Welcome to Thursday, February 22, 2024! As we grow in our faith, certain qualities will increase, but I've noticed that, at the same time, some of the basic qualities seem to decrease slowly, such as humility and serving. Another quality that appears to diminish is "being quick to repent." Perhaps we assume that the more mature we become, the less we need to repent. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Read on…
Today's Reading:
Numbers 10,11; Psalms 27; Mark 1
Scripture
"Jesus came into Galilee … preaching the Good News of God. “The time has come,” He said. “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the Good News.” (Mark 1:14)
Observation
To believe the Good News, we must first be willing to repent. Repentance is part of the good news! It's not bad news. Repentance is not groveling in the dirt or repeating out loud, "Woe is me." Repentance is simply the first step in the process of repair and wholeness. Repentance comes from a Greek word that means "to change your mind." As we grow, the pace of our faith (how quickly we can believe and obey God) will be determined by our readiness to repent - "turning from me" and "turning to Him."
Application
It seems that the older we get in the Lord, the slower we are to repent. We eventually get there, but only after some coercion or grappling. But a repenting Christian is a growing Christian. This is why the turn-of-the-century missionary Hudson Taylor would greet people by asking, "Have you repented yet today?" I'm sure his friends thought that was strange; however, Hudson knew that our ability to repent would determine the quality of our faith and relationships.
I need to rate myself on my readiness to repent. I err often, but the question is… do I repent quickly… or eventually? One of the greater harms to my soul is not sin… It is unresolved sin. It's not having problems with a loved one… it is leaving that problem unresolved until it's infected and needs to be lanced.
I need to "practice" the Good News and learn to change my mind to think and act more toward His mind, even though it might take effort and concentration. At first, it might require determination, but soon, it will become who I am… and less of what I do.
Prayer
Lord, help me be a man quick to repent and, even more importantly, recognize when I am about to be dishonest, proud, or greedy. We’re all prone to error, and we are also prone to bury those errors in the sand, as Moses did. However, those attempts at burying our sins will only tempt us to hide more sins … pride, fear of humility, fear of rejection, wanting to save face more than wanting to be transparent. Lord, I am guilty of all the above. Please help me be a man of the Good News and add repentance to that description.
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