Parents and adults who work with children will often hear a child who has been hurtful to another child claim innocence. After all she said she was sorry. That of course makes everything right in the child’s eyes. However, too often the apology means the child merely is sorry that she was caught and is willing to do whatever is necessary to avoid punishment. We adults are not any better when it comes to repentance. We will pray for God to forgive our overt sin but have only a fleeting intention of not repeating that sin.
“Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:16b-17 NIV
God instructed Isaiah to tell Israel that their hypocritical performance of religious rituals was repulsive to him. God did not want rituals. He wanted heart-felt worship. He wanted his people to repent of their meaningless worship. God wanted more than hollow words. And he wants no less from us today.
What does it mean to repent? It means that deep down in your innermost being you do not intend to ever repeat the offense again.
So are you willing to give up your lackluster worship of God which you cover up through performing religious rituals?
But note that God is not satisfied with repentance only. He expects his children to learn to do right. God gives clarification for what it means to do right. It means to seek justice, encourage those who are suffering, defend the helpless, and to aid the poor. In our society frequently we claim we lack the time to do these things.
So I wonder what God will say on judgment day when we use the excuse that we were too busy to do what is right?
Lord, create in me a desire to seek opportunities to do good for your glory.
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