Repentance. It’s a much-maligned word. It sounds so harsh and painful, even condemning, doesn’t it? Those connotations don’t go over well in a laid back, life’s-a-beach culture of tolerance like ours. Repentance implies that something is wrong with us and we’re going to have to deny ourselves of something we treasure in order to change. That’s a biblical truth we don’t enjoy memorizing.
Maybe it would help us to think about repentance in terms of clay. Clay that has lost its moisture, that is hardening and no longer pliable, is unrepentant clay. If that thickening process isn’t too far along, the potter can add some water and soften it up. But if the clay is too dry and stiff, there’s nothing to be done. It has to be tossed out.
In that illustration, repentance sounds like a good plan, doesn’t it? It is a matter of regaining pliability in order to be useful to the Master Artist. King David demonstrated it when Nathan, the prophet, confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba, and the wicked city of Nineveh demonstrated it when its citizens repented after Jonah’s prophecy of destruction was announced and received. In both cases, the heavenly Potter was merciful, and the clay became useful again. God always has a good plan for clay that bends. Let’s Be Clay That Bends.
“If that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.” (Jeremiah 18:8)
Are there any areas in which our heart needs to bend with, comply to God’s touch? Yes, it sounds painful and non-negotiable, but the alternative is far worse. Softening the substance of our life makes The Potter delightfully willing to make something beautiful out of our current condition. His blessing always comes to those who bend.
Have a blessed weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who don’t crack or break when He nudges up again them. In fact, they enjoy His touch because they instinctively know that something beautiful is about to happen.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 