Finishing Well

     When Jesus came upon a person, often He would ask them what they wanted. To the ones who said "to be healed", He immediately took care of their physical ailments. But what about hearts, spirits, friendships, hurts that can't be seen, Jesus - how can You help that? How can words that have been hurled be removed? He pretty much leaves that up to us - the ones who have to choke down resentments and pride and the need to be right - the wronged and fling-ers of words alike - he says forgive. But God?!......  Mt. 5:44, Jesus says......but I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you. But God?!....... Eph. 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. But God?!...... When we repent of OUR sins, God mercifully releases us from our debt, because of His Son's death on the Cross. When WE release our offenders...

     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 repenta...