All tagged contrition

Wresting the Church from the Hands of Man

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, God and His Word

What do we do when we recognize that we have been wrong in a biblical practice or belief? Perhaps we find that we have made a liturgical practice out of something we have considered to be the Word of God that was actually of man, and not of God after all. What should we do? How should we face this and admit our failure or address something we find to be a material heresy? Are we brave enough to face our mistake before God and man or are we doomed to a life of spiritual suffering in false worship? Friends, in such cases we must gather bravely in contrition as a church and pray for God’s forgiveness.

Once Covered by Grace, what do we do Under its Blanket?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Cover By Grace

The gift of salvation through God's grace is totally of God, and has nothing to do with our earning it... but does that relieve us of all responsibility? I was reading a devotional message yesterday in which the author agreed that our salvation was 100% the work of God's grace, but as he went on, he concluded that because of this we have "no responsibility whatsoever"! I agree that we have no responsibility in receiving the gift, but once received we most certainly have a responsibility... in fact, we have responsibilities as a result of it.

Too Far Down to Look Up?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Praying for Forgiveness

Are we reluctant to ask something of God? Are we too embarrassed by our condition, or too ashamed of our sin, to reach out to Him for forgiveness and help? When should we bring our needs and our contrition before Him in prayer? Sometimes we do so at a certain time of day, or come to Him only when we feel overwhelmed, but we have been told specifically when we are to come… we are to come always, right now, and without ceasing, and in so doing we find that this is also how God forgives us.