Return to the Lord

“...If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only...”
- 1 Samuel 7:3

To return is the act of repentance. Many of us have a misunderstanding of what true Biblical repentance is. There are two sides to it, first there is the emotional response, a feeling of regret or sorrow. This is not an overwhelming sense of guilt or shame which can lead us away from God but a sorrow that draws us closer to God. The second part of repentance has to do with changing one’s mind about sin. A repentant person will still sin at times but instead of reveling in that sin, one who is truly repentant will confess that sin and direct their heart to the LORD. It is very important to understand that when turn from sin you must turn toward God.

Israel had not heard anything from Samuel for 20 years and the first thing out of his mouth is call them to repentance. Their idolatry has led them away from God and Samuel gives them 3 commands:

1.) To turn away from idolatry
2.) To direct their heart to the LORD
3.) To serve him alone

What idols have crept into your life that you need to turn away from? What sin is gripping you with guilt or shame? Repentance is an amazing gift from God. Even though we mess up the grace of God is bigger than our sin. Take some time today to talk with God. Turn, Direct, & Serve. Confess your sin to God and ask him to change your mind about sin and to direct your heart wholly to him.

“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” - 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 7, 2 Corinthians 7, Romans 2:4