Scripture
Ezra 10: 10-11 “Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them: You have sinned, for you have married pagan women. Now we are even more deeply under condemnation than we were before. Confess your sin to the Lord the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separated yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.”
Observation
Ezra is one of my favorite books of the Old Testament. In chapter 10 Ezra gives us a clear picture of what true repentance is. True repentance is more than being sorry. True repentance requires:
1) Confession of sin. Sin is not sickness. It is wickedness. We admit to God that our behavior is wrong and we take full responsibility for it. We do not blame others or make excuses.
2) Obedience to God’s Word. We stop sinning and do what God commands. Repentance is more than going to an altar and asking God for forgiveness. It is changing the way we live. It includes action not just confession.
3) Separation from the world. We stop sinning and start obeying. We separate ourselves from the world and dedicate ourselves to God. That is the definition of holiness. Holiness is not following a set of rules. It is separation and dedication. Separate yourself from anything that will make you unclean and dedicate yourself to the purposes of God. That is the kind of person God can use.
Application
I must be holy because God is holy. I separate myself from the world. I confess my sin as wickedness before God. I obey God’s commands for my life. I become a student of God’s Word and live it out. I transform my life by renewing my mind. I repent of sin not just feel guilty or desire forgiveness. I must seek change. I seek transformation and that comes through true repentance.
Prayer
Father I repent of my sins. I acknowledge that my sin is wickedness and not sickness. I do not blame anyone else. I take responsibility for my actions. I ask that you forgive me. I desire to obey your word. Remove any offensive way within me and enable me to obey your commands. I ask that you show me any tie I have to this world. I want to be separate. I cannot influence the world for Jesus if I have the world in me. I want to be full of the Holy Spirit and dedicated to His purposes. I want to be pleasing to you.
