Our 65th Word is Repent
The simple definition is to rethink and redirect your life.
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of god has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
For many people the word repent triggers uncomfortable memories: Stern, sweaty preachers thundering away at sin and at all those sinners squirming in the pews. Deep feelings of spiritual shame. Hot tears of regret. Fears that maybe God wants to “smite” me?
The Old Testament word translated “repent” means “to turn around, go back, or return.” In the New Testament, the Gospel word that gets translated “repent” means literally “to change one’s mind.”
Putting these two ideas together is a shock to many. Because when they do, they see the biblical idea of repentance is a positive, not a negative, thing! Biblical repentance involves insight from above, having your eyes graciously opened by God’s truth, so that you suddenly see in new, true ways. Once you change your mind about spiritual realities, you can’t help but turn back from old, wrong ways. In short, repentance is the act of rethinking and redirecting your life.
Often this life-giving, life-changing insight does come through passionate preaching, and it can prompt a deeply emotional response. But when it comes to repentance, feeling badly takes a backseat to seeing the truth of God and submitting to it.
When Jesus officially began His earthly ministry by declaring, “The time has come…The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15, emphasis added), He wasn’t berating anybody. He was saying, “People, open your eyes! See what’s true! Then come back! Come home! Put your faith in me and believe the good news I’m announcing.”
In short, the biblical call to repent, to turn away from sin and return to God, is less a condemnation and more of an invitation! The Lord is trying to steer us away from paths, though they look appealing, actually lead to great harm. His desire is for us to find life in all its fullness.
Martin Luther said, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” In other words, repentance is not a one-time act at the beginning of the spiritual life; it’s an ongoing, daily practice for believers. it’s as we continually study God’s Word, and follow the promptings of God’s Spirit, that our minds are renewed and our lives are transformed.
Obviously, it’s not enough to simply know the meaning of the word repent. Disciples are people who consistently live as Jesus commands, people who “do the word”.
In what specific part of your life today do you need new insight, and to go in a different direction? Ask God to show you what repentance looks like…
- in your work life,
- in your family interactions,
- in how you view and handle money,
- in an unresolved conflict,
- in how you engage those who are far from God,
- in how you spend your time,
- in your use of social media,
- in your attitudes toward others.
Questions to Ponder
- What do you think when you hear the word repent?
- What about the contention that repentance isn’t primarily emotion, but action, seeing the truth of God and submitting to it?
- That repentance is basically rethinking and redirecting your life?
No Thought Police 