“Repentance starts with me.”

Say it again!

“Repentance starts with me!”

Why are we saying it? Because we need to remind ourselves that before we can mourn over the sin-filled, hurt-filled and broken world we live in, we need to mourn over our sinful, hurtful and broken selves that we are.

If there was ever a year to realize that this world we live in is not how God intended it to be, 2020 is that year.

It is certainly a good thing for us to see the need for the citizens of our country to turn away from sin and to turn toward God.

Both Jesus and John the Baptist gave the same instruction to “Repent, because the Kingdom of Heaven has come near!”

We would be wise to proclaim the same message as them and yet, if we forget that repentance starts with me, that message will never be as effective as it could be and as we want it to be.

If there is not evidence of true repentance of one’s own sins in the life of a Christian, the world will never take their call to repentance seriously.

Why would they in the face of such hypocrisy?

We, as Christians, must lead by example. We must live out the change that we desire to see in the world.

But what does true repentance of sin look like?

Simply put, repentance is a turning away from our sins and turning back to God. What this simple understanding leaves out though is the effect on our heart. Repentance is not some cold, emotionless rotation.

True repentance occurs when our heart breaks over our sin.

Jesus referred to that heartbreak as mourning. In fact, the specific word He used often was used in the context of referring to the intense grief that a person would feel after the death of a dearly loved friend or family member.

It is the same word that James used when he wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Are you mourning over your sin?

Take a moment and pray.

Ask God that question and pray that His Holy Spirit would reveal the answer to you.

When we realize we have sinned, it needs to hit us as hard as the passing of a close friend or family member. Yes, it is that serious and it should affect us that much.

We can’t shrug off or explain away our sins and then call for others to take their sin seriously. We can’t cry out to God and mourn over the sins of the world if we are not crying out and mourning over our sins.

Be an example for your family, your friends, and your co-workers this week when you recognize you have been disobedient to God.

They are watching how you respond. May your actions speak as loud as your words.