“repent and be saved!” how often do we hear that? how many of us have turned away discouraged? today’s reading, however, gives encouraging messages and a welcome change from the strong repent admonitions.
“when I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals, instantly the stupendous Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a right relationship with God; and by the supernatural miracle of God’s grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done.” — My Utmost For His Highest
the reading clearly qualifies though that with the faith in Christ’s salvific death — why He bothered at all and who sent Him — comes a surging desire to be right with God, bringing us to a place where we get to see ourselves as we truly are (shamefully sinful and exceedingly unworthy).
sin consequently becomes in our eyes exceedingly sinful and disgusting which will naturally lead to repentance. we ourselves will then want nothing more than to quickly put to death our self-righteousness, self-centeredness, pride, selfishness, laziness, greed, and dishonesty— all for the love of God.
now, if it doesn’t have that simultaneous effect, then sorry, we didn’t quite get it. faith without remorse is like reducing Christ to a convenient bail-out.
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“my dear Jesus, I am very sorry for the life that i have lived. i have sinned against You and my neighbor. i humbly ask You to be the Lord of my soul from now on so that nothing will ever separate me from Your bountiful grace. i pray for the same for my children and my loved ones.
i am sorry for the pain, humiliation, suffering and death my sinfulness caused You but more than that, i thank You, Jesus, for dying for me and giving me a take at eternal life. i love You. amen.”
zippersandrivets 
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