REPENT.

It’s a hard word.

To say…and to hear…

The emotions that it uncovers and the images that it
projects are of a street preacher with no compassion or mercy screaming the
word at the top of his lungs telling everyone they’re going to hell if they
don’t repent.

But I have a different thought today… something Jesus said
in Matthew 3. To bear fruit in
keeping with repentance…

Repentance ENABLES us to bear fruit. We cannot bear fruit that lasts without
repenting. And not just the one
time at the point of your salvation kind of repentance… the kind I’m talking
about is repenting that is a
CONTINUAL process. It’s
foundational to the Gospel being reflected in our lives. The more we grow to reflect the Gospel
the more we recognize and become aware of God’s Holiness AND aware of our own
sinfulness. The more we are aware
of our own sinfulness means the more need I have to repent, to change my mind,
change my heart. The greek word is
“metanoia”. It means to turn
around, turn away from and turn to something.

Repentance isn’t just acknowledging our sin… “yep, I messed
up. Blew it again”, but it’s
seeing our sin as God sees our sin… really seeing our sin and having it affect
us so much that it causes a change of heart, not just a passing
acknowledgement.

When we really think about our sinfulness, what it cost
God’s son on the cross, and how we’re completely forgiven, exonerated from the
penalty of our sin because of the sacrifice of Jesus… It should do SOMETHING in
us. It should move us and motivate
us to produce fruit. Fruit that
comes from a heart that is completely transformed, not perfect by any means,
but transformed by the power of God to live and walk in a way that reflects the
holiness and grace of God.

I need to repent.
Not just once when I come to Christ. Not just when I blow it and sin big. Every day I need to examine my life, my
motives, my actions, my words… to see if there is “any wicked way in me”. (Psalm
139:24). Trust me… there
will be. And instead of glossing
over it, dismissing it, or managing it behaviorally, simply REPENT. Turn from it. Turn toward Christ.
Renounce it. Close the door
on it. And receive His grace that
He has given so freely… and then bear fruit, not that comes from your
manufactured works… but that is an overflow of a repentant heart.

What are things in my life RIGHT NOW that I need to repent
of? In my distant past? Is there anything (sin) that I’m
holding onto that keeps me from bearing fruit?

Ask the question… is my sinfulness, known or unknown,
keeping me from bearing fruit? What could happen if true repentance
occurred in my life? Fruit bearing
that multiplies exponentially.