SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 34
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. [2 Chronicles 34:27]
Am I really sorry? Do I really feel bad about my sin?
Have you ever received an apology that did not seem sincere; how can you tell?
How can God tell whether our apology (confession, repentance) is sincere?
In today’s passage, there is evidence that accompanies the repentance.
Josiah shows it by his actions.
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the axe of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. [Matthew 3:8-10]
The religious leaders in Jesus’ day were self-confident, certain that they were good enough.
They kept lists of all the good things they did, as well as of the things they did not do.
In their own way they were zealous, like Josiah, for the honour of the temple.
And yet there was something missing, something wrong.
John the Baptist exposes this by pointing beyond their religious and ceremonial purity to their immoral and cruel attitudes and actions.
John the Baptist points them to the pride, the greed, the lust, the arrogance, etc. that lay hidden beneath the surface of their religiosity!
God’s anger is because of these things, and His judgment remains a serious issue.
This world is not the way its supposed to be, but God is at work putting things right.
His concern is not temples or religious ceremonies; His concern is righteousness and goodness, He is working to restore truth and integrity and morality!
When we repent, this is not just a technique to impress God, or get something we want from Him.
Repentance is the sincere admission that something is wrong in us, that we are not measuring up to the will of God, the way things ought to be.
Repentance includes hatred for that which is wrong, and a longing for what is right.
Repentance includes a determination to change, to stop doing that which is sinful and to start doing what is good.
Repentance is not real unless it includes actions.
God can tell whether I am truly sorry for what is wrong in my life; He can tell if I am sincere and determined to change.
Today He is calling me to prove by the way that I live that I have repented and turned back to Him!
PRAYER:
Lord, today I hear You calling me to prove it, not just say it. Like Josiah, may my repentance be sincere!