Repentance - Have you done it?

Acts 5:31
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Repentance is often taught that it is something we must do.

The command is 'repent and be baptized'.

So, its something I must do...Right or Wrong?

No, its a gift. That HE might give (gift) repentance. Its a gift (like everything else GOD gives us). All we do is choose it, or accept it!

Here is the Greek word for repentance "metanoeó"
meta is the first part and it means "with or after"
noeó is the second part and it means "consider, or understand"

Or, after understand.
We get the idea of re-thinking our position and turning around.

Problem, its a gift - nothing we do!

Malcolm Smith uses a great word picture of the act of repentance and I will try to capture what he says to you.

Picture the great story of the lost sheep. Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7

Ok, you are that sheep (so am I) as the scripture says 'all we like sheep have gone astray' Isaiah 53:6

So, we are sheep but not only that we are, you are, a lost and missing sheep. Now, sheep dont run away (like a dog or cat) they aren't like that, but they meander. They see what seems like better grass just a little bit 'over there' and slowly make there way to it.

They don't know, but they are leaving the best grass (because the Shepherd, knows the best watering areas and grassy fields) but the sheep are not willfully leaving the Shepherd but slowly by small wrong choices drifting further away.

But this loving Shepherd knows HIS sheep and realizes that one is missing (thats you) and risks everything to go look for you. Leaving the others behind safely in the pen looking for the one that is in danger, although not perhaps realizing the extent of the danger. Here is the sheep, alone, afraid, confused, in the dark and crying for help, crying for love.

Are you like that sheep - not knowing what went wrong, or what is wrong, but you know its dark, and its not supposed to be like it is.

JESUS the Great Shepherd is looking for you.

Here is what happens next (its repentance in action). The Shepherd with great joy finds HIS missing one and doesn't scold it, but picks it up and as Shepherds do, wraps it around HIS neck (so that their legs are hung over the shoulders of the Shepherd). The Shepherd doesn't say 'Sheep, go home, now that I've found you!'

NO!

He so identifies with the fearful, lonely sheep HE carries him around his neck.

Speaks to the sheep ever so softly - they are closely connected, in fact the Shepherd is bound to the sheep as HE carries him.

Is the sheep with the Shepherd - Yes!
Is the Shepherd with the sheep - Yes!

The sheep doesn't know what happened, nor is it smart enough to turn and go home when it was lost. It doesn't have to - the Shepherd knows!

When the Shepherd picks up and carries the little lost lamb, HE Repents!
Remember its a gift right!
He turns around and carries the lost lamb home!

Does the lamb turn around and head for home - Yes!
How?
By letting the Shepherd, who knows the way, who knows whats best, who loves and is willing to risk HIS life for this one, repents and turns around and goes home!

Are you trying to repent?

Or are you letting go, and letting HIM direct you and carry you into HIS arms,
into the FATHER and into HIS kingdom itself.

The Kingdom of LOVE, The Kingdom of Power.

Stop running little lamb and let the Good Shepherd carry you home! John 10:11