What Is Repentance?
Repentance is confession with action. Not a way to religiously beat people up.
How do we find God’s Kingdom?
Repent.
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!””
Not the religious beat stick repent. The “repent and make your life right to God” religious version of repent.
This is anti-Jesus.
Repent is turning around. Deciding you’re heading in the wrong direction and turn in a new direction.
Repentance is confession with action.
You recognize your way isn’t working. It is killing you. You are spinning your wheels and not making any progress.
And you decide to give God’s Kingdom way your attention and direction.
It’s, “I’ve ______ed this up and you have to come fix this.”
Or it’s, “I don’t know where to turn and I know you’re close.”
Or it’s, “I know you want me to lead my kids to see your Kingdom, but I don’t know where to start.”
Or it’s, “I got here by Hearing & Following you. I think. But maybe I didn’t. How did I get here? I think I’m supposed to be here. Maybe. Probably. Kinda. I think you’re with me, but I wonder about that sometimes too. I just need something to let me know I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
You cannot fix yourself. You cannot bring God’s Kingdom into your life and the life of your family. You cannot do what God is leading you to do without his strength and direction.
Repentance is the foundation of your Hear & Follow relationship with God. You repent because we know we cannot do anything of significance without God’s intervention. You repent because you know God’s Kingdom is close and you want more.
Leaders have a hard time with this concept. You strive to make something happen. Life isn’t right, you work harder to make it right.
Instead the Gospel is to strive less, not more. Lay your life before God and beg him to fill you in a way all the striving in the world could never do.