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REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “Steps to reconciliation: Repentance” Repentance means a sincere turning away from sin in both the mind and heart to receive forgiveness and to reconcile with God. We looked at confession as the first step to reconciliation, in this reflection we shall look at repentance as the second step to reconciliation. Repentance is a promise one makes to oneself and God never to go back to sin. We shall reflect on the fact that God does not desire mere repentance but genuine repentance.

Beloved in the Lord genuine repentance simply means a journey of no return. Once we take that all-important decision and have the conviction to follow the will of God which is revealed in the His Word, we must never go back to our sinful ways again. God was not happy with the Israelites when they returned to their formal way after they made a covenant with God to liberate their fellow Israelites whom they had kept as bonded slaves. “Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name. ¹⁶ But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.” (Jeremiah 34:15-16). Dear friend, God takes us seriously, especially when we make promises based on His Word. It is therefore dangerous and unacceptable to God when we make promises or a covenant with God to repent but we renege or go back on our promises. When we read Jeremiah 34:17 we see the ramifications or consequences of mere repentance when our hearts and minds are still filled with evil or sin, ““Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the LORD—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth. (Jeremiah 34:17) Dear friend, are you the type of Christian who habitually prays the prayer of repentance and vows not to engage in a particular sin but always go back to that sin?

Repentance is an important condition that must be fulfilled before forgiveness and reconciliation will take place between us and God. It is for this reason, God said to the Israelites that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ¹⁵ Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. ¹⁶ I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. (2 Chronicles 7:14-16). Again to prove that repentance is a necessary condition to be fulfilled before forgiveness, reconciliation and salvation, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:5-6 ) In other words, confession and genuine repentance are conditions precedent to spiritual rebirth or regeneration. The Spirit of God lives in us when we genuinely repent but when we have not genuinely repented, we continue to live in the flesh and stand condemned until we have taken the decision to repent genuinely. The writer of Hebrews greatly admonished us, to genuinely repent when he wrote “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴ We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14) Again, as a sign of genuine repentance, Paul also encouraged us “…in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) Beloved in Christ, if there is any better time to repent, it is now! Tomorrow is never promised, let us take advantage of the grace available to us today, confess our sins and repent from our evil and disobedient ways, receive the forgiveness of Christ and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit and be saved.

In summary, we have learnt that God does not desire mere repentance but genuine repentance. Shalom.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, may our hardened and unrepentant hearts and minds be softened and humbled through our obedience to God’s Word and genuine repentance. Empower us to overcome sin and never go back to our old ways after we have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Amen.