"Repent To God"

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".  Matthew 4:17

Repentance is not something that you hear preached often any more.  We think we can just decide to believe or be better people or start going to church and that makes us right with God.  It doesn't.  Jesus' first message was "Repent".  He also said that unless we repent we will perish. 

So, what exactly is repentance if it is necessary for our salvation?  The word repent means:  to change one's mind; heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; repentance involves a turning with contrition from sin to God.  It means to not only change our minds and go in a different direction but it means we are truly and deeply sorry for and detest our sins to the point where we forsake them. 

Repentance is an act between the individual and God.  It is when God sees that contrite heart that He forgives our sins, washes them away, cleanses us and makes us a brand new person.  People can't do that for us.  Most people think that because they confess something to man, even in sorrow for what they have done, that it is enough.  It isn't-- only God can forgive sins.

King Saul confessed his sin to Samuel and asked him not to expose it before the people.  Judas after his betrayal of Jesus confessed to the priest and tried to give back the money he had received for his betrayal.  Neither one, though very sorrow for what they had done, received forgiveness. There was no repentance and they didn't go to God for it. 

Confessing to men is for conscience sake, but it does not take away the stain of the sin.  Confessing to men will not bring reconciliation with God.  Confessing to men will help bring a certain amount of healing but not forgiveness or deliverance. 

Have you turned to God in repentance?  Have you only changed your mind about God and started going to church?  Have you gone to God with a sincere heart confessing that you have sinned against Him?  Do you hate the sin you are in and are willing to turn completely away from it?  Do you see that what you are doing is a sin in God's sight and you are ready to forsake it?  There must be repentance if you are going to get right with God.  Other wise, you are just going through some religious motions and are still the same sinner you were. 

Have a great day.  There must be repentance of sin to God in order for you to have your sins forgiven.     

For further reading:  Luke 13:3,5; Matthew 27:3,4; 1 Samuel 15
 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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