How Do You Respond to the Cross? Rejection, Remorse, or Repentanceنموونە

Day 3 – Repentance

Rejection and remorse are often our initial reaction towards the cross and often we remain stuck in those feelings without moving forward. However, today we will be looking at repentance. Repentance goes beyond feeling sorry; it involves a decision to change one's behavior. Jesus’ disciple, Peter also betrayed Him by denying Him three times. However, after recalling Jesus’ words, Peter weeps bitterly in deep remorse. Unlike Judas, Peter’s remorse led him to repentance which transformed his life. We see in the scripture later, that Peter boldly shares the gospel, becomes a key leader in the early church and ultimately gives his life as a martyr for Christ. Everyone is prone to sin, yes even those who walk closely with God. We may fall into temptation because we are living in flesh in a broken world. God isn’t surprised about the falling or the remorse. But He is more interested in our repentance and what we do next. The Bible is filled with people who walked with God yet still stumbled, but they repented and turned back to Him.

You may be struggling with a destructive habit that is perhaps gossiping, lying, or any other type of addiction. You may feel remorse every time you engage in it, promising yourself never to do it again. But without repentance, you will fall into the same cycle. Repentance is when you decide, "I don’t want to live this way anymore," and take intentional steps towards seeking God's help in the process. You will witness that repentance will bring transformation into your life. Jesus prioritizes repentance as it’s an active process; it involves confession to God and then relying on Him to help you overcome the sin in your life. Repentance is not a one-time act. The verse in Luke 9:23 to “take up our cross daily” means to deny our desires and the fleshly temptations that pull us away from God daily. It's an active, ongoing decision to follow Him, even when it's hard, even when we fail, and even when we stumble. In fact, remember that it is a sign of a righteous person that, whenever they fall, they get back up and continue to try and live according to God’s standard and purpose. So, I want to encourage you to repent today. Accept Jesus Christ into your life, and He will empower you to overcome your sins.

Reflection: What does true repentance look like in your life, and how can you move from regret to a decision to turn away from sin and follow God?

Prayer: Dear Lord, I come before You today in repentance. Show me how to take up my cross daily and fully embrace the message of the cross. Help me to remember the sacrifice on the cross You made for me. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus' name, Amen.