REPENTANCE

REPENTANCE

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. —Luke 15:7

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” —Luke 15:10

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to celebrate. —Luke 15:23-24

            When you read the parable of “this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” you find a true humility with this son.  “When he came to his senses” he went back to his father with the right attitude, a repentant attitude.  He did not go back blaming his father for his dire situation.  He did not go back to his father accusing him of things in his life.  He did not go back with an accusatory spirit.  No, he went back in humbleness.

            This is what true repentance looks like and there is a celebration when this happens, especially over one who was lost, but now is saved, was dead, but now alive!  But this is also true when a believer repents over sin in their own life.  They do not shift blame on someone else.  They take responsibility for their own actions.  They are not accusatory, but instead they own up to their wrong.  An unrepentant person will not do this.  They focus on another person and not themselves.  They excuse their behavior.

            Yes, there is true joy in heaven among angels and on earth among believers when a lost person repents and calls on the Name of the Lord.  There is also true joy when a believer repents and does what is right before the Lord and His people.

Dear Father help me to repent of anything in my life that needs repenting of and may I also be joyful when the lost come to Jesus.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it!