Repentance
This is not necessarily an easy topic to write about. Not because it isn’t true, but because it is true! It’s difficult in that it is not necessarily encouraging (what I enjoy writing about), but yet, when I think about it, perhaps it is the most encouraging thing I can write about. It’s a simple word: repentance.
John the Baptist and Jesus preached repentance. Over and over again. And yet, this word seems to have slowly faded over the years. We don’t hear it as much as we should. Why?
Obviously, we are drawn to sin—at first—and I think a lot of it has to do to the fact that we are simply blinded. We go through times where we don’t even see sin. Sure, we may feel a conviction in our heart, but all too often we are still blinded to the big effects of small sin.
Sin snowballs. It becomes heavier and heavier, larger and larger, until what was once of little threat becomes something huge.
All too often we sit in its distavorous aftermath and wonder: how did things get to this point?
Don’t let sin do that to you.
In 1 Peter 1:14-16 it states, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
Three verses here with a lot of meaning. Sometimes, in our human-imperfect state, we are like the child that doesn’t listen to the parent, and we touch the stove when it is hot. We get burned – we often like to test boundaries. We never think that those boundaries are for our good.
And yet, the Word of God is for our good. He doesn’t just tell us these things for no reason—everything is for our good.
Only you know what your sins are. Only I know what my sins are – areas I have been susceptible to. An area one person suffers in may not be the same as another. The devil knows where our weak spots are. The enemy forces know what we have struggled with, sometimes even as a young child. These temptations can come in many sizes: sexual, addictions, envy, self-dependence. God knows where you and I have the potential to struggle in. He has given us His Word, and we need to be alert. Otherwise, we are going to be blinded by our own sin!
Remember this: “…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
I believe repentance is an ongoing progress – it’s something we have to continually strive at. But you know what I just realized? Repentance is like the opposite of sin but with the same effects – the more you do it, the easier it gets – the more it snowballs (into something good!). Have you ever thought of that?
I think I’m going to end my post now. Sit with that. Start cleaning up your life, sin by sin. Watch your life transform with the power of Jesus.
I love you all. May we be spotless and ready for our Lord who redeems!
Your sister in Christ. <3
**P.S. for my brothers and sisters struggling with OCD specifically, I have found that repenting in one area of my life has greatly impacted/lessened my OCD. I hope that helps. God bless.