It’s wonderful that God offers forgiveness to repentant Christians.
There is more to repentance, though, than simply saying we’re sorry for doing or thinking or saying _____________.
If we don’t change our ways, we haven’t repented, have we?
We’ve simply confessed our sin.
That’s not good enough.
God deserves a better response from us after we’ve crossed the line.
Imagine that you let somebody drive your car and they drive recklessly, driving off the edge of the road and wrecking it.
Would you ever let them drive your car again if he or she didn’t confess their misdeed and pledge to stay between the lines and follow all the driving rules?
I seriously doubt it.
Jesus told the woman caught in adultery that He forgave her for her sin. The text in John 8 doesn’t record her words of confession and repentance, but His act of forgiveness implies that he saw the sentiments of her heart and soul.
It was His final statement in that sequence, however, that triggered this Morning Devotion.
“Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
If this woman had returned to promiscuous behavior, the grace shown her would have been forfeited.
This is the fruit of genuine repentance — enduring sanctification.
We’ve all stained ourselves with stumbling-block sins.
For some, it’s lust.
For others, it’s vanity.
For who knows how many, it’s bitterness.
We’ve repented along the way, I’m sure.
But have we really?
Are we living out the “sin no more” thing with those stumbling-block sins?
Do we automatically ignore Satan’s bait of unjust treatment designed to prompt angry resentfulness?
Do we rejoice for the physical provision we have rather than covet the nicer, more abundant blessings received by others?
Is online porn no longer a problem for us?
Jesus wants us to go and sin no more.
Let’s do what He says.
As always, I love you
Martin
