Yesterday we talked a little bit about repentance. We saw that as followers of Jesus, we should be repenting, which means a change of action and a change of thought. As we grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit and the Bible, we will find things in the word of God that should challenge our lifestyle. As Christians, we should want our lives to match up to what the Bible says.
This isn’t to say that we’re doing good works to gain salvation. Not at all. There is not a thing we could do to ever earn our salvation. But as a result of our salvation, we should be wanting to change to be more like Jesus. It’s Jesus that helps us and empowers us to change.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance – Matthew 3:8 (NIV)
Our repentance should produce fruit in our lives. So as God begins to show you things, you should begin to change.
Here’s an example. I realized one day that I was not honoring my mom the way the Bible described. (Ephesians 6:1). Instead, I was talking bad about her behind her back. I was snarky, disobedient, and very unkind. Then the Holy Spirit began to reveal to me that I wasn’t honoring my mom. I realized that I didn’t have to like my mom or agree with her decisions to honor her. Instead, I simply had to choose to honor her and treat her with respect because she was my mom.
So I repented. I changed my behavior and attitude toward my mom. I wasn’t perfect, but I began to stop talking bad about her. Slowly, through the course of time, I allowed what the Bible said to dominate my actions. That’s what repentance looks like. It’s seeing something the Bible or the Holy Spirit reveals to you and changing your course. It’s humbling yourself and allowing God to be the boss of your life.
So today, challenge yourself to practice repentance in any area the Holy Spirit is leading you. It might be honoring a parent, stopping lying, or something else. But be sensitive to the leading and begin to make steps to change. You’ll experience more joy and freedom as you let God change you daily.
