You Must Repent
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” (Acts 3:19)
We can learn to trust someone again by offering them forgiveness. You might find yourself on the other side of the equation. What if you are the one who has hurt someone or who has caused someone you care about to lose their trust in you? If this is true for you, please understand that restoration is possible, but it won’t be easy and it won’t happen instantly.
Forgiveness is something we are given, usually after we apologize; whereas trust is something we must earn back, and that takes time. The reason it takes time is because repentance is a process. It is not an immediate scenario.
Robert Smith once said, “True repentance has a double aspect. It looks upon things past with a weeping eye and upon the future with a watchful eye.” The Lord doesn’t want us to just apologize when we mess up and then go about life as normal. He wants us to show true remorse for what we did, and to repent for our mistakes. He wants us to turn away from sin and turn toward Him in obedience. In doing so, we can begin to earn back the trust from the people we have hurt and disappointed.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19) Repentance means turning from sin toward God, toward righteousness. When you repent, you are turning from sin and walking in the opposite direction (making a 180-degree turn).
Because repentance is tied to action, it results in changed behavior. A changed life with new behavior makes your repentance tangible and visible. If you have truly repented of sin, other people should be able to see the difference. In turn, they will desire the Savior who changed your life and gave it new meaning and direction.
We can learn to trust someone again by offering them forgiveness. You might find yourself on the other side of the equation. What if you are the one who has hurt someone or who has caused someone you care about to lose their trust in you? If this is true for you, please understand that restoration is possible, but it won’t be easy and it won’t happen instantly.
Forgiveness is something we are given, usually after we apologize; whereas trust is something we must earn back, and that takes time. The reason it takes time is because repentance is a process. It is not an immediate scenario.
Robert Smith once said, “True repentance has a double aspect. It looks upon things past with a weeping eye and upon the future with a watchful eye.” The Lord doesn’t want us to just apologize when we mess up and then go about life as normal. He wants us to show true remorse for what we did, and to repent for our mistakes. He wants us to turn away from sin and turn toward Him in obedience. In doing so, we can begin to earn back the trust from the people we have hurt and disappointed.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19) Repentance means turning from sin toward God, toward righteousness. When you repent, you are turning from sin and walking in the opposite direction (making a 180-degree turn).
Because repentance is tied to action, it results in changed behavior. A changed life with new behavior makes your repentance tangible and visible. If you have truly repented of sin, other people should be able to see the difference. In turn, they will desire the Savior who changed your life and gave it new meaning and direction.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Building Men Over MembershipsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryFaith Beyond Your FamilyGod’s Purpose In Your PainAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining EncounterA Desire To ServeA Faithful and Helpful FriendRestoring Broken RelationshipsThe Power To RestoreA Guilt-Free LifeA Hand Of BlessingA Heart Of RepentanceAllowing God To Do The ChangingAre You Feeling Stuck?Trust His HeartBe Ready For InterruptionsFull of the Holy SpiritDefeating DepressionPowerful Prayers and a BurdenThe Triumphal EntrySurrender Your Life to ChristGratitude Is The Gateway To ContentmentGratitude Is A Defense Against AnxietyDealing With DoubtFocus On The WordGiving and ServingListening Instead Of Talking
February
3 Keys To A Heavenly PerspectiveA Faith Rooted in FactA Faith That Draws or DrivesWhy Support Israel?The Danger Of Being Full Of YourselfLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureGod Is All-SufficientGuided By ProblemsJoy In The Midst Of ProblemsRemember Who God IsA Brand New Glimpse Of JesusA Call To God’s ChurchA Childlike FaithA Christ-Honoring EpitaphA Church On FireA Faithful and Helpful FriendA Personal AnswerA Public AnswerBe Sensitive To Your WitnessAwakenings and Quiet TimesCraving Spiritual MilkEmbracing Your Second ChanceSigns Of True RevivalResisting EvilBe DifferentBe AstuteBe Loving
March
Witness with Your WordsGod’s Word Is EnoughStay Rooted In The TruthA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouHave You Met Christ?Focus on the GiverEncountering God’s GraceStanding Accountable Before GodBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardImmeasurably MoreLiving in DenialYour Salvation MomentWhat Does It Look Like To Be The Church?A Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementWhen You Need Hope The End Is Near Stand on the Word of GodA Gracious GiftCelebrating Through BaptismThe Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentGod Draws Us to HimselfFind Rest in the LordBearing The Burdens Of OthersPrioritizing Your Love For Christ
1 Comment
I don't knowingly hurt people. I do repent if I think I have. I look to Jesus for guidance each day. I want to be obedient to Him and be a good example of what a Christian needs to be