Each Saturday, for many years, I’ve led men in a Bible study.
Some of you know my story, most of you don’t.
The thumbnail sketch is that I grew up as a non-practicing Jew. My life began unraveling when I was in college. I had seen some awful stuff involving the deaths of several people when I was a kid and it was eating me up. I wanted to know if there was a God and if there was, how could I get to know him. I was scared to death of death. I tried to get advice from the campus Rabbi, but his sincere efforts to help did nothing to fill that deep void in my heart.
I wanted to know that God was for me and not against me.
Simultaneously I met a wonderful young woman who challenged me to read a book that I believed to be forbidden: The New Testament.
Upon reading it I became encouraged by the stories of regular semi-screwed up guys like me whose sins were forgiven by a man who claimed he was “the way, truth, and life.”
His name? Jesus (Hebrew, Yeshua).
I soon recognized that he was the promised Jewish Messiah. I surrendered my life to his Lordship and things have never been the same.
The study I have planned for my guys this Saturday is powerful. It has to do with something we all have wrestled with from time to time: regret.
Here’s the study. I hope you’ll be blessed.
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Saturday Men’s Bible Study, January 30, 2021
Dealing with Regret
It’s easy to fall into the tarpit of regret, both for the sinful choices we have made as well as foolish,
ill-advised choices. Today we’re discovering how God would have us handle regret.
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Regret from foolish choices
Such regret can be transformed into a learning moment. Take confidence in Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Regret from sinful choices
– This first shows up in Genesis 3:10 when Adam and Eve were busted for eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam told God, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
– King David is a severe example. His sin with Bathsheba resulted in the death of their son; his conspiracy to cover up the adultery caused the death of her faithful husband (2 Samuel 12). Later his sin of counting the people of Israel led to the death of 70,000 Israelite men (1 Chronicles 21, 2 Samuel 24). In each case David’s remorse was great and his repentance sincere.
– Later we see it in Peter who said to Jesus, “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (John 13:37-38). Then during Jesus mock trial Peter denied know Jesus three times: Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So, Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:60-62).
THE GOOD NEWS: our regret was dealt with at the cross.
– In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence (Ephesians 1:7-8).
– Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).
– There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2).
– …according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7).
– For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).
Forget Regret and Move Forward
– Regarding his past, Paul says, “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
– Paul also tells us: For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Questions:
– Have you ever made the wrong decision with the right intentions? What did you learn from it?
– Has regret ever motivated you to do the right thing?
– Why is groveling in your regret harmful?
– Next time you are faced with regret, how will you handle it?