Despicably Contrite!

11. July 2010 by BruceSmith.

Despicably Contrite!

Brokenness, the quality of heart sought out by God for any that would venture forth in faith, as prescribed in Psalm 51:17, is likewise to be accompanied by a recognition of our own inward “despicability” and the corresponding perception of the grotesqueness of sin.  The pronouncement of any who have come to recognize the true nature of their state of being before a holy God is, “Despicable Me!”

Yes, I have seen the movie.  Funny, witty, sharp, and with an unsuspected nod to theological reality, the movie is a good reminder of how drastic our need for character change really is, and how completely our inward motivations and desires can actually be changed when we see life in a different light.  Its a humorous but insightful reminder that we can get wrapped up into and warped by patterns which settle so deep we begin to actually need them to survive no matter how fatal the flaws may be.  Until we can see the fatality of our twisted character and the depth of depravity clearly, we cannot hope to truly operate in life-giving ways.  The starting gate of character change is contrition.  A severe and fundamental turning, changing inward reality and desire from the old to something entirely new.  Contrition sees the truth: The true nature of our sinfulness is difficult to overestimate in light of the potential Christlikeness God calls each of us too.  We all miss the mark, widely.  And when we see it, everything changes.

No to mislead anyone, we must all be aware that our character nor our performance will ever measure up to the standard of perfection set by Christ.  We are all saved by grace through faith and this not of ourselves.  None can boast that they are so good that they measure up.  None can claim moral elitism.  There has not been a human to come anywhere close to the mark of God’s goodness to which we should all aspire.  Grace, abounding grace, is that which draws us, wins us, and keeps us all.  Its all Him.  And this simple truth is what should drive us to want less of ourselves, and more of Him in all our attitudes, reactions, speech, desires, and character. 

Grace, alone, through and through, is the generosity of God which extends unmerited favor to all despicable sinners such as me, and you.   We walk forward everyday in the reality of the newness and hope of grace.  This understanding, and the goodness of God, and the sweetness of holy character is what compels us to contrition.  Contrition, as defined throughout church history, is that character which motivates a person to recognize failure, to run the other direction, literally despise the former sin pattern, and to hunger for a new way of God’s choosing.  An actual change takes place within which effects how things work out in one’s life.  Its a change felt and seen by all onlookers.

This can relate to relational pursuits, attitudes, parenting behaviors, business tactics, motivational strategies, interaction in traffic, response to offenses, misunderstandings, you name it.  As we become more keenly aware of the self-damaging, relational damaging and societal damaging effects of missing the mark of God’s call we begin to want something better, something other.  Self interest, protection, and twisted motivations for all our actions lose appeal in light of the serene quality of Godly character.  Damaging insecurities, ego driven compulsions, and all manner of restless drives and protectionism begin to fall away when we finally come to long for ongoing Christlikeness to be built in our hearts.  In light of the beauty of grace we lose the fear of admitting our weakness, and run to the source of renewed character.  Understanding contrition, amidst the backdrop of God’s lovingkindness, propels us to long for more change on a continual basis.  We don’t fear the next step God has for us because we know our best interest is in His mind.  We begin to long for the next revelation of God that will instill greater character within.  We want to see where the next place of growth will be.  In so doing, we realize we are becoming more fully human in the truest sense.

Contrition, a settled rest in leaving past patterns, and a hungering for greater goodness, can define us as we understand that God is not there to batter us when we fail, rather, He longs for us to see reality in order that we might find more of Him and live out the fulness of what He has in store for us.  He is protecting us in showing us the light.  In illuminating the darkness of our hearts He is bringing us the help we need.  

Contrition knows that without a turning from damaging actions and inner drives, we cannot know how inwardly sweet life can become.  Anyone who has tasted and seen that the Lord is good as the Psalmist writes, finds it hard to quench the appetite for more of this life giving goodness.  Like honey to tongue is the sweetness of Godly character in a once despicable heart.  Like the sun breaking through the blackness of a storm-driven sky, so is the brightness of compassionate care, a tempered spirit, a grace-filled response in a world filled with harshness and fear. In contrition our hearts come alive in 3D reality to the promise that God’s ways are better than our ways, that Godly character trumps human reaction, that spiritually led activity wins out over any attempt we make to forge our own way forward in this life.  

May we all embrace a bigger view, a better way, a more loving thirst for Christ-filled living.  Anything less is, well, despicable.

Despicably me, 

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

soulstormsite.com 

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