Welcome to “God’s Word Day by Day.”
Whether you’ve been following me for a while, are new to the blog, or just stop by occasionally, I’m glad you’re here.
Today’s Readings:
Genesis 5 & 6
Psalm 2.7-12
Proverbs 1.10-19
Matthew 3.1-17
Is It Regret or Repentance?
Matthew 3.1-17:
Preparing the Way
Thirty years have passed since the night Jesus was born in a humble stable. He has grown up, most likely, working in His stepfather’s carpentry business. Now He’s about to burst onto the scene in a more public way.
His cousin John has been preaching and preparing the hearts of the people for Jesus’ message. Chapter 3:
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.”‘4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when some of the religious leaders came to be baptized, he questioned the genuineness of their repentance. He called them a “brood of vipers,” and told them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (v. 8).
What did John mean and what does it mean to us?
When We Sin
When we sin we are to repent and confess it to God and when we do, 1 John 1.9 says:
He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus said:
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (Lk. 5.32).
But is it possible to be sorry yet like the religious leaders John criticized?
What is Genuine Repentance?
Genuine biblical repentance is more than being sorry. It’s more than regret over the mess we have made. It includes a willingness to admit and take responsibility for our actions.
Too often we are only sorry about the consequences of our sin (broken relationships, punishment, or losses of various kinds). That is worldly sorrow and not godly sorrow.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Cor. 7.9-10).
Godly sorrow, the sorrow that leads to repentance, is brokenness over our sin. Like David in Psalm 51, it’s a realization that we have first sinned against God.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight (Ps. 51.3-4a).
A Change of Heart
Sin is a failure to trust and obey God and a sign of rebellion against Him. It’s going our own way, trusting in ourselves, determined to have life on our own terms. Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change in our thinking and behavior. We turn 180° from going our way to going His way.
While we don’t earn forgiveness through good behavior or somehow atoning for our sins, genuine repentance will produce a change in our behavior. It’s the fruit of a changed heart. The change may be imperfect and halting, at times, but it will be there if repentance is genuine.
Praying for Repentance
So, as we pray for ourselves and others, let’s pray that God would help us to see our sin for what it is and grant us genuine repentance that leads to life change and spiritual growth (2 Cor. 7.9-10; 2 Tim. 2.25-26).
And if you would like to learn more about repentance, check out the video at the bottom of this post by John MacArthur.
Today’s Other Readings:
Genesis 5 & 6:
Total Depravity
It didn’t take long for sin to take its toll, did it? Chapter 6.5-6 says:
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
This is sometimes called “total depravity.” Even though sin doesn’t make us all as bad as we could be, it makes us all as bad as we need to be to deserve an eternity separated from Him.
God is still grieved over sin today. All too often we mistakenly believe that when we sin, we are only hurting ourselves, or, at worst, another person. But as I said earlier, sin is always against our Heavenly Father!
One More Proof
Before we leave these two chapters, notice the genealogy of Adam in chapter 5. Satan had told Eve in the garden, “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3.4). Yet as each generation is recounted, it is followed by the words, “… and he died.” One more proof that Satan is a liar.
Death means “separation from something.” Spiritual death (separation from God) took place instantly. And though physical death (separation of the spirit from the body) took longer, the process of physical death began as a result of sin’s entrance into the world.
And while we’re on the subject of death, there is another death called the second death (Rev. 2.11, 20.6, 14, 21.8). This is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire (Rev. 21.8) for those who reject the gospel.
Psalm 2.7-12:
Trusting Him
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him (v. 12b).
This theme permeates all of Scripture.
Proverbs 1.10-19:
Sowing & Reaping
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, ‘Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse’—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.
Here is the law of sowing and reaping in action. Those who sow violence and wickedness will ultimately reap the same.
Closing Thoughts:
How did God speak to you today through His Word? Did you see repentance in a new light? Or did something else stand out to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Coming Up:
As we continue through Genesis, we’ll meet real people with real stories like yours and mine. In the coming weeks, we will read about Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Esau, and Joseph, just to name a few. We’ll witness sibling rivalry, favoritism, idolatry, deception, manipulation, and revenge. But through it all, we’ll see God’s sovereignty and grace and find hope for the messes we make of our lives (Rom. 15.4).
In the New Testament, we’ll talk about fighting temptation with the sword of the Spirit, radical surgery, and look at Jesus’ outline for prayer.
Getting Off to a Good Start in the New Year:
Do you have a plan to grow spiritually this year? I’d like to encourage you to set a goal to read through the Bible.
You can sign up here for these “God’s Word Day by Day” emails. They will take you through the Bible in the coming year and help make the readings more applicable with practical commentary about the issues we all face.
Blessings,
Donna ♥
I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.
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