Repentance

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd December 14, 2015 - Filed in Devotional - 11,177 views
  Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent. 'Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.' Matthew 11:20 WEB
  
  When John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus, he brought a message of repentance. Then when Jesus came, He healed the sick, raised the dead, sought out the lost, and preached repentance. Repentance is changing your ways, a change in your mind, a change in your actions. It is changing your life to line up with God's plan for it.
  
  When the people heard Peter preach after Jesus ascended, they asked what they needed to do: 'Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:37'38).
  
  In the book of Revelation, Jesus said: 'As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent' (Revelation 3:19).
  
  That is what the cross brings, a crossroads in our lives. Jesus said to all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me' (Luke 9:23).
  
  Repentance involves saying: "I am sorry for that". Though it is not a popular subject today, it is the number one way to take a load off of your shoulders and make things right with God. Simple, but yet difficult because our very nature wants to hide our mistakes, just as the Pharisees. Jesus told them:
  
  'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness' (Matthew 23:27).
  
  When you mess up, tell the Lord that you are sorry, and try to do better next time. Forgiveness is there when we ask for it. Keep a short list. In doing so you completely disable the enemy, who is already preparing to use this information against you anyway.
  
  Prayer: Father I thank You for all that You do for me. Forgive me of the things that I have done and said wrong, wash me and I will be clean. Teach me, and I will understand better. I want more of You in my life Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
  
  Note: Happy Monday! The highlighted group of the week is "What''s For Dinner?": This group is a forum for recipes and ideas that are family friendly and the budget conscious as we share some of our family favorites and new recipes that are often requested. We have envisioned this group as something like gathering around the hearth with good friends to talk about food, family and life! If you are interested, you can find "What''s For Dinner?" under the "Groups" link on the site menu. Have a blessed day!