Another great inspirational word this week from Pastor Andy Elmes, who spoke about repentance. He pointed out that that word can have a negative and judgmental aspect but that our loving and gentle Father only wants good for us. He just wants us to turn away from the purgatory, pain and anguish that the devil has in store and to bring us into forgiveness, mercy and grace.
While Pastor Andy was speaking about repentance and ultimate forgiveness, he said that when God has foriven our sins and we accept Him as our Lord we turn from our old ways, but we don't always do a full 180° turn. For some just turning away is enough, you've seen the error of your ways but carry on your life in much the same way, aware of the sins of your past and resisting them but still not giving yourself over, surrendering 100% to the Lord's will.
That's all well and good for some of us but others, like me, want more than that for their lives. To experience the fullness of God's plan for us we have to turn fully towards Him, follow His plans, do His bidding, knowing that this is the way to truly honour Jesus's sacrifice. A half-turn won't do! We need to seek God's countenance and His guidance and experience His great love for us all.
We need to see that repentance isn't a negative; it's a positive start to our journey in Christ. When we fully repent, we are saying that we realise that we were living for our own selfish wants and desires but that now we see how empty and meaningless those desires were and want something richer and more fulfilling. By turning from our old lives and turning towards God we are seeking a new life in Him. A life in abundance!
And when we have repented, turned and have seen the light we start to think and feel differently. Ezekiel 36:26 says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." We start to see that while we live here on this world we are no longer a part of it, that we are now part of God's Kingdom. Romans 12:2 says "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
We will find ourselves re-evaluating everithing and every one around us, but we must not judge others. That is not our responsibility and not what God wants. Jesus has instructed us to love not only ourselves and our neighbours but also our enemies. Those that have harmed us or given offence in some way. We are called to forgive them, pray for them, love them.
I speak from experience when I say that this is not an easy thing to do, but when you do, it will lift a tremendous weight from your heart. I have had cause to forgive others that have caused me pain and anxiety, and when I did, I felt so much better and happier! However there is one enemy that it is the hardest of all to forgive - ourselves! This is probably because we are very often our own worst enemy! Take heart people! Remember that when we came to Christ we said a prayer of redemption and salvation - so if He can forgive us, then we definitely need to do so, too. Micah 7:18-19 "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
Our sins, the chains that bound us and held us captive, are gone. Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
Repentance, therefore, is giving yourself a chance for something much better for your mind, your heart and your soul! I think we can all give that a huge...
AMEN!
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