Matt 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

Throughout the Bible, repentance is defined by changed actions. We may even think we have repented, but if our actions don’t change, then we are only fooling ourselves. The same thing applies to reading the Bible and listening to sermons. As James said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) We are not saved by our actions, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but our actions are a demonstration of the attitude of our heart. It’s kind of like the old secular proverb, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” We might be able to keep up appearances, but God knows what is in our heart. Words are important, as Paul said in his salvation formula, (Romans 10:9-10) but it is possible to say words with nothing behind them. This is a difficult point that everyone deals with. Believers struggle with it, but nonbelievers just pass it off as daily living! If your conscience no longer bothers you about anything, you are in deep trouble. The flip side of that is that the devil tells us that when we repeat sins of which we have repented, then we are hopeless and should just give up. That too is a lie, as is everything he says to us, even if it might have true elements in it. God allows us to sin again so that we will recognize our complete powerlessness without Him, and so depend on Him fully. It is when we do that, that our actions indeed change, and we manifest His righteousness and holiness. That is what repentance is all about.

This is something I have struggled with essentially all my life. I will never forget the time when, as a young adult, God tapped me on the shoulder and, when I turned, had a mirror for me to briefly see the blackness of the pride in my soul. That was over 50 years ago now, and I still struggle with pride! However, I know without question that the blood of Christ is sufficient to cleanse me from it all, so I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, as He has told me personally. The difficulty is in my tendency to take it for granted and to get careless. That can do a lot of damage! However, God’s grace is sufficient, and He can use even such a one as I am for His purposes.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I don’t want to be hypocritical, but at the same time I am deeply aware that, like Paul, I am far from having reached sinless perfection. (Philippians 3:12-14) Help me keep growing, repenting in truth when I stumble, so that Christ may be formed more and more fully in me, (Galatians 4:19) drawing others to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!