Reacting to Guilt

People have different ways of dealing with their ugly past. Some believe that they must go and apologize to all those who were hurt by their past poor choices. Others think they must do something to ‘make it up to’ the ones they’ve hurt. Still others imagine that a life devoted to good works will somehow offset the dark deeds of their past.

These are good responses, but they are ultimately only reactions that may temporarily pacify one’s guilt. Yes, that is the focus...guilt!

The problem with guilt is that there is no ‘undo.’ A person simply cannot reverse life and undo the past. An apology is a kind and relevant gesture, yet it does not take away the wrong done. Serving someone you've hurt is a kind gesture, but it does not erase the hurt. A life of service is admirable, but the past remains.

I think we intuitively understand this, and it frustrates us.

Think about the apostle Paul...before he was an apostle, when he was known as Saul. He had great zeal for God, but it was misplaced; he was a persecutor of Christians. God capitalized on Saul’s zeal thorough a blinding confrontation. Saul was on a trip to the city of Damascus. He held papers from the Jewish leaders authorizing him to search out anyone “belonging to the Way” so he could imprison them.

A light from heaven flashed around Saul (blinding him), and a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul inquired, “Who are You, Lord?” The voice came back, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

In the course of three days Saul was allowed to think things over and he made a complete turnaround giving his allegiance to Jesus Christ. He regained his sight and from then on, he “proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’” (Read his conversion story in Acts 9.)

How did Saul/Paul deal with his past...the persecutions…his guilt!? Here are three things he did not do that would be endorsed by many today:

• He might have made some personal apologies, but he did not go on a crusade to apologize to everyone he had hurt.
• He did not try to ‘make it up to’ the church for all his persecutions.
• He did not devote himself to making ___X___ number of conversions.

Paul did not try to pacify his guilt. He turned to Jesus and received forgiveness...from God. Then, he simply devoted himself to God.

King David had it right in his beautiful confession and plea to God after having committed adultery and murder: “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.”

David had taken advantage of Bathsheba by committing adultery with her. He had her husband killed to cover up their sin. He had shamed Israel. Paul had physically harmed Christians, had terrified the church of God, and undoubtedly persuaded some to avoid Christianity. And yet, both David and Paul first sinned against God. Bathsheba and her husband were not the standard of holiness. Christians are not the standard of righteousness. God is holy; He is righteous. All sin is first against God.

Paul summed up his quest after having become a Christian: “I want to know Christ.” His was not a quest to undo or repair the past, but to move forward. He knew, just as you and I know, there is no ‘undo.’

For that reason, our only response is to fall at the feet of Jesus and plead for mercy. Once we have received God’s forgiveness thorough the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we then devote our lives to Christ: “I want to know Christ!”

Mark Stinnett

October 26, 2025

Not Knowing God

Have you ever had a 'friend' boast about knowing you, but then they said something that was not descriptive of you at all?

How did that make you feel?
Not a true friend...right?

They know you, at least to some degree, but they do not really 'know' you. You might say that they just know about you.

Many people claim to know God. Yet, they say things about God that do not accurately portray God as He is described in Scripture. Or, they do things that stand in contrast of His divine character of love and holiness. It is not that you are being judgmental, you just recognize that they really do not know God.
The ancient Israelites were once in a similar situation...and God became angry, very angry.

They cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!"
--Hosea 8:2 (NASB95)

The problem with their claim; actions speak louder than words. They knew something 'about' God and His instruction in the Law of Moses. So, they offered sacrifices to God. But, would you believe that they also worshiped other gods!?

The Book of Hosea was a prophetic warning to the people of Israel. God was about to take action against his own people, the chosen nation of Israel. God was ready for them to 'return to Egypt,' that is, become captives again to a foreign power.

So, how is it that they knew 'about' God, but they did not 'know' God?

Hosea answers:

The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. They will return to Egypt. Israel has forgotten its Maker and built great palaces....
--Hosea 8:13–14 (NLT)

The core problem: They had forgotten their Maker. It was not that they had forgotten the 'facts' about God. Rather, they no longer regarded God as Creator. They had lost their awe and reverence for God. They were thinking along the lines of "God AND...." In other words, they were happy to offer sacrifices in worship to the God of their forefathers. Yet, they also decided to place others things (gods) on an equal plane as God their Creator; God AND other gods. Yet, the Creator is God alone!

Known, but not known!

"In the beginning God...created...."

With God as the focal point man finds meaning only in the context of God as his Creator. In your life, do you really 'know' God?

To find meaning and understanding in life you must begin with God. However, to truly know God, you must also bow to Him, and Him only, as your Creator.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
--Proverbs 9:10

Mark Stinnett

Acknowledge Him

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
  And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
  And he will make your paths straight.
                                            --Proverbs 3:5-6


"Acknowledge"

Our English word 'acknowledge' has the meaning of admit, recognize, or confess. It is commonly used in an even more casual way to mean that you have noticed someone. An important person is acknowledged at a gathering. An award is given to acknowledge an achievement. The winning coach 'tips his hat' to his opposition in acknowledgment. Webster also defines 'acknowledgment' as a reluctant confession.

Was Solomon teaching us to 'tip our hats' to God or to 'reluctantly confess' him? (That doesn't sound quite right.)

Perhaps the idea of simple 'recognition' fits better.
Let's go behind the scenes for a closer look.

The Hebrew term for acknowledge is yada which occurs over 600 times in the Old Testament. The vast majority of the time it is translated with its basic meaning, to know. Though a little awkward to the English-thinking mind, a literal translation of today's verse would be:

     In all your ways know Him,
     And he will make your paths straight.

I 'know' my wife; I 'know' her well.
I know my wife's habits, the way she responds to different circumstances, how she will respond to and interact with me, how she will respond and interact with ur children, and with our friends. I know her 'likes' and 'dislikes.' Because I know her I am confident in our relationship. I trust her. I depend on her.
I know her.

I know my best friend; I 'know' him well.
(We understand what it means to 'know' someone.)

Do you know God? Know his character? Do you know how he will respond to various circumstances? Do you know what gives him joy? Or what makes him angry? Do you know how he feels about you?

The only real way to truly know God is to embrace his word, the Holy Scriptures, and then choose the path that Jesus walked.

The benefit of knowing God is that he will “make your paths straight.” In simple terms you might say that God will make your path in life easier to travel. That’s right; God will provide assistance to you...if...

"In ALL your ways...know God."