Repent and Turn to the Lord

Still, the LORD warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commands and statutes according to all the law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through My servants the prophets." ~2 Kings 17:13 HCSB

King after king of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  The people turned from God to worthless idols and thus became worthless themselves.  They would not listen to the prophets and their hearts became hard.  They refused to listen to the Lord’s prophets whom He sent to warn the people.  Year after year they devoted themselves to doing evil and abandoned God.  The Lord became very angry and removed them from his presence.  

Assyria invaded Israel and the people were removed.  The people were exiled from the land.  Despite the evil of the people the Lord sent prophets to warn them to turn from their evil ways.  Time after time, prophet after prophet the Lord pleaded with them to turn and they refused.  This pattern is repeated throughout the Old Testament.  Because of people’s refusal to follow God commands and statutes, God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to live the sinless life we could not.  He went to the cross and nailed our sin on it.  He received on himself the punishment we all deserved.  

By putting our faith in what Christ did in our behalf we are justified before God and are forgiven of all sin.  We can stand in His presence and we are no longer exiled.  By putting our faith in Christ, we repent of our sin and turn to Christ.  “Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19 HCSB)  We turn from sin and turn towards Christ our sins are wiped out and a season of refreshing comes from being in the presence of the Lord.  We can come before the Lord with boldness, with clean hands and clean hearts.  The burden of sin is relieved and we can rejoice in the glory of the Lord.  So today, repent of your sins, confess them to Christ and trust in His faithfulness to forgive and renew. 

Lord we repent of our sins!  We turn from sin in our lives and we turn to You.  We pray you will forgive us and renew our hearts.  Lord thank you for Your forgiveness, thank you for Your Son who makes this possible.  Praise the Lord for He too wonderful for those who love Him!  Amen