Repentance: March 24, 2011

TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY MARCH 24, 2011

REPENTANCE

DEFINITION:

Deep sorrow; compunction; contrition for a past sin, wrong doing or error.

SCRIPTURE:

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30

“God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sin to Israel.” Acts 5:31

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Webster defines repentance as deep sorrow or contrition for a past sin. It is true, repentance requires being sorry. However, true repentance requires more then just feeling sorry, it requires a complete turning away from sin and a determination not to return to or repeat our sinful act or acts.

When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and became believers we needed to repent of our sins. Do you remember doing this? God expects us to repent if we are to become one of His children.

True repentance requires change. Changing the direction of one’s life from sin centerness and self centerness to God centerness. If we are willing to renounce our sin filled way of life and turn to God, he will give us a new direction in life.

Take a moment now and evaluate your life. Is repentance necessary? How have you treated God? How about your spouse, children and family? What about at your workplace? Have you been honest and responsible? Have you honored God in all that you have done? Have you treated your neighbors and friends with respect?

We are all born sinners into this world and cannot have God and un-repented sin in our life at the same time. The only way we can have God in our life is to be willing to turn from sin and repent. Repentance opens the door to God’s free gift of salvation given by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

True repentance is always coupled with faith. It is impossible to have saving faith and not to be repentant. Faith without repentance is the ultimate of hypocrisy and repentance without faith is futile. When you asked Jesus to come into your heart, by faith, you asked for forgiveness of your past sins. This was repentance.

Repentance is not merely sorrow for something done. It is not penance and it is not a reformation which is a change brought about by our own efforts for self-glorification. Repentance is an intellectual, emotional and spiritual change in ones life. The prodigal son had first a change of mind, then a change of heart and then a change of will. That is when repentance came into his life.

We have many examples given us in the scriptures where repentance was preached. John the Baptist preached repentance. Jesus preached repentance. Peter and Paul preached repentance.

Repentance is so important to God that He commands “all men every where to repent.”(Acts 17:30) Jesus said the lost were to repent. Paul said that the back sliders were to repent. In Revelation the local churches are told to repent. Jesus said in Luke 13:3: “But unless you repent you too will perish.” There are severe consequences for those unwilling to repent.

The proof of repentance in your life is threefold: Turning from sin; turning to God and then seeking to do what the Lord leads you to do.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 14:21.

But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

PRAYER:

Speak to my heart today that I may repent from my sinful ways. Help me to bring about a change in my life that those that know me and walk and talk with me may see that Christ has made a difference in my life. Help me to repent of those things that are in my life that come between me and You, my God. Give me leadership with my family as together we live a God honoring life in all that we do.