Weekly Devotional 1-25-16 Repentance That is Sincere
I was talking with a friend the other day about repentance, and he recited a prayer that many of his faith recite ritually believing that such a recital brings forgiveness of sin and restoration to a right standing before God. We talked about this for some time and agreed that such a prayer, recited no matter how many times and when prayed without sincerity, may bring a sense of relief from guilt but does little to bring actual forgiveness or restoration to a right standing with God. To repent means to turn from something to something; in this case, it means to turn from sin to God.
As we talked about this my mind was led to Luke 18:9-14, a parable of Jesus which speaks to this issue. Turning to this passage we read; “9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘10Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14‘I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’”.
True repentance comes from the understanding that one is a sinner, at enmity with God, and that he or she is in need of forgiveness. Sincere repentance will bring a desire within oneself of change; of turning from sin to living a life that is acceptable of God. One who continually recites a prayer but then goes out and sins habitually in the same way is not sincere. The publican who prayed from the heart was sorrowful over his sin. He was sincere and sought forgiveness. A change had been wrought in this man’s heart (soul); not so the Pharisee. That the publican went to his house justified is proof of saving repentance. Repentance, after all, is one of the things that the Holy Spirit brings about in the life of the one who has come to Jesus in faith.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
Evangelical Free Church www.efreebible