Last night while laying in bed thinking about the days events and talking to the Lord, I said something that I say every night before falling to sleep. I said to the Lord, "Father thank you for this day, I ask Your forgiveness for any sins that I've committed, good night." After I said that as I have for many years, I stopped to think about what I had just said. It was then I realized for the first time that what I was saying with out much thought or heart was nothing more than casual repentance. And as such it wasn't getting any further than my ceiling. Repentance by definition is more than just words that we say when we've been caught doing something wrong, or we're feeling guilty over something. According to Websters 1828 Dictionary, repentance is defined as the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God. Repentance includes not just voicing our grief over violating God's law, but turning from what we've done and willfully going in the opposite direction that we were previously walking that caused us to sin against Him. The Bible says in 2 Cor 7:9 "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner.." True repentance results in a change, a change of heart, direction and thought. And the fruit that is borne is that of a clear conscience and a pure heart towards God. I've done some soul searching today, with a desire that I won't offer casual repentance to God for my shortcomings and sins anymore. The greatest gift given to us from God besides His Son, is found in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" What a privilege we have in that we don't have to walk around with guilt when God is there to extend His mercy and forgiveness. But our repentance must not be casual, it must be genuine if its going to get His attention. And that my friends is the reality of it!
3 comments:
Years ago Charles Stanley wrote a book entitled "Casual Christianity", in it he describes the casual attitude you have described. How easy it is for any of us to develop a casual relationship with God or anyone else for that matter and not even recognize it. It is the difference between Saul and David, both sinned and in all reality neither men's sins were greater or lesser than the other...the difference was the heart, David was truly repentant, Saul just knew he had been caught. The spirit of Saul is in all of us from time to time...thanks for reminding me to be real with God and myself!
Thanks Pastor Neil, your blogs have really got me thinking, challenging me to come up higher and look at whats important. God bless!
i just happened onto your site this morning and i like it! will be visiting more often!
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