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Stressed Out Again
(posted 10/21/08)

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, comforts me. That poor woman moved more than Mayflower, all that upheaval, all those details.
But God called.

Dorcas must have sewed by flickering lights. Did she weave and dye the cloth too? How many were warmed by her garments and her love?

God was served.

Lydia worked day after day, in a strange city selling purple. Was she tired going to the river to that place of prayer? There were many excuses not to go. Why it was not even a proper synagogue!
But God was worshipped.

Phoebe was needed to help the saints. Again. There was always another need, many of them very inconvenient.
But she loved her neighbor as herself.

Deborah didn’t ask to be a judge. Going out to “her” palm tree every day was too much responsibility, took up too much time, and some of those questions were, well, just silly.
But God’s wisdom was made known.

Noah’s wife's life was no picnic. For years the neighbors laughed at that building project. There was sawdust everywhere. He preached his heart out, but where were the results? And that was just the beginning, now he says the family is going on a boat with tigers, elephants, skunks, and snakes.
But her family was saved.

God has not asked great things of us. Our children will not be martyred. Modern technology will keep us connected to those who can support and strengthen. But He has asked us to do small things for a great purpose, to be faithful. Let us remember these examples when we are tempted to make excuses for not doing what we now we should do.

Joan Rieber

North Carolina

Years ago our oldest son visited with an LDS congregation a few times, bringing home some interesting teaching materials. One booklet detailed “6 Steps to Forgiveness.” I was impressed with its accuracy. Here is a study detailing how a Christian is forgiven which had its genesis in those pages.

The beginning place is to recognize and acknowledge my sin. David in Psalms 51:3-4 clearly describes the ideal response, “my sin is ever before me,” “I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” There is no hedging, no excuses, and no watering down of my actions. God is declared blameless in His right to judge.

Next, we must abandon the sin. We see this illustrated powerfully in Acts 19:18-19 where new Christians burn their books of magic publicly, even though the books were valuable.

This account also details an example of the third step as these Ephesians confess and disclose their practices, Taking a stand for truth, and attempting to counteract the negative influence they had exerted. The prodigal son is my favorite example of this step. Luke 15:18 and 21 record his words, “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.” Not only does the son plan to confess his sin, but he actually carries out the plan, demonstrating how a child of God acts out his love for his Father. Our Lord called this fruits of repentance. (Matthew 3:8)

The fifth step may seem repetitive, but logical, “I will not repeat the sin.” Perhaps this step is looking at the repetition of attitude and adjustment necessary before the new way of living becomes a consistent part of my behavior. We see in Acts 8 how Simon the sorcerer left the power of magic and then wanted to buy to power of the Holy Spirit. The church at Ephesus “left its first love,” and is rebuked in Revelation 2:4. Hebrews 10:26 makes the importance of the issue clear, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin.”

The marvelous result of this process is the sixth step, forgiveness. As 1 John 1:7b so eloquently promises, “… He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins.” David offers us his personal experience in Psalms 32, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven.” In view of the value of forgiveness, these steps don’t seem much to ask, do they? Each principle would flow naturally from “the broken spirit” and “contrite heart” mentioned in Psalms 51:17, the attitude so necessary to maintaining our covenant with God.

Joan Reiber
North Carolina