April 17, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- REMORSEFULNESS IS NOT REPENTANCE
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~ June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Friday, April 17, 2020
TOPIC: REMORSEFULNESS IS NOT REPENTANCE
Read Luke 15:11-22
[11]And he said, A certain man had two sons:[12]And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.[13]And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.[14]And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.[15]And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.[16]And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.[17]And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger![18]I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,[19]And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.[20]And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.[21]And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.[22]But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
MEMORISE: For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10)
EXPOSITION
To be remorseful is to be extremely sorry for something wrong or bad that you have done, according to the Advanced Learners’ Dictionary. Repentance, however, in the Bible, which is the Christian dictionary of all things, is more than being sorry or feeling of guilt within. It is being sorry and as well making determination (resolution) not to do such again (Acts 2:38). It is turning away totally from sin to God. It is conversion–changing from the ungodly path to the path of God and holiness, with the determination never to return to one’s filth, God helping.
It is discovered that several people, today, feel remorseful for their sins, but the needed repentance to salvation is not there. This is why many rise and fall; ‘born again’ for a moment (Matt. 13:20-21). Remorsefulness is caused by coming face to face with the consequences (shame, losses, punishment) of the offence, it does not lead to repentance. True repentance can be seen in our text for today. The younger son who had wasted his father’s wealth came to himself, felt very guilty for what he had done. But that process never stopped there! He went further by resolving to go to his father for forgiveness, and he indeed returned home to the waiting arms of the father.
The fact that you are truly deeply sorry for your sins is not equal to repentance that brings forgiveness. You must proceed by turning away from those sins and asking for God’s forgiveness. He will surely show mercy (Prov. 28:13; 1 Jn. 1:8-10). When you have godly sorrow, it yields repentance, which in turn, courts God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness. Be lifted, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Genuinely go to God regarding those things you have done in the past that do not glorify Him, but that you have only been remorseful (not repentant) for.
2. Lord, fill me with Your passionate hatred for sin and ungodliness, so that I can represent You well in this corrupt generation, in Jesus’ name.
3. Lord, restore to Your Church the true spirit of repentance, in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Judges 11 – 12 & Acts 20
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!