Control-Alt-Delete

1 John 1:9 - But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. (CEV)

In our town, many of the churches have signs out front with challenging messages on them. Recently, I saw one that said, "Too bad when we mess up, we couldn't press Control-Alt-Delete and have a new start." In the PC computer world, that combination reboots our computers, and it works quickly. What a wonderful invention!

My thoughts immediately turned to what we Christians are to do when we realize how we've messed up. We can confess that sin and failure to Jesus, and He forgives us, takes away our sin, and gives us a new start -- many times a day if need be. Done deal -- quicker than pressing three keys on a computer keyboard. Isn't it wonderful? Let's run to Him often.

Ezekiel 11:19a - I will give them a new heart and a new mind. (GNB)

Unfortunately, the Control-Alt-Delete combination often leaves messes on our computers -- fragments of messed-up files that have to be dealt with later. So, too, in our lives: some of our sins and failures have lasting consequences that have to be dealt with, often for years. Those circumstances happened. We can't change them. But God is an opportunist, and He can use them to change us, to change our minds, our attitudes, our thinking, so that we are conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God -- what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. (GNB)

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (NIV)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for forgiving us. Thank You for giving us so many new starts. Thank You that You understand our frailties and still accept us. Thank You that You can use every situation to bring glory to Your name. Help us to learn from our mistakes. Help us to listen to Your still, small voice. Help us to let You transform us inwardly, so that we may know Your will. Amen.

Judy Miller gjmiller@telusplanet.net
Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca