2003-03-16 - Repentance

As most of you know, on Saturday nights, our devotionals simply present the Bible and allow it to speak for itself with little or no commentary. Repentance is on the minds of many of us, during this Lenten season, a time when Christians historically have closely examined their hearts. Of course, repentance should know no season in the Christian life. God will forgive any sin, as long as we truly repent. To "repent" literally means "to turn." We must turn from our sinful ways and attitudes and be sorry for the sin itself, and not just because we have been "caught."

Job 42:1-6 (NASB) Then Job answered the LORD and said, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear. But now my eye sees You. Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."

Luke 3:2b-3 (NASB) The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 11:19-21 (NASB) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."

Luke 13:2-3 (NASB) And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Acts 26:19-20 (NASB) {Paul said} So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB) I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NASB) If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land

Jan

 jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org