I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you
will all likewise perish. -
Luke 13:3 NASB
For ten days between
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the focus of spiritual life is on repentance. The word “repent” appears 38 times in the NASB
translation of the Bible. It has several different meanings and these are not
the same in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The “repent” as we read it in Ezekiel is
actually found 1299 times in the Hebrew Bible, according to the Strong’s
Lexicon, meaning to turn back or to return. In the Luke verse and 34 other
times in the Greek, “repent” means to change one's mind for better,
heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins. That is what I imagine
that the Jews were aiming for in their repentance, not just turning back, but
to change their minds that they wouldn’t make the same mistake in the coming
year.
How about you? Do you find that you make the same mistakes
over and over—and have to seek repentance. Consider this verse…that, in reference to your former manner of
life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with
the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and
put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in
righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:22-24 NASB. So be
renewed in the spirit of your mind. I like that. A new year and a renewing of
my mind. Likewise another verse gives us hope in Christ. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things
passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB Are you
feeling “renewed”?
Thank you, Jesus, for
this reminder that I can have my mind “renewed” and be refreshed. Please give
me Your peace and strength as You renew my mind with Your loving words.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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