Have you ever found yourself saying those words, "I'm sorry Jesus"? It seems to be a phrase too widely used in my vocabulary. "I'm sorry," as well as "I'll never do it again." And do you know what? I generally always end up Doing It again! Why is that? As a person of "claimed" religion, I shouldn't have to say sorry so much. I shouldn't make so many mistakes. But, on the otherside of my acclaimed religion, I should know that I'm forgiven no matter what, and that the status of how I resist "doing it" again depends only on my relationship with the Father of the universe. I mean isn't that one of the responsibilities of a father? To help his child learn from their mistakes? That'spretty much the coolest thing about Jesus. He takes no time to forgive and gets right on to the rehabilitation step. I for one love that I don't have to worry about those past mistakes and stuff that I have made. I like that I can say those words and start over. And then move on to the next words, "Thank you Jesus!.'
One thing that makes me mad is when someone says, "Why worry about changing the sinful way I live now, when I can just live it up and say sorry right before I die and end up in Heaven!" This was said to me yesterday, and I didn't know what to say, but inside I was festering. I knew that that wasn't right and It made me mad! The whole basis of Christianity is forgiveness. Jesus is the salvation and forgiveness of the world. How did his act of mercy get taken into a thing that can be manipulated.
What I think I'm trying to get at is that when I say, "I'm sorry Jesus," I atleast try and change whatever it is I am doing that I feel I need to be forgiven for. There is a way to go about asking and handling forgiveness from the God of the Universe, and it isn't a last minute, save your ass, on your death bed occurance.
Yea thats about it.
You're right. We shouldn't put Jesus at the back of our minds all the time. We need to have Him everywhere in our lives, and we should fix our problems/ sins instead of say, "Oh well, maybe next time." We have to stand up for what we really believe in, even if we're simply standing up to ourselves.
Sarah
"Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." - Isaiah 46:4
http://sarah-deringer.blogspot.com/
"I'm sorry Jesus"
You are forgiven by God for everything. It does not mean that you are not going to feel the real consequences of anything you do that carries a natural penalty. It means you can be free of guilt. Guilt causes shame, makes you feel sorry, and often leads to repeating the same behavior that made you feel guilty. With every repetition of that cycle it reinforces itself.
Knowing that you are forgiven helps to break that cycle of guilt. Rather than saying "I'm sorry Jesus" maybe:
Thank you God for forgiving me. I want to do what is right, but I need your help. Please separate me from this burden. Your will is supreme in all things.
Admit you are powerless, and give the problem to God. Any exact phrasing is not of the essence, but trusting that God can, and will help you if you ask is.
"As a person of "claimed" religion, I shouldn't have to say sorry so much. I shouldn't make so many mistakes."
You do not have to be sorry at all, but it will help plenty if you know that YOU are not better than people that do not believe. You are just as foolish, just as prone to sin in the first place, and just as wrong as ALL of the other people. God is good, not his believers. Even Jesus denied that he was good.
"One thing that makes me mad is when someone says, "Why worry about changing the sinful way I live now, when I can just live it up and say sorry right before I die and end up in Heaven!" This was said to me yesterday, and I didn't know what to say, but inside I was festering."
Real sin has real penalties. "The wages of sin is death." Evil is not a list of rules, it is a spirit. If you think a person can have one attitude or spirit their entire life, and HONESTLY change only when faced with the fear of death, you are mistaken. Do not envy the sinful their sin, because they are suffering for it. Salvation does not come from seeking a reward after death. It comes because you love the truth, the truth loves you, and you take joy in doing the right thing because you know which side you are on.
Learn from the message though it comes from an unworthy messenger. Thanks for listening.
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
-William Blake