True Repentance, True love

For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: 

“If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; 

if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, 

but you are unwilling. Is 30:15

Repentance heals the breach in relationships. You have probably experienced this breach after having a “strong disagreement” with a close friend, family member or spouse. You can feel the wedge of dis-ease between you. The cold shoulder of pride and hurt hangs like an icicle in a heart once warmed by mutual respect and love. The togetherness and enjoyment of the relationship becomes a one focus division, “it's all about me and how you hurt me” moments that destroys intimacy. The frosty words, chill the atmosphere in a bleak cold freeze until someone warms it with a genuine heartfelt sorrow for forgiveness.

Humility and true love are the fruit of repentance; being humble enough to say I've been wrong, loving enough to be grieved over what we have done, knowing we have hurt another and done something not pleasing to God.  Recognising that sin pulls us away from God and destroys our intimacy, should make us desire to run to God and ask for His forgiveness. Only then can His Grace touch the wounds and heal the broken intimacy.  God's position in our relationship never changes regardless of what we do.  He always loves us, but our relationship with Him does because in our pride we do not like to admit we have hurt someone or failed in any way.  We are full of “buts” and “ifs” to deflect the blame from us on to others. “If you hadn't of….” “I’m sorry but you…..”

We can try to “hide” as Adam and Eve did, but the guilt we feel cannot be erased until we say, “Father I'm so sorry, please forgive me.”  As John the Baptist said to the religious leaders of the day, who were so stuck in their pride and arrogance and held to their man made tradition over the word:-

Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! Matt 3:8

True repentance will bring change because it comes from a heart that truly loves and does not want to repeat the offence.  It helps us loathe sin, which is destructive, and true repentance helps us to lean on the power of the Holy Spirit; to fully surrender; to desire the fruit of holiness; to be more like Jesus. We call out for Grace because God's Grace is sufficient and all empowering.

When we “hide” sin in darkness, we give it power.  God still sees.  We cannot “hide” anything from an all seeing, all knowing Creator, but in trying to “hide”, the destructive emotions of sin rule.  Guilt, shame, condemnation, discouragement, despair, self hatred and loathing rage in the darkness of sin. God does not want this for us.  He wants to run to Him and bring the sin into the light of His Presence, for as soon as we confess it, we can receive His cleansing power and forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 Jn 1:9-10

The blood of Jesus makes us white as snow (Ps 53:7) and, as long as we believe we are forgiven, destructive emotions no longer have a hook on which to hang.  The Grace of God is amazing for those of us in Christ as scripture teaches there is no condemnation to those in Christ who walk after the Spirit. (Rom  8:1) 

When conviction comes from the Holy Spirit to repent, do so quickly, and with all your heart.  Remember He wants us to be children who walk in the light (1Jn1:5) and repentance is a part of the process.

Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? Rom 2:4

Remember, God always wants our relationship with Him to be deeply and personally intimate, and He is jealous in His amazing kindness, to restore us to Himself. He does not want us hindered and bound by sin, but wants us to walk in honesty and transparency before Him.  This is freedom.  Trust in His kindness and love toward you and bring everything to Him. No more hiding sin in the closet and His Grace will heal, restore and strengthen you.