Food for thought...

In a casual, yet poignant, conversation with a prominent worship leader a few weeks ago over scrumptious gellato and decaf tea, he mentioned to our little group of three a very insightful comment he'd taken from some pastor somewhere: (something to the effect of) We all need to repent. The difference between unbelievers and believers is that unbelievers repent of their wrong deeds and believers repent of their good deeds. As I've reflected over that the past several weeks and examined my own heart, how TRUE that resonates with me!

My heart is so treacherous that, while I would never SAY that I believe my good deeds, good reputation, acts of self-control (few and far between as they may be), biblical knowledge or anything else contribute in any way towards my standing with God or my righteousness in him, I find that this thought lies behind a lot of the choices that I make, attitudes that I take, or responses I have to people or situations.

How often I feel like I deserve good things---financial security, creature comforts, the respect and esteem of others, even the favor of God. Because, after all, I'm not THAT bad...

Then this morning I was listening to one of Derek Webb's albums (courtesy of my pal Bobby) and heard these lyrics:

I repent of my pursuit of America's dream
I repent of living like I deserve anything
My house, my fence, my kids, and my wife
In our suburb where we're safe and white
I am wrong, and of these things I repent

I repent of parading my liberty
I repent of paying for what I get for free
The way I believe that I am living right
By trading sins for others that are easier to hide
I am wrong, and of these things I repent

I repent
Judging by a law that even I can't keep
Wearing righteousness like a disguise to see through
The planks in my own eyes

I repent of trading truth for false unity
I repent of confusing peace and idolatry
Of caring more of what they think than what I know of what they need
And domesticating You until You look just like me
I am wrong, and of these things I repent

That totally hit home with me. May we repent of our good deeds, stop trying to buy what we can get for free, and cease trading sins for others that are easier to hide...