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God uses His prophets as human mouthpieces. They share His word, issue His warnings, and serve as human hands to do His bidding on the earth. One such tool was John the Baptist, who came as a precursor to Jesus. He preached to people to repent and live godly lives so that they would be ready to receive Jesus when He came.
He also taught in Luke 3:8 - Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
By saying this, John was cautioning the people of his time never to forget that they repented and thereby return to their sinful lifestyles or habits. This message was key for those around him, but it remains crucial for every person who desires to be in right standing with God today.
How many of us feel bad for something we've done, say sorry, and even mean it, but soon return to doing the very thing we apologized for? Only a liar would say this has never happened to them, and such a person will be confronted with that untruth on the day of our Lord.
Now, for those of us who can admit our imperfection, let us take heed of John's admonishment. It is easy to forget that when we repent, we are to live in a way that reflects the choice made to repent. We must make intentional decisions to protect ourselves from repeating the sin.
Remember that song that made foul language seem familiar again? So much so, you spoke or wrote a curse word when you'd previously repented and turned away from such communication? That song, and others like it, can't be allowed to control you anymore. Same with that show you watched that encouraged lustful thoughts and images in your mind. You need to hate that show and the results it helped create, or else lust can take hold of you and cause you to fall back into the sin of lust, fornication, and other forms of sexual immorality.
This may seem extreme and far-fetched, but the reality is that this is how sin works. It creeps in a little at a time, beckoning like a familiar, old friend that you are comfortable with and even manage to miss if care isn't taken. And just like that, a person goes from repenting to returning to the sin they regretted and sought God's mercy for. Song of Solomon 2:15 - Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. We are the vineyard that must produce fruit reflecting our Caretaker and the love and patience He put into us.
Repentance creates a responsibility to consciously avoid the triggers that encourage us down the pathway of sin. It requires that we safeguard our lives so it is easier to make righteous choices that align with God's will and word for our lives. Part of safeguarding may mean curtailing our access to certain individuals, habits, and items. It also means doing more of certain things, such as studying God's word, praying, praising, fasting, interceding for others, and spending time in fellowship with other believers.
Yes, most of us prefer to be passive about things of God, but such passivity is detrimental, both physically and spiritually. If we want to make it to heaven, we need to take active steps to produce the fruits that reflect a life of repentance and submission to God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Only then shall we have a lifestyle that produces fruit in keeping with repentance. See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you!
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