Pastor’s Corner: “The Turn Around”
Acts 3:19 (AMP) – “So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day].”
Somewhere along the way, “repent” became a negative word. When many people hear that word, they think of a guy holding a sign on the corner telling them to “turn or burn” because the end is near. But the world’s idea of what it means to repent is totally wrong. “Repent” is actually the most positive, transforming word in the world and it is one of our biggest blessings.
The word “repent” just means you change your mind. It’s not when you stop doing bad things—that’s the result of repentance. It means you used to think one way and now you think another way. You used to think guilty thoughts, and now you think forgiven thoughts. You used to think discouragement, and now you think peace. You used to think selfishness, and now you think of others first. You used to think ambitiously, and now you think about how to serve. You think about God as he really is—a kind and loving Father. You think about yourself as God sees you—with value and purpose. You think about what really has meaning in life.
Repentance is when you start rethinking your life in order to match how Jesus thinks. When you repent and turn from darkness to light, it’s not about not getting to do the things you want to do anymore. It’s about doing only the things that matter because your mind is set on what’s most important. Repentance is a blessing!
It may seem odd to think of repentance as a blessing, because it’s not something anyone looks forward to. Repentance is a blessing because it allows us to grasp the depth and love of God. And it’s an essential part of our life as Christians because Jesus calls us to it—and He is faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9). In repenting, confessing, and humbling ourselves before God, we are not merely turning away from our wrongs. We are embracing the Father’s love.
Think About It. Repentance frequently leads to some changed outward behavior, but the Lord wants us to experience a change in the direction of our heart as well. Think about your own experience with confession and repentance—have you felt more aware of or closer to the Father’s love? “So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day].”
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton