Text: Ezekiel 14:6 KJV
Further Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.
Ezekiel 14:6 NKJV
MESSAGE
It is one thing to acknowledge one’s fault, it is another thing to be sorry for doing it. A person may acknowledge a fault but with a bold face defending his actions. Such a person can not obtain mercy whether in the court of men or the heavenly court.
Repentance means to think differently about one’s sins and actions; and to make up the mind never to go back to them. Repentance usually involves sorrow of the heart. In this state, a person truly sees himself as a worthy hell-deserving sinner who needs God’s mercy to make it.
The story of the Prodigal in Luke 15, clearly shows us what true repentance entails. In verse 18, you will clearly see how the prodigal son chose to go back home. He made a turn from the path of destruction back to his father. He acknowledged the fact that he is not worthy to be a son but a servant. He saw through his own rebellion and the pains he had caused his father – all these must have broken his heart and triggered the decision to follow Christ.
Until a makes up his mind to turn away from his sinful way, such will never receive the mercy and salvation of Christ. This repentance is usually characterised by godly sorrow and God honours such a broken and contrite heart (2 Corinthians 7:10).
In our reading of the day, we saw how the people of Nineveh were saved because they repented. The moment they heard the message of destruction, these people from the King to the beast became sorrowful for their sins and decided to humble themselves by fasting. When God saw their repentance, the Bible says that the Lord repented of the evil He had designed for them,(Jonah 3:10).
If you truly want the favour of God, you must turn your face from the things which he hates and promise him never to touch them again. Christians can also repent of any fault that is crippling their walk with God. Repentance Is none optional if you will be saved or restored back to God.
REFLECTION
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
Joel 2:13 NKJV
True repentance is of the heart. It involves a deliberate intention to return to God and do His will.
PRAYER
Father, I repent of every faults in my life and turn myself to your mercy today.