2 Chronicles 30:9 “If you return to the Lord, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

What a lovely invitation to repentance! The Northern Kingdom had been wiped out by the Assyrians as a judgment from the Lord, and King Hezekiah was inviting those who were left to recognize why all this had happened and turn to the Lord. Sadly, many declined the invitation, but some accepted it, and were greatly blessed in consequence. Precisely the same thing is seen today. We all have trials in our lives, just as Jesus pointed out, (John 16:33) but such things are opportunities to turn more closely to God and allow Him to adjust our attitude, so to speak. As many people have pointed out, it’s not what happens to us that matters, so much as it is how we respond to it. Conversely, repentance isn’t just a feeling, it’s how we act on that feeling, the changes we make to correct what is wrong. In this case, the people of the Northern Kingdom were being invited to literally put feet to their repentance, walking all the way to Jerusalem, which probably most of them had never done before. I would guess that over the days of the journey that anticipation must have risen in them for what was going to happen, and the record is that they weren’t disappointed. When we too repent in truth, actively making the changes indicated by Holy Spirit, we too can look forward to blessings we probably haven’t imagined, because God is so incredibly gracious and merciful.

I too have experienced the blessings of repentance, but that’s no reason to sin so that I can then repent! I have learned that the path of greatest blessing is the one of walking in step with Holy Spirit, listening attentively to Him all the time. (Galatians 5:25) As a pastor I have run into numbers of people who were reluctant to repent, either because they loved their sin or they were afraid of what would happen if they discarded it. To be honest, I’ve had moments of such feelings myself. However, such hesitation shows that we don’t know God very well. He is totally holy and perfect, which is why repentance is necessary, but He is also merciful and gracious and love itself, which is why repentance is possible. My task is to invite people to repent, just as in this verse, and speak the truth of God to them in love.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the fruit of repentance! May I be more and more effective in calling people to repentance so that they may come into right relationship with You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!