The Daily Nugget- Turning Around
Hi All
Acts. 3:19 says “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”.This emphasises the importance of repentance in our salvation process and it involves confessing our sins before The Lord, but how often should we repent? A student once asked his Rabbi this question:-Teacher, when is the best time to repent ?"The Rabbi, after looking thoughtful for a few moments,answered "The best time to repent is one day before you die", which puzzled the student who said “but Rabbi no one knows the day of their death".The Rabbi nodded and then responded "then one should repent everyday”.
One of the signs that we are truly saved is a willingness to continually confess our sins before God. He knows we are all works in progress so if we come with a true repentant heart God will forgive us our sins.
Be Blessed and Encouraged
Turning Around
12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning;. 13 And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness And relenting of evil.
(Joel 2:12-13)
Our English Bible often speaks of “repentance” which we often define as regret or being sorry.The Hebrew word translated as repentance is t'shuvah, which more accurately means “to turn back.” T’shuvah means to turn away from evil and turn toward God. It’s when you’re heading the wrong way and you turn the steering wheel around to go in the other direction.
On a spiritual level, t'shuvah is when a person changes the course of his or her life.When we T'shuvah or turn away from the darkness and turn toward the light,God promises to take control of the wheel and direct us toward His light.
For us repentance is a change of heart and mind that brings us closer to God and this includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. As 1 John 1:9 tells us“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.