"Repent to Fill the Void"
TEXTS: Heb. 12:17; Acts 2:38; Gen 1:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:10
TRUTHS:
1.We may find that we have fallen into a “relational vacuum" in our lives. Meaning, we can get to the place where we feel distant in our relationship with the Lord and with others. This requires believers to assess the health of the relationships in their life and, if needed, take steps of repentance to shore up those relational weaknesses.
2. Christian parents need to consider the frequency in which they repent and apologize to and before their children. A failure to intentionally practice this kind of repentive lifestyle as a Christian parent will inevitably lead to a relational void between the parent and the children they are endeavoring to raise up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
3. God’s voice and presence brings peace to the chaos and trouble that often “sits” or resides in our souls. Hearing the Lord speak calms the stormy seas that rage within our minds and emotions. This should make the children of God earnestly seek the Lord’s voice in their day-to-day to lives. Additionally, it should steer us to attend corporate worship services with an expectant and desiring heart (regarding hearing the Lord speak to us).
4. Christians often find themselves living within a strange (but healthy) tension as they serve the Lord. Believers should strive to be content and at peace within their souls (because we have access to the presence of God), but at the same time there is a part of us which desires more of God’s voice and presence. Each believer will need to navigate the tension of being content and discontent at the same time.
5. Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of soup. He exchanged something precious and valuable for something of lesser value. Esau’s impatience led him to a place where he sought repentance (motivated by worldly grief), and this example serves as a warning to all believers. The Bible uses this story to teach us that we should pray for the Lord to give us a heart of repentance or we run the risk of routinely responding to our sin with worldly grief only.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. What do you think it means to have a heart of repentance?
2. What are some healthy approaches and mindsets concerning navigating the tension of being content and discontent at the same time (Truth 4)?
3. Can you think of a testimony concerning how God's voice brought peace to your soul?
4. What are the actions and attitudes that often lead to "relational vacuums" in our lives?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray as you feel led concerning the following areas:
- For God to give us hearts of repentance
- Tracy and Juan Orasco (missionaries to El Salvador; King's Castle)