March 10: The Sacrifice of Confession
♫ Music:
Day 10 - Friday, March 10
The Sacrifice of Confession
Scripture: Psalm 15:1-2; James 5:16; 1 John 1: 9-10
O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Poetry:
"A Hymn to God the Father"
by John Donne
Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
I fear no more.
HONESTY BEFORE GOD
The twentieth-century American figurative artist Jerome Witkin in a fictional narrative, realistically portrays the American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, considered to be one of the fathers of the atomic bomb, making his confession to a Japanese priest, a survivor of the nuclear holocaust. Whereas Oppenheimer made his confession to a priest, others dare to make their confession online to everyone. Still others make their confession within group meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous, while some take their confession directly to the one whom they have wronged. Yet others couch their confession silently during corporate worship or simply read the written general prayer of confession.
Wherever and whenever confession is made, it is to a holy God. It is the pleading for forgiveness of a repentant heart. It comes out of honesty and transparency to the great God of creation, His Son Jesus Christ, the mediator, and the Holy Spirit. All of these confessions, past and present, secretly or openly, verbal or written, are invalid unless they are sincerely given in faith – faith in the one true God who is ready and willing to grant the needed forgiveness – the only God who is able to grant grace to the earnest seeker to turn from his or her sin.
Who dares to approach the sanctuary and the very presence of such a God? It is those who would truly admit and repent of their sin; those who would surrender their own pride to pursue the will of God; those who would desire to obey Him and ask for His strength to do what pleases Him; those who can honestly own up to their own weakness and say, "It's not all about me. It's all about God;" those who would totally sacrifice themselves to do His bidding. This life of sacrifice and confession was vividly demonstrated in the life of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, who shared this testimony in a 2006 essay, "One Night in a Driveway."
As I think about my life, … I have come to appreciate the doctrine of providence. It's not the world's idea of fate or luck, but the reality of God's divine intervention. He orchestrates the lives of His children to accomplish His good purposes. God has certainly ordered my steps ...
And that leads to the greatest joy I've found in life. As I look back on my life, it's not having been to Buckingham Palace to receive the Templeton Prize, or getting honorary degrees, or writing books. The greatest joy is to see how God has used my life to touch the lives of others, people hurting and in need.
It has been a long time since the dark days of Watergate. I'm still astounded that God would take someone who was infamous in the Watergate scandal, and soon to be a convicted felon, and take him into His family and then order his steps in the way He has with me. God touched me at that moment [of conversion] in Tom Phillip's driveway, and thirty years later, His love and kindness touch and astound me still."
PRAYER
Dear God, I am nothing. I am but dust. And my sin has been sin against You. With the words of Charles Wesley I pray, "for a heart to praise my God . . . a humble, lowly, contrite heart, believing, true and clean, which neither life nor death can part from Christ who dwells within."
I pray this in Jesus' Name.
Amen.
William Lock
Professor of Music Emeritus, Conservatory of Music
About the Artwork:
Mortal Sin-In the Confession of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Jerome Witkin
Oil on canvas, diptych (1985)
Collection of Pamela & Joseph Bonino, San Francisco, California
About the Artist:
Jerome Witkin (b. 1939) is an American figurative artist whose paintings deal with political, social and cultural themes, along with serious portraiture that melds the sitter's social position with a likeness that reveals inner character. Witkin has been succinctly characterized as "a virtuoso figurative painter whose work mixes elements of the old masters, social realism and Abstract Expressionism.” In his painting, Mortal Sin-In the Confession of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Witkin creates an intriguing fictional setting to ruminate on sin, confession, forgiveness and the human condition. In the scene, J. Robert Oppenheimer, “father of the atomic bomb” is confessing his sins to a Japanese priest who appears to be an atomic bomb survivor.
http://jeromewitkin.com/
About the Video:
Ask Pastor John is a video series where author and founder of the website Desiring God (desiringGod.org) answers tough theological and pastoral questions. John Piper is also the Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN. He has authored over 50 books.
About the Music #1:
“The Invocation”
Lyrics:
[Intro x2:]
O Revelator
Sustaining every soul who longs to know
The Father's will
[Verse:]
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Come reveal what's in Your heart
Show us who we really are
Come reveal what's in Your heart
Show us who we really are
More than wounds and more than scars
Show us who we really are
Saints and Sinners set apart
Sons and Daughters who we are
Shine Your light into the dark
Shine Your light
About the Composer/Performer #1:
Matt Maher (b. 1974) is a contemporary Christian music artist, songwriter and worship leader originally from Newfoundland, Canada, who later relocated to Tempe, Arizona. Three of his albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. Maher is a practicing Roman Catholic. His song, “Your Grace is Enough” has been sung in approximately 150,000 churches throughout the USA. NASA astronauts have taken Matt’s music into space with them on three separate occasions.
www.mattmahermusic.com
About the Music #2:
“Make My Life A Prayer To You”
Lyrics:
[Verse 1:]
Make my life a prayer to You
I wanna do what You want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers no compromise
[Verse 2:]
I wanna shine the light You gave
Through Your Son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know You're really there
[Chorus:]
Well I wanna thank You now
For being patient with me
Oh it's so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust
And just believe what you say
Oh You're coming again
Coming to take me away
[Verse 3:]
I wanna die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave me
The love that set me free
[Verse 4:]
I wanna tell the world out there
You're not some fable or fairy tale
That I've made up inside my head
You're God…
[Chorus]
[Repeat Verse 3]
About the Composer/Performer #2:
Keith Green (1953–1982) was an American contemporary Christian pianist, singer and songwriter originally from Brooklyn, New York.Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and through his music, challenging others to the same. Often considered controversial for his frequently confrontational lyrics and spoken messages, he wrote some notable songs alone and with his wife, Melody Green, including "Your Love Broke Through", "You Put This Love in My Heart", and "Asleep in the Light.” Green is also known for numerous popular modern hymns, including "O Lord, You're Beautiful" and "There is a Redeemer." He died prematurely in a plane crash at the age of 29.
www.lastdaysministries.org
About the Poet:
John Donne (1572-1631) was one of England’s most gifted and influential poets, Donne was so respected by his followers that they thought him “a king that ruled as he thought fit/the universal monarchy of wit.” Raised a Roman Catholic, Donne later converted to Anglicanism, though his sensibility--as indicated in his late Christian poetry seems always to have remained with the Roman Church. Unable to find civil employment, Donne was eventually persuaded of his ministerial calling and took Anglican orders in 1615. Acclaimed for his brilliant sermons, he was soon appointed Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets.
About the Devotional Author:
Singer, conductor, teacher, and writer, William Lock has performed professionally in concert, radio and television, conducted and adjudicated choirs throughout America, Canada, and southeast Asia, and also has taught music in college for the past 56 years, 52 of these years at Biola. He presently writes articles and book reviews on voice, conducting, and the Christian life.