Repent

Back to Worship!
Terry R. Baughman

“So they went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12 NKJ).

A turn-around is required when God calls us to follow Him. The natural inclination is to follow a path which leads away from God, and toward evil. Isaiah cried out, “Let the wicked forsake his way, … let him return to the Lord” (Isaiah 55:7 NKJ). That is ever the call of the Spirit to the unrighteous. God is unwilling to allow us to go our own way and leave His presence, without an invitation, a plea to return and repent. Peter said He is, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJ).

We walk on opposite trails as we pursue the path of our own desire. Often we find ourselves vacillating back and forth, sometimes seeking His way, and then being drawn back down the road of rebellion. Somewhere the decision must be made to repent, take the nearest exit, and return to the Father’s house from where we have departed.

The idea of turning around, is seen in the writing of the prophet Jeremiah. He revealed God’s heart when he wrote, “‘O Israel,’ says the Lord, ‘if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more’” (Jeremiah 4:1 NLT). Throughout his prophecies Jeremiah pled with the people to return their hearts, their loyalty, and their worship to the Lord. Yet they persisted in their rebellion against God. Backslidden in heart they were enamored with idols and caught up in pagan worship. True repentance leads back to a pure relationship with God and renews a spirit of worship to the one and only Lord of Glory. 

Repentance is an about-face, a 180 degree change of direction. Jesus came preaching a message of repentance. He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32 NKJ). He brought new life and an eternal hope of salvation. Luke wrote, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ).

A return to worship and the decision to follow the call of Christ requires an altered mind and a change of heart. Though we may make that cognitive decision, it is often a challenge to pursue His path and follow His voice. That is where the conversion is essential. Peter said, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19 NKJ). 

It is through the Spirit we receive power to overcome the flesh, defeat natural desires, and follow Christ fully. Transformation in heart and mind results in a passion to worship Him. As Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23 NKJ).  

Among the final words of Jesus was the commission to preach the Gospel to the world. He said, “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47 NKJ). That message was declared not long after Jesus ascended into Glory and the Holy Spirit was poured out in an upper room in Jerusalem. Peter proclaimed, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 NKJ). That message continues to be preached around the world. Hearts continue to be stirred to return to the Lord, and the Spirit continues drawing people back to worship!

Theme passage:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NKJ).