Repentance Part 2

I didn't think it could get any colder. . . yikes! I'm glad I took Rocky out BEFORE I actually knew what the temperature was. Mind over matter, right?

Here's yesterday's question and answer:
Thurs, Jan. 15 Which cities does Jesus denounce? (Matt 11)
(It's kind of a trick question--Jesus mentions a lot of cities, but he only condemns 3 of them.)
Matthew 11:20-24 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Here's today's question of the day:
Fri, Jan. 16 What was Jacob’s name changed to? What does it mean? (Gen 32)


And here's the reflection of the day:
Repentance Part 2
Genesis 33 seems to pick up just where the Matthew 11 left off talking about repentance. By now you've read the whole Jacob and Esau story and you know that, though Esau has a bad rap, it's actually JACOB who's the trickster. He's the liar and the cheater, and yet the story follows him, not Esau.

At this point in the story, Jacob feels the need for reconciliation with his twin. Perhaps the guilt of his wrongs wore him down. Perhaps he hoped that enough time had passed that Esau's anger would have passed. Whatever the reason, Jacob feels now is the time to reconcile with his brother. As he begins his approach to Esau's land, his messengers return telling him that Esau and 400 men were coming to meet them. Jacob begins to panic, thinking Esau was still holding a grudge and is now coming for his revenge.

In his heart, Jacob seemed prepared to repent but it looks like his repentance was more out of fear than perhaps even regret. This is not the kind of repentance God is looking for. Repentance out of fear of retribution from God is useless. Repentance should not be fueled by fear.

Repentance is born out of gratitude for the grace of God which is given to use freely. Our repentance is offered to God out of our thankfulness for the forgiveness of our sin and NOT out of fear that if we don't God will punish us. At Bible Study on Wednesday we talked about how faith should be motivated by gratitude and not fear of God. This part of the Jacob and Esau story is a good reminder to consider the motivations of our faith and repentance. Do we believe out of fear of what God might do if we don't believe or out of gratitude for what God did for us on the cross? Is our repentance motivated by fear or faith?

Just a little something for us all to ponder today. . .
Allison

Another chilly day on tap! Be careful out there!


Here's yesterday's question and answer:
Weds, Jan. 14 On what did Jacob see angels ascending and descending during his dream? (Gen 28)
Genesis 28:12 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

And here's today's question of the day:
Thurs, Jan. 15 Which cities does Jesus denounce? (Matt 11) (This is kind of a trick question because Jesus mentions a number of cities, but he only denounces some of them.)


And here's today's reflection:

I've always been curious about the part of Matthew 11 that I asked the question about this morning. And now that I read it again, I find myself even more curious. So I opened up a commentary to read a little more about what was going on in these cities.

Jesus rebukes three town in the area of Galilee. They are rebuked not because of their lack of faith but because of their lack of repentance, which Matthew explains in verse 20: "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent." Now, Jesus is not like a traveling salesman, performing miracles to make people believe in him. Miracles are never meant to simply certify Jesus' power; they are manifestations of God's will to save His people. A miracle is a testimony to God's power, not a litmus test of divinity.

So these cities observed Jesus' miracles--heard His testimony--and perhaps responded with faith, but they did NOT respond with repentance. Normally, those are two things we assume go hand in hand. But in this case, apparently not. These cities were like the seed dropped along the path, which sprang up quickly but was scorched in the sun because it didn't take root for water (in the parable of the sower, Matthew 13). Tyre and Sidon (v21) are two cities that were considered full of pagans. Jesus says if these two cities had seen what the Galilean cities had seen, THEY would have repented "long ago in sackcloth and ashes."

This kind of repentance--the kind of repentance God desires--is to take God seriously and to commit their lives to living as a part of His family and His kingdom, continually seeking to be holy as God is holy. That is repentance. Not a one time "I'm sorry," but a continual realization that God is placed "in the highest place, above all else" as the song goes, and a continual effort to realign my life (and yours) with God's expectations.

The other fascinating part of this little story is that Jesus is denouncing whole towns full of people and not individuals. In biblical times and even today, each town decides what is important and what is not, what it will value and what it finds useless. And the individuals in the town are influenced by the values of that town. So a town that does not value God (like these Galilean towns) will not encourage its residents to believe in God. Apparently that is the case with Capernum--perhaps they so valued their commercial financial success that the spiritual issues of the day were pushed to the margins.

Think of the town or community you live in. Does it value God? Does it encourage worship and service and fellowship? Do its residents? There will always be a Christian minority in every community. And it is up to them--to US!--to change the values of the community. Individuals can make a difference in a community. They can change the values of a community from one that esteems the almighty dollar to one that esteems the Almighty God. And in that way, towns across the world can avoid fate of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernum. Are you ready to be a part of God's revolution?

I'm praying for my community--are you?
Allison