According to the Jewish calendar, we are in a special time of year called Teshuvah. It’s a time set apart for repentance and returning to God. The Lord is inviting us into greater intimacy by searching our hearts with Him and responding with trust and obedience. Will you join me in entering this invitation?
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."
(Psalm 139:23-24, NLT)
As followers of Jesus, we are forgiven and received by the Father through the perfect blood of His Son. We don’t search our hearts because we're forced to, we search because we love the Lord and it's an opportunity to be freed from anything that might be hindering us from living a full life in Him.
Jesus is calling us higher. He says, “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go on your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23-24, MEV). Paul encourages, “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
The Lord has been speaking this message of repentance for the last few months in a variety of ways, even while we were visiting Times Square Church in New York while celebrating my mom’s birthday! Sometimes the Lord makes what’s on His heart really hard to miss!
So when He brought to mind a memory from high school of the time when I borrowed a pair of shorts from a friend and intentionally never returned them, I listened. I knew He wanted me to do something about it, to make things right. As I prayerfully thought on what to do for a few weeks, I was tempted to cast something so silly, something that had happened many years ago aside, but I wanted to honor His presence in my life. I wanted to share His perfect peace. I wanted to make Him proud of me.
The Lord helped me as I wrote a card and enclosed some money to replace what I’d taken over 30 years ago. I confessed what I'd done, said I’m sorry, and asked for her forgiveness. I'm thankful my friend was gracious in her response. I don’t know what all God will do with my obedience, but I am grateful for the opportunity to make things right. I'm grateful I didn't ignore it, grateful to be at peace with my King.
I believe it is time to seek the Lord. It's time to humble ourselves before Him, to listen and confess our sin, acknowledge our wrong and express regret, to change our ways, and ask for forgiveness. The Lord’s way is perfect and His presence and peace is worth it.
Real repentance requires believing that God is merciful, that He is near, and cares about all the details of our lives. It takes remembering the ways we have been forgiven and restored. It takes believing He is for us and with us, and desires to help us keep growing up in Him. It takes believing that what we do in obedience to the Lord will stand and please Him for eternity.
"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul
to what is false and does not swear deceitfully" (Ps. 24:3-4, ESV).
Francis Frangipane adds, "We cannot even find the hill of the Lord, much less ascend it, if there is deceit in our heart. How does one serve in God's holy place if his soul is unclean? It is only the pure in heart who perceive God. To ascend toward God is to walk into a furnace of truth where falshood is extraced from our souls. To abide in the holy place we must dwell in honesty, even when a lie might seem to save us. Each ascending step upon the hill of God is a thrusting of our souls into greater transparency, a more perfect view into the motives of our hearts" (Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of God, 2011).
Searching our hearts with the Lord and responding in repentance is not only best for us, it's also a blessing for our family. When we choose God’s way, we show the ones we love the way to walk the narrow road.
Let's enter into this invitation to climb God's holy hill by searching our hearts with the Lord and responding with trust and obedience...
"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
and let him return t0 the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him,
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
(Isaiah 55:6-7, MEV)
(Isa. 55:6-7, NKJV)
Let's Pray
Father God,
We humble ourselves, acknowledging there are places in our heart that need Your truth and light. It's hard for me to see sometimes, hard to admit where I've done wrong, but I confess, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just when You speak, and blameless when You judge" (Psalm 51:6, TLV).
I open my whole heart to You and wait and listen for Your response."Surely You desire truth in the inner being. Make me know wisdom inwardly" (Psalm 51:8).
(Listen)
Thank You Lord. "Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:9). "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (vs. 12).
Teach Me Your way. Show me how to walk in truth. I believe when You say, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will give counsel—My eye is on you" (Psalm 32:8).
I will do what You lead me to do.
"What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record." (Psalm 32:1-2, TLB)
Thank You, Father, for peace that comes from repentance, from obeying You, and walking in Your way. Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy. Thank You for Your perfect presence.
I love You, Lord.
In Jesus' name, I pray,
Amen.
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