Benefits of Repentance (Hebrew Meaning of Repentance: Turn from evil and turn to good)
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.” Matthew 11:21-22
Authentic repentance is not perfunctory, but fruitful in its follow through. When the Holy Spirit arrests my heart and pricks my conscience about my behavior, I want to change. It may be a bold, loving friend that exposes my bad habit or unacceptable attitude. If so, will I change? Indeed, fruitful repentance is not just words of remorse, but a change in the way I have been acting. It is the removal of my pride, an encounter with my blind spots.
Fruitful repentance may be the hardest for those of us who have been in the faith for a long time. We get settled in a track of thinking that quits learning and growing. We can become comfortable with Christ and forget to fear Him. We can take God for granted and go places with our mind that a newfound faith would have forbidden. Watch out, that excuses or cover up do not become a default when you encounter a need for change. Pride refuses to repent, be fruitful and glorify God.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: Whose fan [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:7-12).
When you hear truth that is contrary to your living, how do you respond? In 2nd Samuel 12 Chapter, verses 1-9 ….. Nathan said to King David “There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The poor [man] had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and flourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own heard, to dress for the wayfaring man, that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, [As] the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this [thing] shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul: And I gave thee thou master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. David’s response Psalm 51:1-4 …. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.
Real repentance is not just being embarrassed that it was caught, but takes responsibility with positive and proactive change for the good. There is a transformation from haughtiness to humility, judgment to grace, fear to trust and pride to penitence. 2nd Corinthians 7:8-10 ….. “For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it [I were] but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me a sensitivity to sin so I quickly confess and turn from its influence.
Application
What attitude or actions of mine do I need to change? What positive fruit in my life is evidence of my repentance?
Related Readings
2 Chronicles 32:26; 1st John 1:1-10; Matthew 21:32; Acts 3:18-26
