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Mary Lynn Tolar

Repentance and Refreshing

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19 (NASB)


“For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 (NASB)


“Peter said to Him, ‘Never shall You wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, then wash not only my feet, but my hands and my head.’ Jesus said to him, ‘He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean…’” John 13:8-10 (NASB)


 

When Adam and Eve took that fateful step of disobedience in the Garden of Eden, they separated themselves permanently from the close fellowship with God. No longer would they walk together in intimate friendship with Him in the bountiful home where He had placed them. Instead, sin stole their relationship and home. They left the Garden, and angels with drawn swords blocked any return.


That’s the way it is with sin. It separates, it steals, it destroys hope and our future. Our God knew this and prepared a way through by nailing that cursed sin to a tree. On the cross, Jesus became that atonement for all sin; He is our slain Lamb. He presented a way back to fellowship when we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to be the Lord of our lives and live in us so that we might be made righteous in Him. Our sins are blotted out, and our fellowship with God is restored.


At salvation, the anxiety of managing life ourselves is removed as we are made new in Jesus. We have the ability, confidence, and strength to do all things through Christ Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit who not only seals us as a citizen of Heaven, but guides us, comforts us, teaches us, and renews our beliefs so that we can now live victoriously. We continue throughout our lives to grow through discipleship to be like Jesus.


Unfortunately, as the days pass, we often fall back into old flesh patterns of thinking and behaving. Like Adam and Eve, we sample independent living by making our own choices - even when we perceive a red flag in our conscience. We take a step or two away from what we know is right, think a little too long on an “If only I…” scenario, and leave the fruits of righteousness, patience, and self-control behind in the dust as we run with the sin. Significantly, the results find us ashamed, doubtful, guilty, hopeless, and having our strength and joy diminished again. Thankfully, there is always hope for us at the cross!


Jesus knew our weakness and made provision for it. When He said, “It is finished!” before taking his last breath, He had fully interceded for our sin problem by taking on all sin - past, present, and future – and conquered them at the cross!


This great gift is like a carton full of small gifts just waiting to be opened. In our Christian life, the Holy Spirit reveals the sin in our hearts so that we can quickly repent for that sin and be refreshed in the Lord’s fellowship again. We have not gone too far from Jesus’ love, and He faithfully forgives us as promised. Just as we come by faith to be washed of sin and receive salvation, we come again by faith to once again be cleansed of sin and its effects. I believe Jesus’ words in John 13 parallel this action in His instruction to Peter. We have been bathed at repentance and our salvation baptism, but we continue to have a need to wash our spiritual feet from walking in our weak, sin-encountered journeys. It is the Lord’s provision to remain in fellowship and life with Him. He has made this way as part of His plan for our freedom.


Know that the Lord loves you, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sins, doubts, or unforgiveness you are holding. Honor Jesus by quickly taking it to the cross and being set free from its hold. It’s as simple as that to be refreshed again. It’s a gift to be opened, so take advantage of your blessing from God! 

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