The Phil Files

In my weekly Heartlight.org article, I begin a 7 week series on the 7 sayings of Jesus on the Cross. The first saying is, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Click for the fuller audio version of this message.) It is a strong reminder about how important it is to God that we are a people a of forgiveness — that I am a person of forgiveness.

What makes it hard for your to forgive others?

Why is it so easy to want to get even or hold onto bitterness?

What are steps you’ve taken to forgive others just as “God in Christ has forgiven you”?

It sounded just like this: “Bzrp-cha-ta-bzrp. Zip-zip. Splzt. Bzrp-cha-ta.” While it happened quickly, that’s what it sounded like as my friend, Jim, worked over the reel-to-reel recorder and cut out my blunders, goobers, and mistakes in my audio recordings. Many times since those days long ago, I ‘ve wished that I could have him do the same for me in my life! (I talk about this in my heartlight.org article today.)

If you could edit some things out of your life, what you change? Come on now, at least be honest with yourself, what things would you just as soon be banished to the depths of the sea?

Better yet, what would you do to help foster a sense of love, forgiveness, and generosity in those around you?

I’d love to hear from you!

Confronting our hidden sins, our rebellion, and lies are never easy. But confession is the open door to God to step in and change our hearts and lives, and also redeem our relationships. Take comfort in such sweet reassurance. Take action when falsehoods fill your relationships.

Blessed are those
      whose transgressions are forgiven,
      whose sins are covered.
   Blessed are those
      whose sin the LORD does not count against them
      and in whose spirit is no deceit.

   When I kept silent,
      my bones wasted away
      through my groaning all day long.
   For day and night
      your hand was heavy on me;
   my strength was sapped
      as in the heat of summer.

   Then I acknowledged my sin to you
      and did not cover up my iniquity.
   I said, “I will confess
      my transgressions to the LORD.”
   And you forgave
      the guilt of my sin.

   Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
      while you may be found;
   surely the rising of the mighty waters
      will not reach them.
   You are my hiding place;
      you will protect me from trouble
      and surround me with songs of deliverance.

   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
   I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
   Do not be like the horse or the mule,
      which have no understanding
   but must be controlled by bit and bridle
      or they will not come to you.
   Many are the woes of the wicked,
      but the LORD’s unfailing love
      surrounds those who trust in him.

   Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
      sing, all you who are upright in heart!

\o/ — Comments Psalm 32: Surround me with songs of deliverance! — \o/

Few things wilt a heart, undermine a relationship, and destroy a sensitive spirit quite like hidden sin. Our hidden, unconfessed sin poisons us. The longer we incubate it, the more dead and broken we become inside.

In relationships, there is no integrity, no genuine intimacy, when hidden sin separates a husband and wife or two close friends. A close friendship is rendered false and shallow because of secrets and sin. A person’s own heart is chewed up with real guilt and the toxic shame of unconfessed rebellion. Our hidden, unconfessed sins poison our relationship. The longer we incubate it, the more dead and broken the person we love becomes, poisoned of heart by our own hand.

The psalmist’s graphic description of sin’s power to rot a person physically as well as spiritually is powerfully described here.

“BUT GOD …!”

Ah, what sweet reversal the simple words “But God …” can bring. Confession, honesty, a genuine and thorough audit of our hearts opens the door to for hope to say, “But God can bring healing, health, hope, forgiveness, deliverance, righteousness, and songs of joy.

He can restore heart, soul, mind, and strength … and sometimes … in fact often times … He helps to restore the broken relationship.

As James said so long ago, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

In you, LORD my God,
  I put my trust.
  I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
  No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
  but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

  Show me your ways, LORD,
    teach me your paths.
  Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
  Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
  Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
  according to your love remember me,
    for you, LORD, are good.

  Good and upright is the LORD;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
  He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
  All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
  For the sake of your name, LORD,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

  Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
  He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
  They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.
  The LORD confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
  My eyes are ever on the LORD,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

  Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
  Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
  Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
  See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

  Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
  May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, LORD, is in you.

  Redeem Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles!

\o/ — Comments Psalm 25: In You, my LORD and God, I put my trust! — \o/

We have all sorts of ways of trying to find significance, fulfillment, and meaning in life. Reading this Psalm reminds me of all the ways I need to turn to the LORD for my identity and security. I am vulnerable and in need in so many areas — physical safety, physical health, spiritual health, spiritual correction, spiritual nurture, spiritual growth, … the list could go on and on. Yet when I am honest with myself, I realize that I cannot manage, much less fix, any of these situations. I am profoundly dependent upon the LORD and His care. My cries in this honesty are very much the same as the psalmist:
… show me Your ways!
… guard my life!
… do not let me be put to shame!
… be gracious to me!
… free me from anguish!
… forgive my iniquity!

Now if I can with full heart put my trust in God and have my hope fixed on Him! Ah, this is my goal form this day forward … to rely on the LORD, His grace and strength, and not rely on my own ways, but tune my heart and life to honor Him.