A Time of Refreshing

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord – Acts 3:19 (NIV)

There is utmost importance in taking the time to repent of sins. This is a fundamental truth of the Christian journey, and is one that we often forget and overlook. Have you ever wondered why our lives at times seem so heavy to bear? so burdensome and stressful to endure? If so, then we must begin to consider that we may be attempting to carry the weight of our own glory. The question is not about how and the methods by which we live this life by our own means and dignity. Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Thus Christian living does not lean on our own understanding of life, but rather in a life of repentance and full trust in who our Lord is – our source of life, hope, and salvation.

Over the last three weeks of rest that I have taken to begin this devotion again, there has been a deep truth in which I realized I have not understood with enough signifance. The heart of repentance. Just because we are saved and have become Christian, does not mean we stop repenting. It means that we ought to grow a greater heart of repentance. That even when I think I know best for my life or for the lives around me, I have completely missed the mark in comparison to the perfection of Christ. Nothing in this life is according to my justice, or righteousness nor my attempt at perfection, but rather in the recognition that it is truly only Christ that deserves such glory. But when I contrarily decide to deny that truth and attempt to live this life as my own, I find myself completely overbeared with an attempt to absorb a glory that has miles of fineprint which bind me to a responsibility beyond my human capacity. Glory was meant for our God, and it is only He who is worthy of it.

The Christian journey was never designed to be walked alone, but in harmony with God and humility amongst others. Repentance calls us to trust in God and deny my own foolish ambitions to trade it in for the participation of God’s grace which saves us and strengthens us until the day we go home to heaven.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us – Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)