The Gift of Repentance
It was the dinner hour of madness. Lewis, my 15 month old, was crying for food. Dinner was demanding my attention, as it was only halfway through and on the brink of burning. Lewis is scrummaging through the kitchen drawers, pulls out a heavy stoneware object and immediately drops it on his littles toes. I subsequently put said object on top of the fridge, while I hurriedly try to comfort my little guy, only for it to come crashing down once again upon opening of fridge doors as I attempt to gather the next ingredient for dinner. Thus leading to a terrifying noise that scarred me and Lewis half to death. More crying from Lewis, a high pitched scream from me. Music continues blaring in the background, because my dear children turned it up as loud as possible, adding to the cacophony of noise the other four kids are making.
Ahh! I blew up! I got angry. I yelled at the kids. Oh dear. Lord, help me! Thank God for quick conviction of the spirit. I repent. I acknowledge to my children that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I tell them I did not practice self-control, when all my buttons were pushed. I gave in to my frustration and stress. I am sorry. Thank God for children that are quick to forgive. Repentance is a sweet gift.
I can repent because Jesus paved the way for my reconciliation with God. I can repent because the grace of our Lord Jesus made reunion possible. It is certainly not a gift I deserve. Repentance acknowledges my need for a Savior. I grieve over my sinful nature that bursts out in anger and causes tears to spring on tender, unsuspecting cheeks. But true repentance doesn’t stop there, wallowing in my grief, self-pity, or condemnation. It rejoices in forgiveness! My complete forgiveness in Christ. I am forgiven. Accepted. Loved. My slate is clean. My debt is paid. My sin is buried in the depth of the sea, never to be brought for again. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat. God is sure giving me many opportunities to put my “new year mantra” into practice. We must preach the gospel to ourselves every day.
Consequently, that large stoneware object went directly into the trash. It needed to be there ages ago. But it did give me opportunity to repent and acknowledge my need for a Savior, so in a way, that object was a gift too.
“You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sins” (Romans 4:7-8)
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
