REPENTANCE

How many times have I sinned and afterward found myself in tears of sorrow and regret, confessing, only to repeat it?

Guilt, remorse, confession, and even asking forgiveness do not equal repentance.

The bandage-ripping truth is there is no repentance without change.

There have been times in my past that I have begged God’s forgiveness to relieve my conscience, attempting to be in God’s good graces, wishing to avoid His anger, and hoping I have not forfeited His blessings. I don’t want my life to go badly because of my sin. Think about these reasons for asking God’s forgiveness and put them in the light of God’s word.

God is concerned about our repentance – change! He cares that we are walking in the freedom He purchased for us.

The bandage-ripping truth is there is no repentance without change.

Sin is not so much the action we take, but allowing the lie that caused the action to stay rooted in our hearts and minds. Guilt comes when the Holy Spirit exposes the lie and parades it before our conscience. The Holy Spirit shows us the lie so we can have Him execute it. Repentance goes straight to the root. But, instead, we hold on to the lie as if it’s our friend. Bitterness, unforgiveness, greed, lust, indulgence, anger, jealousies – these are simply manifestations of the lie (the fruit of the lie). So, we cleverly navigate friendship with a lie through excuses and justifications and when it manifests in “sin”, we also attempt to appease God through confession and hope that God “understands” and looks the other way. Meanwhile, we refuse to give the Holy Spirit the thumbs-down signal to kill the lie. Thus persisting in the miserable cycle of repeated failure and confession.

Ok, those were potent words. Breath…

Why talk about this now? It is vital to discovering our identity in Jesus. To repent is to identify the lie and replace it with the truth: In Jesus, you have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, you are chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, entrusted, and God’s inheritance. This is true about you in Christ, regardless of how you feel (or maybe even act) right now.

The truth is like a diamond ring. It has inherent value, but it’s not consequential unless it’s worn. You can own your identity in Jesus, but to have real-life consequences, it needs to be worn. Jesus, the TRUTH, needs to be worn.

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” ~ Romans 13:14

You are designed to be transformed and conformed. Transformed from all that is outside of Jesus and conformed to all that is Jesus. It is an internal change of mind and heart in cooperation with the Holy Spirit that aligns your thoughts and feelings with Jesus. It is personal and relational. It requires listening, trusting, and obeying.

REPENTANCE. It is an attitude and posture that gives perspective. It motivates action, it pushes, it pulls, and compels. Repentance carries emotion – sorrow, grief, joy, relief. Repentance works through relationship. The reception of repentance is humble faith. The ultimate effect of repentance is ONENESS with Jesus, relational COMMUNION, and divine FRUITFULNESS.

I have determined with Jesus to live each day in repentance. It is an attitude that asks the Holy Spirit of Jesus to transform and conform me into the likeness of Jesus each day. Am I willing to let Him change my mind? See a new perspective? Develop His character? Shed a lie and adopt a truth? Change my habits? What if there is something different about me today than yesterday? What if I am more like Jesus today from walking in an attitude of repentance? I pray so.

In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus’ first recorded sermon is:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  ~ Matthew 4:17

The tone of Jesus’ life and message was repentance. His interactions always gave people an opportunity to change their hearts and minds about God and His kingdom.

Real repentance is supernaturally empowered. Change is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. This is where the intimate relationship is critical. Our will must be enjoined with His will. And since your transformation from darkness to LIGHT, you have the HOLY SPIRIT OF JESUS at work in you to conform you to the likeness of Jesus. You were born in the SPIRIT, and you grow in the SPIRIT.

“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” ~ Galatians 3:3

The platform for true change is intimacy with God.

Repentance happens in plain view of the Heavenly Father.

Not hiding. Not running away and trying to clean up or get healthy before seeing Him again. Go to Him. Climb into His lap, let Him embrace you, carry you on His shoulders. Allow Him to wipe the tears, clean the wound, pull the sliver, and straighten the broken bone. Listen to His voice and give attention to His gestures. Look into His eyes. Let Him look into you – all of you. There is something about the “goodness of God” and His passion to “destroy the works of the devil” that brings intimacy and facilitates repentance (Romans 2:4).

Repentance is a place of intimacy. It is where we “cease from our own works and enter into His rest” (Hebrews 4:1-8).

So much can be said about repentance. But it seems so little is being said. Do you want to see real change in your life? Your family? Your community? Your country?

REPENTANCE is the path. Let’s walk it together!

“Turn and Soar”