Matthew 4: 17 from that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (TNIV)
Repentance is the first step to having the kingdom of God to enter our lives.
What is repentance?
Repentance is the profound change of mind involving the changing of the direction of life from that of self-centeredness or sin centeredness to God or Christ Centeredness. God’s forgiveness is available only to those who are repentant, for only they can receive it.
Without repentance we can not seek to serve God in our lives. Without the profound changing of our minds and hearts to that of Christ’s centeredness all roads stop. We are dead in our track so to speak. There can be no coming to Christ without the first and essential step of repentance.
It is at this first step of repentance we take a survey of our life and where we are headed and notice it is not in the directions of Godliness. Repentance is the hammer that starts to break down our self-centered throne. Repentance is the beginnings stages of allowing Christ to be on the throne of our hearts. Repentance is the start of our new faith in Christ centered life. Once we repent then the doors of our life can open to began receiving the gifts of God from salvation to blessing that are above comprehension.
Repentance is an on going life long process that we must daily embark up on. We daily need to change the direction of our mind to focus on the things of God.
Matthew 4:17 from that time on Jesus began to preach,”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.
Very early in Christ ministry he was teaching about repentance. Even before he called his disciples Jesus was asking us to repent. If you want to see God work and move in you lives then do what he ask and repent. Get humble before him and ask what areas of my life do I need repentance in? Without repentance there can be no atonement for sin. Without repentance there can be no salvation.
If we want to truly be able to be taught by Christ we must take the first step in the process and repent of having ourselves on the throne of our hearts. We must repent of the things in our life that put a barrier between us and Christ. Once we have repented of theses thing it is then that Christ has the freedom to work and movie in our lives. It is then that he is able to make us what we are fully meant to be in him. Our whole life and work in Christ starts at that one moment when we repent. Once we are repentant we will know the love, joy, hope and peace that only Christ can give. It is then that we can be made fishers of men. It is then that we can start on our never ending love story with Christ.
I ask you today, when was the last time you got alone with Christ and repented. No it is not a one time deal! As we grow in our love for Christ we will see more and more areas in which we need to repent. It is then that Christ can bring his love into those areas of our life and make us fully whole.
What part of you life are you holding on too that part where you think that you know best? I ask you today to give it to Christ and repent. Allow his all consuming love to fill each and every area of your life. Repentance makes for a happy and clean spirit before the Lord. The burdens that we carry are laid at the feet of Jesus to be picked up no more.
Let’s go to the Lord in Prayer.
Father God we come before you today with repent hearts. Father we ask that you will help us to lay down those burdens at your feet. We ask father that you help us to accept the love that you have for us. Father help us to have our slate wiped clean by your blood. Help us to then live in the abundance of your love in knowing that our slates are wiped clean and that we have a refreshing start with you and Know that those things will never be brought back up again. Help us to have a victorious and exciting Christian walk in you. Help us to live that refreshed life in knowing that the kingdom of heaven has come near.
Amen
