READ:
JEREMIAH 18:7-8
God is very
merciful. According to 2 Peter 3:9, it is not His desire for anyone to perish.
God gives everyone who comes into the world ample opportunity to repent and
know Him. It is unfortunate that people take him for granted.
In today’s reading, God says that after He has declared His intent to judge the wicked, that person or nation has something to do. If there can be heartfelt repentance, God will forgive and stay action. This is one benefit of true repentance.
Ahab was a wicked king in Samaria. He allowed much evil during his reign. His wife Jezebel was the head of idolaterers who daily feasted with hundred of Baal prophets thereby influencing the king and the nation into idolatry (1 Kings 21:25). One day, God sent Elijah to pronounce judgement on him.
Ahab was sad on hearing this, and he immediately tore his kingly robe and put on mourning clothes, and began to fast and pray for mercy while he forgot his position as king. Even his wife could not convince him to trivialize that judgement. He displayed true repentance. If you say you are truly sorry for your evil lifestyle, there will be godly sorrow, not remorse. You will become humbled and deliberately humble yourself. You will pray to God for forgiveness. You will also promise or take steps to prevent a return to the past sins. These are some evidences of a truly repentant person.
God was impressed by the works which accompanied Ahab’s repentance and not only forgave him, he deferred the judgement to the days on his son (1 kings 21:27-29). David, a beloved of God, committed some grievous sins. He murdered Uriah and married his wife. When Nathan came to pronounce judgement on him, he acknowledged his sin and instead of dying, because of his repentance the death penalty that hung over his head was waived and transferred to the fruit of his illicit relationship (2 Samuel 12:1-4). If you truly repent, the judgement already pronounced on you can be deferred. If you are a sinner, if you repent sincerely today, the death penalty on you will be totally taken away.
In today’s reading, God says that after He has declared His intent to judge the wicked, that person or nation has something to do. If there can be heartfelt repentance, God will forgive and stay action. This is one benefit of true repentance.
Ahab was a wicked king in Samaria. He allowed much evil during his reign. His wife Jezebel was the head of idolaterers who daily feasted with hundred of Baal prophets thereby influencing the king and the nation into idolatry (1 Kings 21:25). One day, God sent Elijah to pronounce judgement on him.
Ahab was sad on hearing this, and he immediately tore his kingly robe and put on mourning clothes, and began to fast and pray for mercy while he forgot his position as king. Even his wife could not convince him to trivialize that judgement. He displayed true repentance. If you say you are truly sorry for your evil lifestyle, there will be godly sorrow, not remorse. You will become humbled and deliberately humble yourself. You will pray to God for forgiveness. You will also promise or take steps to prevent a return to the past sins. These are some evidences of a truly repentant person.
God was impressed by the works which accompanied Ahab’s repentance and not only forgave him, he deferred the judgement to the days on his son (1 kings 21:27-29). David, a beloved of God, committed some grievous sins. He murdered Uriah and married his wife. When Nathan came to pronounce judgement on him, he acknowledged his sin and instead of dying, because of his repentance the death penalty that hung over his head was waived and transferred to the fruit of his illicit relationship (2 Samuel 12:1-4). If you truly repent, the judgement already pronounced on you can be deferred. If you are a sinner, if you repent sincerely today, the death penalty on you will be totally taken away.
MEMORIZE:
ISAIAH 55:7 –Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and
to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
