“耶和华说：虽然如此， 你们应当禁食、哭泣、悲哀， 一心归向我。”
约珥书 2:12
悔改，不是因自怜自艾而哭泣，不是对物质损失的懊悔，也不是对自己的过犯被发现的悔恨。我们完全有可能因为罪在我们的生活中造成的破坏而深感愧疚，却并不悔改。很多人在我面前痛哭流涕，因为他们的罪被发现，深陷困境。然而真正的悔改不只是对自己的罪感到抱歉，并后悔我们让它破坏了我们的生活。真正的悔改是转离罪，一种有意识的、定意要脱离罪、自发地归向神，并承诺在我们的生活中遵循祂的旨意。这是方向的转变、态度的更改、意志的顺服。从人的角度来看，我们做到了神救赎的计划的一小部分，尽管悔改的力量来自于神。但即便如此，我们悔改的行为也不值得自夸，我们也不配得救。它只能让我们认识到神的恩典。
圣经说，“所以，你们当悔改归正，使你们的罪得以涂抹，”（使徒行传 3:19 ）我们只要悔改，神就来改变我们、更新我们、赦免我们。
悔改归正并非易事。可是一旦我们这样做了，就如错位的脊椎得到复原。经过悔改，我们原先与神的不协调所造成的压力和紧张，都化为与神的合一与和睦，平安与喜乐。
今日祷告：
天父啊，我的罪孽深重，而祢的恩典更大。 求祢饶恕我的过犯。 奉耶稣的名，阿门。
April 22
GOD’S RECIPE FOR A NEW HEART
Turn ye even to me with all your heart… with weeping, and with mourning. Joel 2:12
The mourning of repentance is not the weeping of self-pity, it is not regret over material losses nor remorse that our sins have been found out. It is entirely possible to be deeply sorry because of the devastation which sin has wrought in our lives and yet not repent. I have had people pour out their hearts to me with tears, because their sins have been discovered and they are in serious trouble. But true repentance is more than being sorry for our sins and regretting the way we have allowed sin to shatter our lives. True repentance is a turning from sin- a conscious, deliberate decision to leave sin behind – and a conscious turning to God with a commitment to follow His will for our lives. It is a change of direction, an alteration of attitudes, and a yielding of the will. Humanly speaking, it is our small part in the plan of salvation-although even the strength to repent comes from God. But even so, the act of repentance does not win us any merit or make us worthy to be saved-it only conditions our hearts for the grace of God.
The Bible says ”Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Our part is repenting. God will do the converting, the transforming, and the forgiving.
It will not be easy to bend our warped, stubborn wills; but once we do, it will be as though a misplaced vertebra has snapped back into place. Instead of the stress and tension of a life out of harmony with God will come the serenity of reconciliation.
Pray for the Day:
Father, my sins are many and egregious, but your grace is even greater. Forgive my sins; in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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