REPENTANCE MEANS NO MORE QUARRELLING

This week, I am exploring what God says about REPENTANCE. As I enter prayer now, I reflect on God’s instruction: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 

Lord, I repent of my sin and am blessed by Your forgiveness.   

Thank You for Your grace and mercy in my life. 

Let us consider the Word of the Lord from 2 Timothy 2:14-19: 

Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 

I am prone to forget and need to be prodded along.  I regret things I say since it often becomes a war of words in which no one wins!  Any words I speak about myself and gossip about others are godless chatter and have no value.  The more I engage in these things, the farther I distance myself from God and to such an extent that my desires become increasingly ungodly.   

This ungodly chatter may destroy the faith of people I love and care about.  When I depart from the truth, I take others down with me.  My downfall is public knowledge—known to all but hidden from me.  God’s solid foundation stands firm in my heart, which is sealed with His inscription that it belongs to Him.  If I confess the name of the Lord, I have the desire to repent. 

Lord, I repent of my sin.  I am aware sin destroys  

my soul and crushes my spirit.  When I spot it,  

I ask You to cast it out. 

I wish to be approved by God, a worker who is not ashamed of the Lord’s work and who correctly handles the Word of truth.   

Father, I know only You can cleanse my heart of sin  

and my mouth of idle words. I seek You with  

all my heart and all my mind and all my soul.   

Conform me to the image of  

Your Son, Jesus Christ.   

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.