“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
Joel 2:12-13
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Repentance. True repentance comes from within.
Otherwise, it sometimes seems that some are more “repenting” in the eyes of others.
Am I sorry for being caught or am I really sorry? Recently, we’ve seen examples of famous people who have been caught in compromising positions where they have abused their power over other people. Often, they issue a statement of remorse that is worded in such a way that seems to say they are only sorry they have been caught. And then some appear to be genuinely remorseful. Can you think of examples of both?
In the passage above, Joel encourages his readers to “rend your hearts and not your garments.”
It was common for people to tear their garments and put on sackcloth as a public display of their grief or sorrow and while that may be appropriate, the more important aspect of repentance is found in the heart.
Think of your own life. Can you remember a time when your repentance came from the inside?
“True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation – in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace – in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ.”
J.C. Ryle
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