How Should Christians Deal With Sin and Guilt?Sample

Roadmap to Repentance

Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart that brings a change of attitude. But it doesn’t stop there. Where the heart has been changed and the attitude transformed, then you will see its fruit in the realm of decisions, choices, and behaviors. Actual repentance results in a change of course. A new walk. A new life. It is more than just an attitude. 

The Christian life is more than just a sentiment; it is more than an attitude of the heart. It involves action. God addresses us on that level, commanding what we should do with our body, with the decisions we make, and the words we speak. The Bible calls for concrete action, and if we honor God, we obey. 

Recognize what it would look like to turn from these sins—hearing and fearing the Lord. A change of heart will produce a difference in your hearing. If our spiritual lives are where they should be, we’ll heed the words of God. 

Changing your words doesn’t change your ways. If you’ve been struggling with sin lately, are you willing to change your practices? Will you stop appealing to some sentiment within yourself that says even though your ways are not changing, you have a heart toward God? 

We don’t know our hearts. What we say and what we do is a revelation of what is in our hearts. Genuine repentance stops pretending and takes action to put away our sin and to make things right. 

God calls us to mend our ways and our deeds. 

Someone who repents connects the brokenheartedness in their life to their disobedience toward God. They desire to turn from their empty life of sin to the only One who can satisfy their soul, the living God. They will hear His words; they will fear His name. They will confess their sins and recognize that they experience leanness in their life because they sinned against God. 

The Gospel is good news for sinners; it is not preached to righteous people―there aren’t any. 

If you look away from yourself, turning from your empty life, which is the result of your sin, looking to God’s Son for the forgiveness of that sin, and the right standing with God, then you will know your life’s purpose. You will receive the fulfillment and the satisfaction that only your Creator can ever produce in your life. 

Are you ready to turn from your self-centered, empty, wicked life and give your whole heart to Christ? 

This devotional was based on an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. Consider subscribing to the Straight Truth Podcast YouTube Channel. We release new episodes every Thursday.