Repentance = Restoration

     Did me a little Bible searching tonight because I wondered how we come about being restored after we sin. Seems the only way it comes is if we repent. So, what does that look like? How do we know we really repent? Yes, there's the Godly sorrow vs worldly sorrow, but still......how is it evident in my life. There was a passage that said we are to bear fruits worthy of repentance. Huh? Ok, so don't keep sinning, PROVE that I'm repentant, right?

     Esau, for instance, sought his fathers blessing, but was rejected. Although he sought the blessing with many tears, he was not repentant. In Ezekiel 14, God set His face against those who would not repent.

     But, whenever people sought repentance - whole heart repentance - they were heard. They were forgiven. They were shown mercy. Restored. Job 42 tells us how he repented and the Lord restored AND then blessed him.

     Hosea 6:1 (Amp) come and let us return (in repentance) to the Lord, for He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

     But then I found this bombshell; 2 Tim. 2: 24-26, And a servant of the Lordmust not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

     Repentance is quite an important thing. Restoration is a GOOD thing. But first comes a heart that is repentant.

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