Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
In the years before I became a Christian I saw no need for repentance and even stranger would never consider myself a ‘Sinner’ (perhaps I even considered myself a little better than others).
I had a home a husband and beautiful children, deep inside I was content, however there was strife in our home…this strife was spoiling our lives. Neither my husband or I knew God, we had never read a Bible we didn’t go to Church or teach our children the way of Christ. But God knew us and the way we were living our lives was not his best for us, he left the 99 sheep, he began searching for us, to help us enjoy each other our wonderful home and children.
That was Jesus Christ Mission, personally for us, read Luke 15:1-7. In 1978 that strife at home led me into an extra marital affaire but in a dream Jesus Christ appeared to me and commanded me to return home, adultery and divorce was not God’s best for us either.
I had committed adultery in innocence of god’s laws but it proved providential; when Jesus Christ finally found us we were able to recognize our error turn to Christ and allow him to help us in our everyday lives.
For anyone who does not know Jesus Christ, and all of us who call ourselves Christians the word repentance is not a religious word written or spoken to make us feel guilty:
In 2002 I started a catering business from home and for many years was content and fulfilled, I was doing something I enjoyed whilst helping my husband to support us. Then one day I started to write down my recipes for friends and family, slowly I began to resent it when I had to stop writing to work and cook.
God was placing his dream in my heart, maybe instead of cooking I could become a great writer. I had no peace until I had faced my frustration. I had to turn around and go in a new direction. I had to place my trust in a God who could provide whilst I pursued my destiny.
This is repentance, trusting God as we turn away from anything that is not God’s best (his will) for us. His purpose is not to make us feel guilty or condemned if we get drunk or seek love away from home, he desires to show us a more fulfilling way. His love and acceptance of us….just the way we are can actually break our hearts; when Jesus asked Matthew the greedy tax collector if he could go to his house to share a meal with him his whole life turned around: Matthew 9 : 9-12 Matthew changed from a greedy cheating tax collector into a man who began giving back twice as much as he had stolen. God’s unconditional love had pierced his heart, repentance had overcome him, he desired to put things right.
For anybody reading this message, if you are experiencing any sort of frustration irritation or discomfort, pause a moment and pray a silent prayer from your heart. Jesus Christ may just be trying to get your attention. Then stop awhile and listen for that still small voice. I guarantee if you are sincere you wont be disappointed.
