Doctrine: Repentance (Zechariah 1:1-6)

One time, one of my daughters went outside after it had rained and got dirt ALL over her nice dress..

I had specifically told her NOT to go out in the dress she was wearing because she would get it dirty.

Well- she did it anyways.

and sure enough she got mud all over her dress.

From the house- I saw the the stain…

I called and called to her..but she just kept on playing.

now a stain is a stain…getting it out wasn’t going to be a problem…I had an ample supply of SHOUT and Oxiclean…

however- the problem in that moment…wasn’t getting out the stain….

the problem was her refusal to come.

so I kept calling…but..she kept playing…pretending that she didn’t hear me…and at one point…I dont think she did.

She had become so engrossed in herself and the world..that in that moment…she truly didn’t even hear me anymore.

But she was my child…she was dirty…and I was not content to leave her that way…and so…I kept calling…I called and called again…I moved towards her…

even stepping in front of her to get her attention…

this time she heard me..she paused…

the question in that moment was...would she respond…would she return..to me?

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As we open up Zechariah…right away…God calls his people

return to me…and I will return to you.

this is covenant language..its an invitation into relationship…

and the way..is through…repentance…

Repentance begins with God’s gracious initiative.

The Lord is calling His people to return to Him with the promise that He will return to them.

This invitation reveals God’s heart toward sinners—He desires restoration, not distance.

these are not the words of an exasperated parent….

they are the words of a Holy God…

A holy God who does not wait for us to clean ourselves up before inviting us back…

he invites us back to clean us up.

the call is to come near.

because every parent knows you can clean a dirty child, but not a distant one.

Repentance involves a change of mind and heart that results in a change of behavior.

but Repentance is only possible because of Christ.

at the cross- God’s wrath is not denied, it is absorbed.

only Christ’s blood has the stain fighting power to wipe away our sins once and for all..

but our salvation is now and not yet.

just like sanctification is ongoing while we continue to live in a broken world…

the process of repentance is also ongoing until the day we are fully restored.

which means…it is possible to live as a believer…distant from God.

this is not a literal distance…God is always with you. that is true at all times…

but this distance is a relational one.

a married couple…can sit across the table from one another and yet feel miles a part.

They are married…the status of their relationship remains…but they lack connection..alignment…intimacy….

It’s interesting, that the Israelites God is talking to- were from a worldly perspective the closest to Him.

they were living in God’s land…they could literally see the foundation of the temple…they had been called to rebuild it!

for Israelites at that time- you didn’t get much closer than that.

but yet…their hearts were distant…

so God…said..return to me.

As a believer- your status as his child doesn’t change..no matter how far you stray…

but when you live a life of ongoing repentance you experience the blessing of a full relationship with God here and now..

you EXPERIENCE His presence…in the form of peace…joy…and contentment…you find relief from striving as God takes the weight of the sin you are working hard to manage or numb out and he puts it on Christ…whose burden is light…so that you can breath again.

To the outside world, the Israelites that God had called to Return to Him probably looked like the super holy ones…the ones who maybe needed to repent less…

but yet…that is exactly who God went to…

As leaders- we can fool ourselves into thinking we are above the need for repentance…believing the lie that that we should have this figured out by now

but when I live and lead out of a life marked by a recognition of my need for ongoing repentance.

I listen instead of defend.

I confess instead of conceal.

I don’t manage my sin…I turn from it.

and I find rest in God, knowing that he has wiped away all my sins.

our scripture ends this week with God’s people saying: “The Lord has done to us according to our ways and deeds.” 

That’s language of repentance

No blame shifting. no spiritual spin. no victim narrative. no grumbling or complaining.

just an honest, genuine recognition of their sin…and their need for a savior.

so lets take a moment…

and practice the first step of repentance.

conviction…ask the Holy Spirit to reveal SPECIFIC places where sin is present and causing distance between you and Him.

this practice takes intentional TIME and SPACE to LISTEN for God’s voice.

so practice listening now….

lets be real- the couple of minutes I just gave you isn’t enough to flesh out all your sin…

but it isn’t about hitting a certain threshold.

Repentance its about bringing our hearts back into step with a holy God who refuses to leave us stuck. 

God loves us too much to let us remain where we are.

Where might God be saying to you today…return to me?

Listen..Confess…Turn…and then do it again and again…

CONVICT.

CONFESS.

COMMIT.