The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 4 October 2024 — Godly Sorrow That Brings Repentance
TOPIC: Godly Sorrow That Brings Repentance
READ: 1 Samuel 7: 3-6 (NKJV)
- Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
- So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
- And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”
- So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured [it] out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
THE MESSAGE:
Today’s text portrays how Israel realised their unfaithfulness to God and were ready to return to Him. Their unfaithfulness drove them into bondage even with the presence of the ark in their land. They lamented after the Lord and Prophet Samuel instructed them that the only condition for deliverance from bondage was to put away their idols and serve God only.
Samuel called for a national solemn assembly where everyone fasted, confessed their sins and sought for God’s intervention. This is godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). Ultimately, deliverance from both spiritual and physical enemies is the end result of such exercise. In times like these, nations need to emulate what the Israelites did in their own time. Reliance on having churches, fellowship centers and spiritual monuments amongst us and answering the appellation ‘Christian’ will not save if we refuse to repent. The action of Prophet Samuel should challenge Christian leaders, families and individuals to organise solemn assemblies for God’s intervention over the land.
Such gatherings should spur people unto godly sorrow and repentance. God has promised in 2 Chronicles 7: 14 that if His people humble themselves in repentance, fasting and prayers, He will surely forgive, deliver, restore and heal their land. God is waiting for us to humble ourselves and cry out in repentance.
PRAYER: Lord, grant us the soberness to seek you in repentance for our deliverance and restoration.
