Shamefully Unashamed

Scheduled Reading (Click here)
for Saturday, August 14, 2010

Ezra 8:1-9:15; Psalm 98:1-7; Proverbs 20:12-14; Acts 28:23-Romans 1:15

Selected Passage: Ezra 9
"...and the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness. When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled" And he stay that way until the evening sacrifice.

We all know that we all sin. It is no secret. It is not something that we are proud of - or at least we should not be proud of it. There are those numbered among Christians that are actually proud of their debauchery. They justify themselves by thinking themselves as "progressive" or "liberal". The rest of us still have some shame and sense of right and wrong. But are we appalled by our sin?

I hear a lot about God's grace and love. I even teach about it a lot. And I believe every word of it. God does love us; and it is by His grace that we are saved. There is NOTHING we can do to earn His love or His GIFT of salvation. Period. But I believe we major on His love and grace to the exclusion of His righteousness and His holiness. Not only HIS holiness, but also His command to US to be holy - because HE is Holy. (1 Peter 1:13-16) Go ahead, click that link and read it for yourself. I'll wait.

See? Not only is God holy, he expects us to be holy like Him. 

When was the last time you were "appalled" by your sin? It is not the same as embarrassed or ashamed. That is fairly common. But to be appalled, and to stay that way publicly for an extended period of time, well that rarely happens. How can we expect a real movement of God in our lives, community, church, or country until we learn to be truly appalled by our sin?


My prayer: God help us comprehend the depth of our depravity AND the magnitude of your grace then make us holy.