Psalms 66 - Repent First, Then Return

October 17, 2016 Monday Message:

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalms 66:18 NIV

“God has no wish that anyone should be destroyed. He wishes that all should come to repent.” from 2 Peter 3:9 JBP

The Hebrew language uses the word “teshuvah,” which literally means “to turn or to re-turn.” In religious teaching, it means to repent and return – to turn away from our sins, and return to the Lord.

This has been the message described over and over in the Bible, ever since Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden. And God’s desire is still the same for us today – He wants everybody to repent and return.

The Bible describes a sinner as someone far from God. When that person repents and returns, they move closer to God. They were blind, but now they see – their eyes have been opened. They were living in darkness, but have turned toward the light.

It would be easier to “return” if we didn’t have to first “repent,” but it doesn’t work that way. We can’t drag our old sin with us into the presence of God. Psalm 66 teaches us, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” So we need to do life God’s way.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, Pastor Pilla opens up 1 Corinthians Ch. 4. We welcome guests from Metro Hope Ministries – lunch following the service.