“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV)

We are continuing our series on “What Does God Need?” As was stated before, many would say that God doesn’t need anything because He is the self-existent One; therefore, He is complete within Himself. This statement is true. God is sovereign, supreme, and the creator of all things. We, His people, are fragile and helpless without Him. Our needs are endless. For our needs to be met, God needs must be satisfied first.

If you read the previous articles on “What Does God Need?” you know God needs our obedience and humility. Without these virtues, we cannot fulfill the third requirement, which is REPENTANCE. Throughout Scripture, God pleads with His people to “repent”—return to Me. If we are rebellious, doing our own thing and going our own way, God cannot and will not satisfy our needs and desires. Serving anyone or anything other than God, even ourselves, is idolatry. God hates idolatry and will not reward it. The promises He has made only applies to an obedient people.

God was explicit with Adam, disobey Me, and you’ll die. Of course, we know Adam disobeyed God. After this dreadful fall, God set in motion His plan of redemption—repentance, which leads to salvation. The word repent in the Old Testament when speaking of humankind, usually means turn, turn away, or return. In the New Testament, one of the words translated as repent is “metanoeo,” which means to think after. Thinking involves the mind. Repent means to change one’s thinking or perception. This change of mind is a result of a contrite heart—a heart that is humbled and broken before God.

In Psalm 51, we see a portrait of a repentant heart. David wasn’t merely sorry that his sins were exposed when he committed adultery, but He was grieved, humiliated, and genuinely broken. He had sinned against the God who loved him so deeply. He expressed, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight…” (v.4). God was merciful toward David and restored His soul.

God delights in repentance, He remembers that He made us of dust and our flesh is weak. His desire is that when we fall—sin against Him, that we quickly repent of our transgressions. God is usually the first Oneto tug at us because He wants us to return to Him, and He has a reward waiting for us. Isaiah 55:7 states, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

God is waiting for us to humble ourselves and return to Him. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV).

Repentance is the foundation of the Christian faith. The only way of being assured of fellowship with God and a participant of His kingdom is to repent—return to God. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, had one message, repent. “…Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…” According to Matthew 3:2, Jesus began His ministry with the same message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 9 NKJV).

One of the antidotes in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that we so eloquently quote for the healing of our land is “repentance.” “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn[repent] from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

My beloved, if our world is going to be healed of its ills, we, God’s people, need to REPENT. We must return to God with whole-hearted devotion, which means laying aside our sacred cows, religious, and legalist ways and seek God with a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

What does God need?  Our walking in obedience, humility, and repentance is His requirement.

Pray…

Lord, have mercy on me. Give me the grace and strength to humble myself and repent when I sin against You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Posted by on Wednesday, May 6th, 2020 @ 12:07AM
Categories: Empowering, Encouragement, Inspirational