Today is…

the day for true repentance.

“After two days, He will revive us; on the third day, He will restore us, that we may live in His presence.”  Hosea 6:2 NIV

We can hide nothing from God. We cannot hide what we do, what we say, what we think or what is contained within our hearts.

How often do we hear the words, “I’m sorry” and there is a certainty within us that the person saying the words is not sincere? Of even greater concern, how often are those words coming from our lips?

It is one thing to say something – anything – and it is quite another to mean it. Hopefully our understanding of God’s Word has taught us the importance of truth and sincerity at all times.  Some of us may wish to add here, “especially with God,” but the reality is that God wants us to be truthful and sincere at all times and with everyone.

There is one major difference between not being truthful and sincere with each other and not being truthful and sincere with God.

He knows.

The people of Israel had allowed the religious leaders to guide them away from God and into the worship of Baal. We all know that God forgives those who are truly repentant, but the people of Israel just assumed that God’s anger would subside in a few days and His promises of judgment would not come to fruition. For the most part, they all said, “We’re sorry,” but God looked into their hearts and knew that the words they were speaking were just words.

They were empty of truth, and devoid of sincerity.

Many times, people are sorrier for getting caught doing something than for the act itself. We must exercise extreme caution that this statement does not define us.

Because God knows.

God’s forgiveness is ours, but we must make sure that our repentance is something that comes from our hearts and not just an empty phrase coming from our lips.

*******

Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson