LENT and the Corpath Member - WEEK 3
Over the next few weeks Monday Meditations will be looking at the topic of the Lenten Season and how we, as Corpath members, can embrace and participate with this meaningful time in the Christian calendar.
We are now starting the third week of the Lenten Season, which focuses on the topic of REPENTANCE.
“Go and say you’re sorry and make it right!”
I heard these words quite often from my parents when I was growing up. Usually, it was because I was fighting with my brother or a friend. Also, at the age of 6 or 7 years old, I was strongly encouraged to make things right when I stole a pack of bubble-gum baseball cards from the local grocery store. It was during these times in my childhood that my parents taught me the act of REPENTANCE. In most cases, I repented of my wrongdoing only because I was forced to. Why should I say sorry to my brother when he hit me first??? Most times, these incidents carried casual consequences that lasted for only a week or two as my discipline was carried out, but the true feeling of repentance eluded me.
Q: What are some of the incidents from your youth that required your apologies? (We all have them!)
Now that I’m older I realize that true REPENTANCE comes from a place of deep respect and love. It’s meant to put things right in a relationship between me and others. There are several steps we need to take to make the act of repentance honest and course-altering.
Let me explain it this way …
Repentance begins with REFLECTION and/or REVELATION.
Oftentimes, we cannot see the errors of our ways. Our intentions might indeed be pure, but our actions sometimes have an unintended negative effect on those around us. At other times, in a moment of high emotion, irrational thinking, and selfishness we willfully do something that causes pain to others. When we have a heart that follows God we choose to reflect on these incidents when they are brought to our attention. Reflection and revelation create in us an awareness of our wrongdoing.
Reflection then leads to RECOGNITION.
Recognizing and taking ownership of our wrongdoing is a critical step in leading to repentance. How can we truly repent of something we don’t know (or agree) we have done? Our sinful and egregious ways create a chasm between us and someone else. RECOGNITION of our faults requires us to admit, sometimes publicly, that we are the perpetrator, the culprit, or the offender in a situation.
Recognition leads to REPENTANCE.
Having a contrite heart. Feeling regret, sorrow and/or remorse over a situation we have caused. Committing to amending our ways. These are all parts of REPENTANCE. It is the admission of guilt or sin that also includes the sincere desire to “do better” going forward. Of course, we can never be perfect, and some sinful and negative habits require time and effort to heal and progress.
REPENTANCE then hopes for RESTORATION.
REPENTANCE is an act that can only occur between people, and its main purpose is to restore relationship with the person(s) we have offended. When we accept ownership and ask for forgiveness, it hopes for the RESTORATION of the relationship. Restoration isn’t always guaranteed as it requires forgiveness from the person who has been offended. However, this shouldn’t change our hearts from maintaining an attitude of repentance.
There are many examples of REPENTANCE and restoration in the bible.
Psalm 51 - David confesses his sin of adultery and seeks restoration from God.
Luke 22:54-62 - Peter weeps over his sin.
John 21: 1-17 - Jesus restores Peter.
Luke 15:11-24 - The prodigal son repents and is restored.
Finally, our God is loving and forgiving. We can be confident that when we approach Him with a heart of true repentance He will always forgive and restore our relationship with Him.
1 John 1:1-9 (NLT) says it best:
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So, we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practising the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”
Q: Are there any situations that require you to repent in a relationship? What will you do to seek restoration?
Spend some time this week in reflection. Ask God to reveal to you any incidents where recognition and repentance are needed. Commit to amending your ways and seeking forgiveness restoration.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for these messages during the season of Lent. I ask you to reveal to me any situations that require my repentance. I submit to the act of seeking restoration of relationships. You have called me to lead a life of love and I pray you would soften my heart in areas where I may be hardened. Give me the courage to act with humility where necessary. I thank You for the examples and teachings of Jesus. Show me more. Amen.
Blessings always and all-ways,
Steve Shrout
President
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this email is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development and SPIRITUAL growth.
