RPG Adults
REPENT AND RETURN!
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Leviticus 26
Psalm 51
“If they shall confess
their iniquity…”
REPENT AND RETURN!
One of the most humbling things in life is to admit that one is wrong. Ask any husband and wife, and the answer is obvious. This holds true between siblings and friends, and sadly between brethren in Christ too. One would expect that after salvation, it would be much easier to repent and return to God in Christ.
If Israel sinned against God, she could return to the LORD immediately. But Israel had to first repent of her sin. Repentance begins with admission of sin. That is usually where the problem lies. For example, when Israel was deep in centuries of idolatry (be it the sin of the golden calf or Baal worship), she did not repent for hundreds of years since the time of Joshua and shortly after the beginning of the period of Judges, and the divided kingdom of the kings when the golden calves worship commenced. Judges and many prophets were sent to rebuke Israel, but to no avail. The sad end was that the LORD had to send the Babylonians to cleanse the Land of Promise of the centuries-old idolatry. The provision of “repentance and return” was given to Israel from the very beginning even before she entered the Promised Land (cf. Lev 26:40-46). This was forever inscribed into the covenant that the LORD made with Israel. He knew that His people would sin even after they were saved in Christ. The LORD takes covenant-making very seriously. He always keeps His holy Word. Making Israel His people included providing for Israel an open door to holiness always.
Today, if we repent, He will also forgive us just as quickly as He forgave His people in Old Testament times. If we repent and return, He will warmly welcome us into His loving arms. 1 John 1:8-9: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 26:40-42
PRAYER: Father, forgive me of all my sins. Help me to stay away from sin and be holy for Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.