REPENTANCE

REPENTANCE

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment…. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise —Psalm 51:1-4, 10, 17

            When is a person truly repentant?  Is it when they shed tears?  Not necessarily because that could just be “worldly sorrow” that “brings death” and destruction.  It is “Godly sorrow” that “brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (II Corinthians 7:10).  Repentance is acknowledging I am going the wrong way, Satan’s way, the way of the flesh, the way of the world’s system of darkness and I have a change of mind and purpose to follow God’s ways.  There is evidence of a transformed life when one has repented.  It is a process as the mind is renewed (Romans 12:2).

            A person can say they have repented, but their actions will truly show over time.  Jesus told us it would be by their “fruit” that we would know false prophets.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. —Matthew 7:15-20

            In time the Lord has said of a false prophet, a false communicator’s sin that “you may be sure that (their) sin will find (them) out (Numbers 32:23).  It will eventually come out just as it did in David’s life.  He thought that he had covered his tracks, but he was living a lie, appearing to be something on the outside when something hideous on the inside was taking place.  God will expose a man’s sin in time…

            When God does expose a man’s sin then the man has a choice to make.  He can repent and get right with God or he can become hardened in his sin and become even more destructive.  In David’s case, as a believer, he acknowledged his sin, repented and desired God’s ways. 

            Has God shown you that you need to repent and desire His ways and hate evil?  May you do so.  That is God’s desire for you.  Otherwise you will be living a lie…   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RnDuwbz5UI

Dear Father please search my heart and reveal any wicked way in me.  Oh, that I would confess my sin to You and be thankful for Your forgiveness.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.