“Even now,” declares the LORD, “RETURN TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH FASTING AND WEEPING AND MOURNING.” Rend your heart and not your garments. RETURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR HE IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:12-13) [We are being called to repentance, for this is what our Abba Father calls for if we have turned away. He does not shun us or turn His back on us. With loving, gracious compassion He pleads for us to return to Him. We must be truly humbled for our sins; we must be sorry that we have offended God, and ashamed we have because of sin, wronged ourselves, both wronged our judgments and wronged our interests. There must be outward expressions of sorrow and shame!] “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; STOP DOING WRONG. LEARN TO DO RIGHT; SEEK JUSTICE. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, THEY SHALL BE [white] LIKE WOOL.” (Isa. 1:16-18) [These two verses are Old Testament calls to repentance, but sound so ‘new’. The temptation to sin has been around since Adam, the ‘deceiver’ out enemy knows how to trap us and lead us astray so we must always stand guard. I thank you Abba Father that you are so long suffering and care so deeply for your created beings!] “So repent [change your mind and purpose]; turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased [blotted out, wiped clean], that times of refreshing [of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air] may come from the presence of the Lord; And that He may send [to you] the Christ (the Messiah), Who before was designated and appointed for you–even Jesus…” (Acts 3:19-20) AMP. [Thank you Abba Father, for ‘blotting out’ ALL our sins!] “For the wages of sin is death, but THE GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) [Freely receive this wonderful gift from God!] “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through CHRIST JESUS the law of the Spirit who gives life HAS SET YOU FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.” (Rom. 8:1-2)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH!
-Bill Stockham