Bible Verses: 1 Corinthians 13, Matthew 7: 1-6, James 2: 12-13
Repentance can be defined as expressing regret or remorse, especially for
misdeeds or moral shortcomings.
True repentance is to feel regret, ask God for forgiveness AND turn away from sin!
I will say that repentance is a change in your heart, and only God can judge your heart.
As a Christian, I have made the mistake of correcting and judging others without
knowing the full information.
For instance – I saw my friend arguing with someone. This lead to them fighting and not talking. I was quick to condemn my friend about his lack of patience and meekness.
Little did I realize, I was doing the same thing. Holy spirit had to call me out on my hypocrisy, and I had to repent and apologize to my friend. Then I reasoned and listened to my friend explain the situation, with love this time. We corrected each other and he resolved the situation with his other friend.
As you can see, no one should criticize others or correct others without having the full information. Also, we should ALWAYS correct others in LOVE, not with a judging spirit.
In James 1 v 19-20 AMP
“Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].”
True listening involves understanding what someone else is saying and reflecting before answering.
Are you thinking like a Child or a Mature Adult?
Listening and understanding shows where your maturity level is!
Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 v 11-12 AMP
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now (in this time of imperfection) we see in a mirror dimly (a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma), but then (when the time of perfection comes, we will see reality) face to face. Now I know in part (just in fragments), but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known (by God).”
Most of us, think we know and understand what we are doing; however, a lot of our actions are based on emotional reactions and not logical/spiritual responses.
As we mature in our daily lives, we change and make better informed decisions, and this makes us better people.
As I said before, repentance is a change in heart, which is a daily, hourly and minute thing that we all need to do, as we mature further into the person God called us to be.
In Romans 3 v 23 NLT
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Everyone is a sinner; So, we all need to repent continuously.
Let’s Grow and Mature
Our maturity is core to our understanding, and the contents of our hearts, guide us into the image of God.
As we mature, we stopped doing childish things, which are denying the nature of self. The 'Nature of Self' is everything we desire regardless of who we hurt in the process, consciously or unconsciously.
We have a sinful nature – however, our sinful nature and desires are not welcomed in the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is important that we let the Holy spirit in us take control.
Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 26 v 41 AMP
“Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
In addition, Paul talks about the two natures in conflict in Romans 7 v 14 – 25 AMP.
But I focus on 18 – 20 AMP
“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my
worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.”
How to NOT be a Hypocrite Christian
Jesus also said in Matthew 7 v 1 – 6 AMP, with these focus points
- Do not judge, criticize or condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous
superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged
[unfairly].
- The standard you used to judge others (unfair ways) will be used for you.
- Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not
notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye?
- Reflect on your weaknesses and remove the speck in your eye (whatever that maybe –
anger, drunkenness, selfishness, and more), then you will be able to see clearly.
- Don’t be a hypocrite and help others in love, not in self-righteous attitude.
We all struggle differently and deal with different issues.
So, before casting your stone, repent in your heart and pray to God for help.
We need to assess our mind, heart and actions.
If you’re an unbeliever who is reading this right now, I hope and pray you read though all the post and find it your heart to reason and think about it.
However, if you’re a believer (Christian), I pray God touches your heart and shows you the areas you need to surrender and repent to Him.
For instance (examples from the bible)
- Saul a grown man encounters Jesus and his heart changes; Then Saul becomes Paul, not only in mind but also, in heart.
- King David killed Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) to take his wife; then he wrote Psalms 51.
- Jonah disobeyed, then repented and obeyed God’s instruction and more.
These are examples of people who fell short, but later surrendered to God.
So, whether you are a pastor, church member or worker, outcast by the church, or unbeliever, we ALL (everyone) need to repent and follow Jesus.
Watch Out for the Enemy!
One of the scariest things for me is sinning without realizing it.
This is where enemy ‘the devil’ thrives, because he is counting on our ignorance and lack of knowledge and then uses it against us.
Romans 6 v 1 – 2 AMP
“What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow? Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer?”
And in Hosea 4 v 6 AMP
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will].
Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.”
As a Christian, I think we are too quick to correct others without full information or examining our own motives.
Jesus teaches us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others.
The traits that bother us in others are often the habits, we have ourselves.
Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others.
Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own?
Do you ever think, “My sin is not as bad as him/her”?
If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism.
Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive yourself and then help others.
James 2 v 12-13 AMP
“Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin]. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.”
In God’s eyes, we are ALL sinners that fall short of HIS GLORY and can only be saved through Jesus!
Prayer:
Dear Father, help me to understand and to surrender the areas of my life that you need access too. I want you to open my heart to where I need to repent from being a hypocrite, so that I can come to you with a full and broken spirit. Pray for me Lord and help me with my weaknesses.
*If you have any questions email me – healingfountain7@gmail.com*
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