Ni90: 2 Timothy, Proverbs 9

In this second letter from Paul to Timothy, we find some great instruction for our lives. It is very practical in its observations and application. Remember to avoid the false thinking that assumes that since this is addressed to a pastor, there is little application to non-pastors. Not so! It, like all Scripture, is rich in principle and can/should be applied.

• 1:3. What an awesome standard for measuring our service to God. Not measured against others or against some ominous standard, but against our “conscience.” When the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, our conscience is a great guide. This is not about feelings, it is about our conscience. How committed and active am I in the cause fo the Kingdom? Does my conscience tell me that I am sharing enough, generous enough, and faithful enough? When I really measure my life against a conscience informed by the Scriptures and the application that the Holy Spirit brings…do I feel as though I have done what God has created me to do…or is there something lacking?
• 2:1-3. Discipleship is about life on life investment. It is about duplicating our efforts through others who “get it.” If you had limited time and resources, would you invest in givers or takers? Ministry occurs at all levels, but I find that, often times, my time is disproportionately taken up in efforts and energy toward those who are not growing. Paul tells Timothy to focus…not on the empty and worldly pursuits, but on developing disciple-makers…those who are engaged in Kingdom growth. How we invest our time and energy is determined by calling, leading, and volition.
• 2:16-17. Never-ending philosophical conversations about speculation are like gangrene, a disease of dead tissue. FOCUS.
• 3:15-16. Investing time in learning and teaching the Scriptures is a wise investment. The Scriptures are able to give wisdom that leads to Salvation (both justification and sanctification) through faith in Christ. The Scriptures are the antidote to the cultural influence that controls man (3:1-5,7).
• 4:5,7. Fulfilling our ministry is not easy, but we ought to persevere, fighting the good fight of faith.

Proverbs 9:8 is the takeaway today. “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you.”

Take Two: 2 Timothy 3-4, Proverbs 24

Well, December 24! Christmas Eve…or in other terms, “MAN CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DAY!”

I wanted to handle these two chapters together because Paul closes this letter by pointing out a reality of circumstance and then gives the prescribed response and only hope in the last chapter.

He notes that in the end times, men will become self-consumed…showing great interest in personal personal pleasure, money, and independence (3:1-4). These men will/may hold to a FORM of religion/godliness but live as to deny its power in their lives. (I take that to mean that they go to church but live as their own “lord”.) They will continue to seek information but never really get there…there is an insatiable desire to know more, without applying the knowledge they gain in real life. IOW: Their religion has no impact on how they live. The antidote Paul gives to Timothy…avoid these men (3:5); follow the example Paul lived (3:1-12); have confidence in what you have learned about God already (3:13-17) from the Holy Scriptures…not from speculations of men.

NOTICE Paul points back to the Scriptures as the “plum line” for holiness and living.

He then instructs Timothy regarding his public response and act of service to Christ in light of the age: Preach the Scriptures…use them to convince, exhort, rebuke…and do so repetitively…and with great patience (4:1-2). Know that this teaching will be rejected by the self-consumed man who will find a teacher who is pleasing to his ears…one who affirms the hedonistic pursuits of man (4:3-5). Still, be faithful to do what God has called you to do.

In vv.6-22, Paul gives some final instructions to Timothy regarding personal matters. Contained in these instructions is a word of warning about some dangerous characters…like Alexander the Coppersmith. We also find some nuggets about others like Mark…and gain insight into the relational issues that had developed between the two.

The point of these chapters, as I see it, is the necessity and sufficiency of the Word for life and ministry. Dependence on the Word will provide the way to a pleasing life before God…even if it creates a situation of persecution at the hands of man.

Faithfulness to the Call of the believer was never promised to bring ease and comfort. Quite the opposite (3:12). Still, it is the prerequisite to hearing the words on that Day: :”Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Proverbs 24:1-12 is the takeaway today. “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, oh hold them back. If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps the soul? And will He not render to man according to His work?” [There is a divine responsibility incumbant upon the believer to take the initiative to rescue the perishing! God will not hold us guiltless on that day when we give an account for what we did with that which was entrusted to us. The lost cannot save themselves. They will not chase us down for salvation. We are charged with the responsibility to storm the enemy's territory and rescue those who would respond to the invitation of God to know Him!]

Take Two: 2 Timothy 2, Proverbs 23

This chapter, to me, speaks of fidelity to the calling of Christ. Paul opens with a clarion call to “be strong” in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Remember that grace is “unmerited/undeserved favor.” IOW: Stand firm in the grace God showed you. The grace of God precedes the call to “be strong” and it provides the power to “be strong.” We are not told to “be strong” so that we will experience grace…quite the opposite.

The outworking of that strength involves some DUPLICATION of disciples…growing others who grow others who grow others. [NOTE: It still amazes me how simple the calling of the Christian life is and how some can argue that they are deeply committed Christians yet they have nothing to do with duplicating disciples.]

The theme of suffering (costly sacrifice for the cause of Christ) emerges in v.3 again and continues throughout the narrative. The suffering specifically mentioned involves EFFORT EXERTED (v.5), choices to abstain from distractions (v.4), persecution for proclaiming the gospel (v.9), pursuit of holiness and study of the Word of God (vv.15, 19), being wise in what occupies our conversations (vv.22-23), and in our interactions with those who are dead wrong in their assertions (vv.24-26) for the sake of the gospel.

POINT: There are no “rose-colored glasses” applied here. The truth be told…Paul makes it clear that serving God is costly and joyous at the same time. He admonishes Timothy to “be strong” knowing that it is difficult to do so.

APPLIED: I know a number of folks who think that if things get difficult in life, it is a clear sign that they must be outside of the will of God. Nothing could be further from the truths that Paul communicates here. He seems to state that difficulties experienced as a result of communicating the gospel, making disciples, being faithful to Christ are a clear sign that we are on the right track.

Putting to death the old wicked flesh of the natural man is a daily task. Life is about choices, discipline, and outcomes. God strengthens us with grace to be able to do His will and to be useful to His purposeful end…but we must choose to embrace it rather than to yield to the temptations of the old life.

Proverbs 23:26 is the takeaway today. [Notice the plea of the father to the son...] “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Take Two: 2 Timothy 1, Proverbs 22

This first chapter of the letter is meaningful to me personally. We find a couple of themes that should stand out to us. First is the theme of generational impact. Paul comments that the faith in Timothy is not disconnected from the faith of his mother and grandmother. [Note, Timothy's father was Greek and was not, as far as we can tell, a believer...yet Timothy overcame this liability due to the diligence and efforts of his mother, grandmother...and of course Paul.]

POINT: When we invest in our children and grandchildren, we make an impact of eternal proportions. We must not relegate our responsibility to a church program or to a religion teacher in college. We are to be responsible and we are to enjoy the fruits of our labor…seeing our children and grandchildren exhibit strong faith in God.

The second theme (vv.8-15) is the theme of suffering in service. Paul challenges Timothy to serve well…and at a great cost (suffering) for the cause of Christ. The gospel is worthy of our sacrificial effort. The gospel is worthy of our lives. When no one else understands or appreciates our cause, Christ does and He has called us to labor for the calling as believers…and particularly as ministers. How do we view this calling and responsibility? As a sacred treasure given to us by Christ (v.14).

The third theme relates to persecution and suffering. The call to minister and persecution toward ministry seemingly go hand-in-hand in Paul’s inspired writings. There is a high cost for service. When we are serving God sacrificially, we will find ourselves on the outside of the mainstream culture. We just will. That being said, we should not consider persecution toward us as something to hate; rather, we are to understand it as part of the program. It just is what it is. To not be persecuted for our faith is indicative of either a temporary lull in the spiritual battle (because the norm is persecution) or is an indicator of our lack of service (either in quantity/volume or in quality/effectiveness). Let me define that further:

We can be very busy in service but have little impact. For instance…someone can spend six days/week on religious activity. He can clean furniture in a building daily for six days and work hard at it; however, he is making little gospel impact. He is tired, but ineffective as it relates to gospel fruit. Do we want/need/desire clean buildings? Certainly…especially as these are tools to propagate the gospel and not stumbling blocks to “lost” clean-freaks! But…there is likely to be little persecution because we have yet to engage the enemy over furniture polish. He simply doesn’t care how clean a building is as long as it is empty on Sunday morning. (You could insert any number of church activities into the equation instead of cleaning. Several come to my mind.)

If we are serving Him and His agenda with passion…we can expect persecution. We are in it, or it is coming. Count on it. Still…we are encouraged because we recognize the sovereignty and care of God over all our circumstances (v.18).

Proverbs 22:5 is the takeaway today. “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will be far from them.” [My translation- The perverse pathway is riddled with dangers, but he who avoids the pathway of things at enmity with God avoids the dangers.]

Take Two: 2 Timothy 4, Proverbs 1

So, I woke very early again today…around 4 AM. This thought was in my mind before I ever rolled out of bed to sit down with the Scriptures. “God’s Word is the answer!” Granted…I knew the passage that was coming up today…and it is one of those “preacher memory verses.” However, my mind was drawn back to the other things that Paul said…and how he continued to point Timothy back to the Scriptures. Notice: 4:1-2- Preach the Word…always ready, and use it as your basis for convincing, rebuking, exhorting, etc. (NOTE: There is no encouragement or correction apart from God’s Word. There is no success in life apart from God’s Word. It is the subject of our teaching and the object of our study. It is the source of our message and its intent is instruction and transformation.)

Go back with me…1:5…”Remember your faith in God based on His Word which you learned from your mother and grandmother.” 2:1-2…Commit doctrine to faithful men who will commit it to faithful men. 2:15…Accurately handle the Word of truth. 2:24…God’s ministers must be able to teach (God’s Word) with gentleness since the knowledge of it may lead to (and is necessary for) salvation. 3:15-17…the Word gives wisdom and leads to salvation through Christ because it is inspired by God…and makes every man adequately equipped for service (life…since life is service to God). 4:1-2…You are charged to preach the Word…

This is not the only place we find Paul’s emphasis on Scripture but it is certainly apparent that in Timothy’s time of difficulty here…Paul points him back to the Scripture.

APPLIED: Do you ever say, “I wish I knew the Bible better?” What are you doing to get there? Do you ever say, “I wish I knew what to do in this matter?” Are you seeking answers from God’s Word…or merely wishing? How would you respond if you were asked by a seeker if you had ever read the entire Bible? How can you answer that you have faith in God when you haven’t read all that He has said about Himself and preserved as essential information for you and me? THE WORD!!

vv.9-22 contian some closing remarks but one verse grabbed me significantly today. V.16 states that when Paul was being “hammered,” there were men who could have come to his defense and did not. His response: God forgive them.

APPLIED: I have been under the gun before…by church bosses and people who wanted to hammer me for any number of things. Without fail…after a meeting like this (and there have been a few during my years serving in churches)…someone would say to me that they were there but did not agree with the complaints…yet they sat silent and let me endure the attacks. May I always be as Paul here…recognizing that my greatest advocate and only ultimate authority is the Jesus who stands with me and strengthens me.

Proverbs 1:33 is the takeaway today. “But he who listens to [the wisdom of God] shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

OK…our next book will require COURAGE and a COMMITMENT UP FRONT to finish! Join me as we read Leviticus together starting tomorrow! [And for those who have been reading with me since the beginning, this is the 65th (of 66) books we have read in the Take Two Challenge and we have been through a lot of the NT twice...as well as Proverbs more than 30 times! GREAT JOB. (27 chapters...here we come!)]

Take Two: 2 Timothy 3, Proverbs 31

Paul gives a prophetic word that is intended to strike a chord with Timothy and others. He points to the progressive demise of society, culture, and even those who claim to be spiritual leaders. Paul’s purpose is not to discourage, but to admonish Timothy and others to hold to the Scriptures, embrace holiness, and avoid the trappings of the culture around them. Their task is critical given that they represent a lone voice of truth in a plethroa of voices offering tantalizing messages that prey on man’s appetites.

If one could summarize vv.2-5…the words used would be “self-consumed” and “religiously lost.” For these, religion is an activity or a tool…not a relationship.

vv.6-7 are sobering to me…as I can easily see a contextual application. It refers to “religious people” who are constantly learning but their knowledge never changes them. They go from Bible Study to Discipleship Class to Seminar. They know more background than most people teaching. They can explain six different views on a subject but they do not serve, they don’t witness, and they have no one who they are discipling personally. Religion is a spectator sport. Honestly…I don’t imagine it matters much to Jesus if you are an expert in first century history…if you watch the world around you go to hell without even trying to share Christ…what point is all the knowledge?

Often times…this knowledge leads to pride and fruitless arguments. It is like “Mars Hill” whenever you enter a small group discussion. What is the point! Our understanding of God should change us…it should compel us…it should affect us and hten the people around us…or it is just knowledge.

Now statements like mine sound a little harsh…maybe. But, isn’t it true? And am I harsh for pointing out truth just because it makes someone uncomfortable? V.12…whenever you stand with Jesus (and His Truth) you will (not might) endure persecution.

What is the formula to avoid becoming a tepid but educated religious person? Stick to the Scriptures which are powerful to save (initial and ongoing) and live lives that are holy/consecrated/separated unto God and His purpose.

Proverbs 31:10-11 is thew takeaway today. “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain.”

Take Two: 2 Timothy 2, Proverbs 30

Paul’s instruction to Timothy here is unmistakable…serving God is a calling, a responsibility, and is often difficult. He uses several “pictures” to describe the work.

In vv.3-7 we see the pictures of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. A soldier serves with unmitigated loyalty…divesting himself of worldly attachments so as to serve honorably. An athlete also is focused…and he perseveres unto victory. A farmer…is patient…doing the work long before the harvest comes.

Vv.8-13 remind us of the motivation that informed Paul’s life…he endured all that he did because he desired for men to be saved according to the gospel.

NOTE: It hit me this morning that we all set different goals in life: I want to make “x” amount of money, get this kind of car, get this degree in college, lose this much weight, run this far in a race, etc. How worthy is that goal? None of these goals are bad but are they the bes tor most worthy goals we could have. What if our goals included “leading six people to become disciples/ fully devoted followers of Christ…or to share the gospel with someone every week? Is this not a more worthy goal than anything we could set? By the way…the nature of this goal does not preclude us losing weight or running a marathon…it just puts it into perspective.

In vv.14-19 we see that Timothy is to instruct ministers to remember the goal and also to avoid the trappings of endless and foolish discussion about insignificant and distracting stuff. To not avoid these pointless discussions…will often lead to a person getting trapped by the philosophy. [POINT: I met a woman a couple of years ago who now is almost completely disconnected from church. She told me that her demise began when she started studying other religions to teach people about them...in the end, her study left her with questions and the questions distracted her and led her to lose confidence in the gospel.]

In vv.20-26 we see that God has a divine purpose for all peoples…even those who reject Him or those who try to lead others to reject Him. Our responsibility is not to seek to explain all of this…but to seek to please Him who called us by living righteously and faithfully.

Vv.24-26 is especially helpful to me. We are to be patient and appropriately gentle with the lost and those who are saved but act lost…so that God would work through us to rescue them from the snare of the enemy. [It is always more satisfying to US to "nail them" when they act foolishly...but our "orders" as "soldiers" is to seek to reconcile them as instruments of the grace of God.]

Proverbs 30:17 is the takeaway today. “The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.” [God's justice is certain and overwhelming.]

Take Two: 2 Timothy 1, Proverbs 29

In this 2d letter to Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy of some key facts that set the stage for the upcoming instruction.

• Paul was called by God to be an Apostle. This calling is more significant and demands higher allegiance than any other draw or calling in the world (v.1).
• Serve with a clear conscience. Pursue your calling with absolute allegiance to the one who called you…even if doing so puts you at odds with others (v.3).
• Do not be intimidated by your circumstances, but be encouraged as you consider those who have shaped you and poured into you along the way (vv.4-7).
• Remember what Christ did on our your behalf…whcih deserves and demands a response of absolute loyalty to Him. His plan may be apparent, or it may not…but it is always purposeful and He deserves our passionate pursuit of it (vv.8-11).
• Draw strength from the Sovereignty of God. (v.12).
• Be passionate about God’s Word and handle it carefully. You are the watchman who guards the truths of God and ensures that they are not maligned by those who do so out of ignorance, arrogance, or insolence (vv.13-14).
• Along the journey, some people will help you, some will hurt you (4:14), and others leave you standing as they quit to pursue other things (vv.15-17). None of this changes God or the calling He has placed on your life.

These introductory principles are not “news” to Timothy, yet Paul saw fit to rehearse them. Sometimes it is an encouragement to realize that others know where you are in life. Others have been there. Others have persevered. The 11th chapter of Hebrews is a powerful place to pause and consider those who have gone before us. We can look at the faithfulness of those saints…and stand on their shoulders and we pursue the calling with faithful attention.

Fidelity to God can be a lonely journey. People you love and whom you respect…may abandon you because they just won’t go on. Some bend to evil motives like jealousy or lust for power. Sometimes…a leader finds himself standing alone…but he is still called to stand. If he does not…who will…and what does that say about the worthiness of our God?

APPLIED: Now this is applied specifically to God’s ministers…but it applies in principle to every Christ-follower. Are you passionately pursuing God? Do you stand for Him when it is difficult or lonely? That is your calling.

BTW: If Paul had to encourage Timothy with these words…then it is reasonable to conclude that Timothy NEEDED the encouragement, because he was discouraged. Perhaps he felt weak. Perhaps he wanted to quit. Perhaps he simply questioned, “Who am I?” If you’ve ever doubted, been discouraged, or felt alone on the journey…GOOD NEWS…you are not alone! You can get down…but you cannot stay down. STAND UP! Be who He purposed you to be.

Proverbs 29:9 is the takeaway today. “When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.” [If you are really wise, skip the controversy...there is no benefit to you. As someone said, "arguing with a fool is like wrestling with a pig. Both of you get dirty, but the pig likes it."]

Take Two: 2 Timothy 4, Proverbs 31

4:1 follows directly behind and builds on the final thought of Ch 3 (Timothy..you have known the Scriptures from your childhood because your mother and grandmother taught them to you. They are inspired by God and profitable for teaching, exhortation, correction, and training…equipping the man of God with everything needed to fulfill his calling.)

4:1-2, so….preach the Word. Make the content of your instruction…the Word. Make the focus of your Study…the Word. Make the instructor of your life…the Word. Make the counsel of your mouth…the Word. Minister the Word with patience. Always be ready to do so.

One of the phrases sticking in my mind this morning (since I woke up) is something I heard quoted in the last 2 weeks. “The world doesn’t take (Christians) seriously because (Christians) aren’t serious people.” If God has committed to us the Word of reconciliation and the ministry of reconciliation (reconciling a lost world to Him), then it would seem reasonable that we would KNOW the Word deeply and intimately. We would be students of the Word. We would be teachers and proclaimers of the Word. That when our friends discussed divorce, we would counsel against it from the Word…before we quoted Gallup polls or personal experience. (And you can choose nearly any issue that come up in life and find where God has spoken to it).

My dad just recently got into golf in a passionate way. The few times I have played, I have really just “hacked” at the ball and hoped for the best. So I could understand it better…I recently downloaded the Rules of the Game and read them. I read several articles on form, stance, and swing. I watched a few golf tournaments on TV to see how other applied the principles I was reading about. And…I plan to find a driving range this week and practice some of what I have been reading. Why? Because…if I am going to play golf with Dad…I need to be serious about it…since I want to be taken seriously when I go to play (especially since my brothers are also getting into it I certainly don’t want to get beaten by those guys! ).

The point is…anything we claim to be serious about deserves a serious commitment to understand it. By the way…this is why at our church we have reformatted Sundaynights beginning Sep 13 to be more intense and intentional about discipleship. I want us as a church to be people of “the Word.”

VV.6-7 is incredible. What if, when we see the end of our lives approaching…we can take an inventory of how we invested them and declare…I have fought the good fight and completed my purpose in life.

V.11 reminds of the need to keep relationships healthy and to restore broken ones.

You see vv.3-4 lived out in vv. 14-15. Paul warned Timothy to guard against false teachers/ teaching/opposition from Alexander and guys like him. (NOTE: It is always wise to “mark” those in your midst who are sources of contention and resistance. Discerning who people are (at the core level) and what they are seeking to do is a necessary skill-set. You must guard yourself in ministry if you are to build something that lasts.)

Vv.16-18 is important. Paul notes that God gave him victory at his first defense so that Paul would fulfill his ministry to the Gentiles. In other words…Paul understood that the purpose of his salvation was not his own comfort. The reason Paul was saved was so that he would serve the Savior and fulfill His will, plan, and desires. The same God who saved and called Paul…was also going to (paul confidently proclaims) deliver him from evil to the heavenly kingdom…IOW: deliver Paul THROUGH death to eternal peace. (NOTE: Rarely do we think of “deliverance” coming through death. We think that deliverance is from death…but Paul knew that our Christian reality exists beyond this earthly existence. We are fulfilling a purpose here and then moving on to our eternal reality.)

If final words of a man bear significance…we should spend time meditating on and applying Paul’s final words here….to our lives.

Proverbs 31:31 is the takeaway today. While contextually speaking of the “P31″ woman…the principle applies to every Christ follower. “Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” In other words…give her the rewards she has earned in this life. Let her experience the fruit of faithfulness. Also, let her reputation in the city be based on what she has done…not merely what she might say. I WONDER how many of US would be comfortable saying, “God…may I be judged by You and by others based…not on my confession…but also on what I did with it.”

Let’s go back to the OT tomorrow. We will read the minor prophets…Zechariah and Malachi next. See you there!

Take Two: 2 Timothy 3, Proverbs 30

On the heels of chapter 2, where Paul instructs Timothy to endure hardship (v.3), and to gently correct those in opposition to sound doctrine (v.25), Paul expresses characteristics of what some (naming the Name of Christ) will begin to become consumed with (vv. 3:1-5). A sign of the end of the age is the elements of “self-consumption.” The outworking of this self-consumption is a shedding of sound doctrine (since true doctrine speaks of living for Christ and then others…not self).

There is nothing redemptive about relationships with self-consumed people. Avoid them (v.5). But…you may say…they claim to know Christ and they attend our church! Yes…they do hold to a form of godliness, but they deny the power that come in living in submission to God (v.5). We are to “discern”…then act accordingly.

These people will prey upon those who are weak in the faith. They do so…not because they are misled or misaligned…but because they are not saved (vv.7-8).

We are called to hold fast to sound doctrine…Apostolic doctrine…as revealed in the Scriptures (vv.10, 15). I know there are lots of cool ideas out there…but the only way to avoid false teaching is to pursue accurate teaching from the Scriptures. You ought to ask…whenever you hear a “new” approach to God…”Where can I find that taught in the Scripture?” Sometimes these new ideas reveal themselves as logical arguments, philosophical presuppositions, or traditional practices. If it is not in the text…you ought to reconsider how you look at it.

What happens if you take such a “hard-lined, fundamental, zealous approach to life…living according to God’s Word? Answer: Persecution (v.12). In fact, a good question to consider is, “Am I an irritant to my coworkers, neighbors, and community?” “Is there something about my presence that causes them to persecute me?” If the answer is no…we might ask, “how closely to a godly model do I live, speak, or think?” Truthfully, there are some people who irritate others for reasons other than godliness. If this is you…you need to change. You should never erect an obstacle to a person’s relationship with God. The only obstacle a person should have to overcome is a bloody cross. However, if you live with hope in God and according to His plan…you will, by your very presence, magnify another person’s shortcomings. In other words, God will use your “witness” to convict others. Often times…rather than repent, they will persecute you.

If you want to be popular and not persecuted…you have to find a different religion. Remember, Jesus died alone. All of His disciples were killed for the faith. And He is the King above all kings! If we faithfully follow Him, we will experience a similar fate.

Proverbs 30:20 is the takeaway today. “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done no wrong.’” As I read this today, I was mindful of unrepentant people who name the Name of Jesus. When they are unfaithful, they simply want to move forward. There is no moving forward without honest confession, (at times) restitution, and a heartfelt commitment to move forward again. When you sin…do you try to move forward…or do you repent?