2 Corinthians 7:10 “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
John 8:31-32 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The things that hold us back in life are often the things we’re afraid to look at and let go of. We tend to find comfort in what we’re used to – even when those things are destructive to ourselves and others. It’s hard to be honest about what we don’t want to see.
When we fear change, we settle for the perceived safety of what we’ve grown accustomed to without understanding the life-changing blessings we’re missing out on. We may be too afraid of disappointment to hope for anything more. . . but what if there is more? What if our self-imposed comfort zones, self-defeating thought patterns, and self-defensive responses to life’s challenges are keeping us from an abundant life of purpose that is meant for us? What if we are called to this abundant life, but our complacency and fear of what it might cost us keeps us from saying “Yes” to the freedom of genuine transformation?
There is freedom in repentance because repentance confesses the truth. “The truth will set you free” . . . . free to be honest, free to forgive, free to love, free to trust, free to overcome, free to walk in righteousness . . . free not to have to pretend . . . free to be the new person we are called to be. But freedom can’t be experienced if we won’t step out of prison. Jesus Christ offers each of us freedom from all that enslaves us, and we’re free to receive this new, exchanged life of the Spirit by faith when we acknowledge our need for it – when we are finally humble enough to admit that we can’t save ourselves from sin, from shame, from our past, from our failures, from our fears, from addictions, compulsions, arrogance, stubbornness, and refusal to admit fault. We are invited to ask and receive forgiveness for all of those things from the One who paid the price for all of those things with His own atoning blood.
The word “repentance” means a changing of the mind that turns us away from the deadness of sin, and aligns our hearts with God. Just as the message of repentance preached by John 2,000 years ago prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus to begin, our own personal repentance prepares our hearts for life-changing rebirth through the Holy Spirit. When we finally see that our own efforts are not enough, we can by faith trust in Christ alone to make us new. When God gives you the grace to see your need for a Savior, ask Him to save you – not merely for a free ticket to heaven, but to save you from all the destructive ways that prevent you from living in this world as the radiant child of God you are called to be. Ask God for the grace to believe that leads to the freedom to live. Repent with eager anticipation – and prepare the way of the Lord!
Matthew 3:1-3 “Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of the one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’”
Mark 1:15 “and (Jesus) saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
by Laura Culpepper, Co-Founder & Mission Director
