Repentance: A Terrifying Threat or a Loving Invitation?Paraugs

Regardless of how long we have walked with Jesus, you and I constantly need to check our hearts and remove any obstacles that can trip us on the path to our God-given destiny. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to, “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1).

Part of God’s invitation through John the Baptist was for people to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Matthew 3:3). If you and I choose to conceal our sin we willingly shut the door of our hearts on God and block ourselves off from His mercy. It is only the key of repentance that can open this door and make a way for the Lord to enter in.

This key is portrayed so beautifully in the famous parable of the Prodigal Son where Jesus tells the story of a young man who squanders his father’s inheritance, but eventually comes to his senses and decides to return to his father’s house. To our surprise and his, the son did not receive a cold shoulder, but a warm embrace from his father. No differently will we find God’s warm embrace when we repent of our sinful ways.

Remember, perspective is what allows us to see the same thing from different angles. Repentance doesn’t need to be seen as a terrifying threat of “turn or burn”, but rather as God’s loving invitation for us to step away from our sinful ways and into the abundant life that is made available through Jesus Christ.

God's invitation still stands; will you turn the key?

Pray: Jesus, give me the wisdom and courage to accept your invitation and help me to see repentance as a beautiful expression of my earnest love for you. Strengthen me so that I can turn away from sin and into your loving arms. Amen.