other category is people who are really only going through the motions…. We each must choose. Are you here to polish up that part of you that everyone sees or to get help for the always-covered part of you that no one sees?” *** Most of us resist confession. Ask God to increase your willingness to deal with “the always-covered part of you.”
- “Two practices can help us become entirely ready. HONESTLY LOOK AT MY EXCUSES…. GET SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.” **** What are your excuses for not making changes you thought you wanted to make, changes that you know would make your life better? What are the places in life in which you are sick and tired of falling short of your ideals? Are you sick and tired enough of them to overcome the excuses and actually make changes?
Prayer
Lord, Saint Augustine famously prayed for you to remove a character flaw, “but not yet.” I pray that you will help me remove the “not yet” from my prayers, including this one. Amen.
GPS Insights
Leah Swank-Miller
Leah Swank-Miller serves as Pastor of Care and Director of Student Ministries at Resurrection Overland Park. A Kansas native, she has been a professional actress for nearly two decades, and she loves to see the vastness of God’s creation through theatre and the arts. Leah graduated with an M. Div. from Saint Paul School of Theology. Leah, Brian, and their two children love to play tennis, golf, soccer, and board games.
“They started it!” “I’m not as bad as they are.” And several other excuses I keep handy for when I’m rationalizing why I’m sorta confessing and asking for forgiveness but not really. Can you relate? In that moment of silence, you feel the stirring of your heart, this weight you need to let go of and give to God. Flashes of times we’ve missed the mark, spoke ill of others, been spiteful with words or actions, judged and ignored a stranger, held grudges against a loved one, and so on. But instead of recognizing how we’ve fallen short, we cling to all the reasons why “it wasn’t really my fault because, well, they asked for it.” We play judge and jury while patting ourselves on the back for “being better than most”.
I’m a fan of mystery novels. And although my husband may never admit it, I’m usually the first to figure out the plot on most cinematic thrillers. Yet, somehow, I can’t seem to solve the mystery of my own stubborn pride. You’d think I’d see it coming by now. Rearing its ugly head the minute I feel the need to confess, to ask for forgiveness. Agatha Christie famously said, “Very few of us are what we seem,” and that sure seems to be the case for me when I claim to know the difference between a humble heart and my own performative religiosity.
I sure need courage to be honest with myself and God. I think the best way to solve this mystery of my self-acclaimed righteousness is sincerity in the place of my arrogance. Do I really go to pray, or do I inform God how good I am? How am I rationalizing my actions that have caused pain or conflict and why? Where am I letting God’s gift of forgiveness transform me from the inside out?
“The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it.” This, perhaps, is one of my favorite Agatha Christie quotes. Seeking the truth of ourselves and living with honesty and sincerity, I believe, is where humility breaks through and God’s gift of forgiveness transforms us. Oh, it’s not like Jesus didn’t leave breadcrumbs. He made it clear how a sinner like me needs to seek God’s great mercy. “All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.” Now, to take the step to get that from my head to my heart daily. Perhaps that is the gift of daily prayer, which gives me many chances to practice talking with God and not at Him.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Ortberg, John, Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough (p. 112). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
** Ibid., p. 135.
*** Ibid., p. 113-114.
**** Ibid., pp. 137-138.
