Repentance

Matthew 11:20-24

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.  For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011:%2020-24&version=NIV)

The question of why Jesus healed has come up in my blogs before and here it is again.  Jesus says it again, that His purpose of healing was for the spiritual welfare of the people.  He longed to see people repent yet we find that in the cities where He performed these miracles, where He revealed His greatness, the people did not repent.  I have to think of America when I read this scripture.  When I think of how America was founded it reminds me of the time of the Israelites took hold of the Promised Land.  There were relatively few people fighting against the large British army yet the few prevailed.  They prevailed because God was with them.  The country has been free to worship God where and when they want.  They have been given freedom of religion.  On our coins we have written, “In God We Trust” yet have we repented?  In contrast there are other countries where citizens have to worship in secret, have been persecuted for their belief in a Christ, who has lost family members to imprisonment or even death because of their faith.  Are these countries spiritually healthy?   Would they have welcomed the freedoms that God gave America?  Have they repented?  I believe that He might say the same things to the churches of America as He said to the cities of Chorazin or Bethsaida, “woe to you.”  Why is it that those who are blessed the most are less likely to repent?  Is it because we come to except the blessings of God rather than cherish them? 

I recently prayed to the Lord that my body was His and was letting Him have full reign.  I then went into surgery for some extensive work only to wake up and find that they had not done the work that they intended to do.  I was happy to not have extensive surgery but was a little perplexed at why they did not find what they had expected. This frustrated me but why?  I had prayed that God had full control so I should have just been happy for the healing and thankful that He chose to not reveal any problems to the exceptional surgeon that worked on me.  I wonder sometime if we are all like this.  We ask, we are given, we complain.  Hummm, do you think it should be more like, we repent (feel bad because of our sin), we are forgiven, we rejoice.  Which one describes you?  Are you complaining or rejoicing.

As you seek Him may you find that He is above all, more wonderful than words and that you need to repent and be glad as you serve the One who has forgiven you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila