Let this day be a memorable one in your life, as you experience the touch of the Lord in you to enlighten and transform you, to be led in the path of His destiny for you, as it is written – those who seek the Lord, lack no good thing. [Psalms 34:10] It is through, salvation, a right understanding of it, that the goodness of God becomes your life’s experience. It involves a renewing of your mind, by the word of God, by which you can know, recognize the will of God for your life, the goodness and perfection in it that makes it mutually pleasurable. [Romans 12:2] And you know that your mind is being renewed, even as you begin to think the thoughts of God, think rightly concerning yourself not to over estimate or underestimate yourself. [Romans 12:3] It is then that the understanding the truth of God’s nature, His goodness, you can be led to a place where you can surrender willingly to say unto Him, Not my will, but Yours be done.
God’s irrevocable gifting & calling:
And the key aspect of it would be – For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [Romans 11:29] His thoughts are higher, and greater than yours. And He does not change His mind; which is why, your mind needs to be renewed, that His thoughts may become yours. He does not alter His purpose, concerning you also, and what He has purposed stands. He chose you, knowing the real you. He knows your frailties, and it does not deter Him. The God who has declared, ‘I the Lord do not change’ [Malachi 3:6] knows how to work in you, to bring His plan and purpose to pass in your life. For, He is a faithful God, and He remains faithful, even when we are faithless, for He cannot deny Himself. And it only underscores the fact that you being seated in the gathering of saints, to worship Him, is purely His grace. And it is also why, the prophet Jeremiah, speaks forth the word of God saying, Let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises, loving kindness, justice and righteousness on earth. [Jeremiah 9:24]
God’s sovereignty & human responsibility:
It brings into play the sovereignty of God, and human responsibility, in understanding His plan and co operating with it, that His unchanging purpose for you, His plan for you may come to pass. For, if it is His will, His plan, it will automatically come to pass, is not how it works. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it, is the word of God that describes it very simply. He will fill your mouth with what is good. It is His will for you. But, to open your mouth for Him to do it, is your responsibility.
Repentance that is true:
And repentance is how it becomes possible, as the grace of God makes it possible in you; repentance that is a turning away from your own self made plan, and turning towards God, and His ordained will for you, to experience His plan, that is infinitely superior. Without repentance there can be no renewing of your mind, to recognize the goodness in the will of God for you, to be able to experience it in your life.
Remorse – a dead end:
Remorse, on the other hand, is a worldly sorrow that leads to a dead end. It is what happened in the life of Judas Iscariot, when he was filled with sorrowful remorse, in the knowledge and understanding of having betrayed innocent blood. And there is also the possibility of missing the right opportunity, when it is offered to you. An opportunity missed , forever- It is what the life of Esau teaches you and I, a sobering verse of scripture that declares – Afterward as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. [Hebrews 12:17] It is why, to not be conformed to the pattern of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, is the counsel of the word of God. It can be difficult to swim against the tide, and easier to go with the flow. But the Holy Spirit in you will empower you, even as you pray that the Lord keeps you soft in your innermost being, that His truth may penetrate in you through His love.
Repentance through godly sorrow:
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation, and leaves no regrets, but worldly sorrow brings death. [1 Corinthians 7:10] Godly sorrow need not be a paradox, for when you are sorrowful according to the will of God, He enables you to repent, by responding rightly when He confronts you with a truth, concerning yourself, that you need to face up to and acknowledge your wrong doing, instead of trying to justify it, all by the grace of God. Truth is difficult to see, especially when it is about one’s own self, for sin is complicated, and it can blind you. But the good God , has made your eyes so sensitive to a speck of dust, that tears involuntarily flow on sensing it. And something similar happens in your soul making it sensitive, when sin enters. The gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you, and empower you to come out of it, as you cooperate with Him.
Repentance & the blessing of God:
David was sensitive to the prompting of God, to be troubled in his conscience, immediately after he cut off a corner of a corner of king Saul’s robe, to repent of his sin, in touching the Lord’s anointed. [1 Samuel 24:6] But how deceitful the heart can be, is seen in how insensitive the same David was, when it came to his adultery with Bathsheba. God had to speak to him through the prophet Nathan, to point out his sin. But the wondrous part of it was that immediately, David was convicted of his sin, and repented. [2 Samuel 12:13] And even more wondrous was the Lord’s response to his repentance that came immediately, as Nathan said, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin,; you are not going to die’. [2 Samuel 12:14]
It depicts a beautiful and unchanging truth:
God’s attitude towards sin never changes. His attitude towards you, His purpose for your life does not change. And it becomes your life’s experience, at your point of repentance, that you may be blessed, to be a blessing. And in the words of the psalmist himself, may your heart’s cry this day unto the Lord, be that He would probe you, even as you drawn ear to Him, just as you are, that He would see if there was any hurtful way in you, to be removed of it, and be led in the everlasting way.
In repentance & rest, your salvation:
Father, We thank Thee for Your precious, life giving word. May it take deep root in our hearts, that we may be led to repentance, to bear fruits in according with it, even as our mind is renewed to recognize, understand, and experience the goodness of Your will in our lives. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.