Confession

We cannot leave the subject of confession without musing about The Great Confession of Peter (or at least I can’t). When Peter made the confession to the ultimate question that was asked by Jesus it started a radical movement. His confession was more than lip service; it was demonstrating faith in action.

I guess part of my BLJ confession booth exercise really needs to be asking myself: Is my confession lip service or one of action? Visit and reflect on Acts 6:3-15; 7:51-60.

It is so easy to be caught up in what is commonly called “legalism”---a do and don’t checklist. Yes, correct decisions and behavior, albeit, I admit, sometimes a struggle, is a demonstration of what the Holy Spirit is doing in a Christ-followers life---a call to holiness. This thing Peter experienced seems to be much more....a calling to a fully devoted life of following the Christ; one that calls to demonstrating faith in action. Peter’s confession changed everything about Peter’s life and all those who choose to follow Jesus. I don’t know ‘bout you, but I think Donald Miller of Blue Like Jazz fame and I need a “gut check” every once in a while to make sure that we are putting “first things first.”

...and that gut check will (aka confession), as Andy mentioned this morning, “will create space for God to work.” And that, dear friends, is really something special. So...how’s the confession booth thing working for you?

Finally, I really like Miller’s confessions to the Reedies (p. 123). I mentioned these in an earlier muse this week (e.g, not doing much about feeding the poor and healing the sick; lashing out at those when he felt threatened, mixing politics and spirituality). Miller focused on those things that seemed to get in the way of the central message of Christ.

You Know What?

I think that’s a great illustration of putting “first things first.” If we are willing to commit to do more (act) then Jehovah is glorified and we’ve joined God where He is working in the world. I’m trying to practice this more and more in my life and guess what....my decisions are getting better, my behavior and attitude is self-correcting and my do and don’t checklist is decreasing. Simply amazing---no simply grace. Selah

Grace,

Bob