The Other Side of the Coin (Change)

Have you thought about the one side of the coin we know about as repentance? We see it as a negative...to stop sinning, as some put it. However, according to a study in the Strongs Concordance, there are two sides of the coin, both designed to bring people to Oneness with God, and even with each other...or peace. Also to have one side of the coin without the other may bring a feigned peace, but not one that surpasses understanding. John 14:27 says, " "What I am leaving with you is shalom -- I am giving you my shalom. I don't give the way the world gives. Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened". (Complete Jewish Bible) One of the base meanings of repent is not necessarily to STOP SINNING!!!!, but an invitation into wholeness to "make a willing purpose'...'to turn from sin'". It is not a cold turkey STOP SINNING, otherwise, where would patience (Love) be? The invitation is the call of an awesome God who does not beat you over the head, nor is angry with you. He does want you to be free from the bondage of sin, to become a slave to His righteousness, but slavery and bondage in this context has nothing to do with our natural thinking process. A Father calls his child to his side to learn to not be in bondage, but to be free to have a relationship without a demand of punishment. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love". However, even here, we see a process that has nothing to do with a cold turkey approach. YOU CANNOT DO IT...without what Christ has already accomplished and who set the coin of repentance with two sides...Amending.

The first deals with the behavior and bondage to freedom and the second deals with Amending. Christ amended our relationship to God through His sacrifice on the crucifixion tree. 1 Corinthians 2:2 says, "I had decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Yeshua the Messiah, and even him only as someone who had been executed on a stake as a criminal". Christ amended our relationship with God, through His Own Blood, so you don't have to, because you (or I) never could!! Where then is amending? There are acts of amending...kind acts of responses, acts of respect, acts of honor, acts of restoration and confrontation between believers individually, then corporately if necessary. Repentance keeps us in the face of God and the purposeful and willing place of obedience and humility. Love does not boast! THAT is a behavior of amending. Love does not seek it own. THAT is a behavior amending, and I could go on. In 2 Kings 4 we see an amending behavior when Elisha the prophet asked, "You have shown us so much hospitality! What can I do to show my appreciation? Do you want me to say anything to the king for you? or to the commander of the army". THAT is a behavior of amending...not always because something wrong was done, but an honoring, a respect, a heart of appreciation. Fear being cast out so that amending can take place and Love remain, grow, comfort, and mark toward perfection. There is much to glean from 1 John 4.

Now to an even great show of both sides of repentance which reveals both a heart torn because of sin, yet thankful and without fear, thus amending, honoring, respecting, acknowledging, not seeking her own. Let me place it here before you. We have heard it another way, but read how the Complete Jewish Bible puts it. I pray you feel the stab, as I did. Luke 7:44-48 says, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house -- you didn't give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! 45 You didn't give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet! 46 You didn't put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet! 47 Because of this, I tell you that her sins -- which are many! -- have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little." 48 Then he said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven". After that, those with Jesus dismissed themselves from responsibility of doing anything like this woman did. However, V50 says, "But he said to the woman, "Your trust has saved you; go in peace." She acknowledged her sin and did acts and behavior in keeping with repentance. A question I ask myself and now you...Have you?

You are forgiven, if you have. Merry Christmas!!

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