Repent to Change

It is amazing some of the things we will try in order to change things we don't like about ourselves.  Thousands of books and programs have been written to help people lose weight.  People will spend thousands of dollars trying anything to help them stop doing the things they don't want to do.  Smoking is another example.  People will spend all sorts of money trying to stop.  We all have things we know we need to stop doing, but how do we become successful at it?

King David found himself in a situation where he had to start living differently.  He had allowed the Attitude of "I'm the King and can do anything I want to do" to take over his life.  Believing this lie he counted his troops when he wasn't supposed to.  He didn't go to battle, committed adultery, and killed Uriah.  Not looking good for King David.

So how does he stop?  He repents.  Psalms 51 is beautiful.  It is what repentance looks like.  Repentance has 3 elements to it.  First it is confession.  In our mind we have to believe we are wrong and then we need to say we are wrong.  And we are not wrong because we got caught but because we are wrong!!  Second is contrition which is emotion and expression.  Ever have someone apologize to you and you know they don't mean it.  We do the same thing.  I am sorry is not contrition without the accompaniment of the right emotions and expression.  We should fell the wrong and it should be evident in our expressions.  Finally it is all about change.   Authentic repentance always ends up in change.  If there is no change there is no repentance.  That might sound harsh but to repent is to turn around.  We turn to Jesus and away from our destructive behavior.

So the time is now to repent and turn away from sin.  It is the only way to change.

Pastor Ed