Carefully crafted letters or presentations will bring the reader or audience to understand what the writer wants to communicate.

Paul did that in his second letter to the Corinthian church.  He used humility, irony, a parental love for the church, a declaration of love for this church, and imploring them to believe him.  He sent Titus along with another believer to convince them.  He desired to build up the Corinthian believers.  And yet he was concerned, deeply concerned.  He was concerned that if he did visit them, they would not welcome him.  (2 Corinthians 12:11-19)

His concern was that he would find “strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance and disturbances.”
(2 Corinthians 12:20)  That’s quite a list isn’t it?

The bottom line: that he would mourn those who had “sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.”

Does your heart break for those who continue to sin without repenting?  Do you mourn when those you love continue in sin, insisting on doing things their way and not God’s way?

Repentance is turning from actions, words, attitudes and life styles that do not please God.

Repentance is turning to God and asking forgiveness and choosing not to go back to that godless life.

What is your bottom line?  Do you love others as a parent loves their children?  Do you mourn for those who have sinned in the past and not repented?

Repentance should bring forgiveness… when another does repent, be quick to tell them of your forgiveness.

The bottom line:
God forgives you when you seek Him and His forgiveness.  Be quick to forgive others.

(NASB) 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

The bottom line:
We need faith in Jesus Christ – we need to turn to Him for forgiveness and not continue in our sin – that’s repentance.

~ Take it to heart ~

True repentance brings God’s faithful and true forgiveness.

The bottom line:
You are loved with an everlasting love, wrapped in the arms of Jesus.

(NASB) Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is a dwelling place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms… ”