Friday, November 15, 2013

The Repentant Sheep

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. [Luke 15:4-7]

Jesus likens one sinner who repents with the lost sheep. Here's a very, very simple question: how did the sheep repent?

"Baa"

I doubt that the sheep fell on its knees and was crying bitterly. It knew no better! All that it did was to let the shepherd carry it.

Repentance is this: reliance on Christ. Letting Jesus take your problems and take you and bring you into abundant life.

So rest in Jesus. Let Him do all the work. Trust Him for all the grace that you need; the supply that you ever need. That's repentance, as Jesus defined it!