The Well

REPENTANCE FOR IGNORANCE?

Peter is much nice than I am. Of course we know he wasn't always that way! However, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit this particular day, he said something that we need to stop and think about.

What those people did to Jesus was done in total ignorance. They were simply doing what God had already destined to be done to Jesus – He was to die a shameful death so that our sins could be forgiven. However, Peter also knew they needed to be given an opportunity to repent. It is no different today. Maybe we don't out and out try to destroy Jesus, but we definitely do many things in ignorance. We all need repentance.

Speaking of repentance…as I was sitting at the computer today listening to the radio, one of my favorite songs came on, and I went bonkers. I ran through the house and turned on and up every radio – full blast! What song was playing? Praise the Lord by the Imperials! I can't remember all the words, but the chorus says,
"Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him.
Praise the Lord. For our God inhabits praise.
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you,
serve only to remind you,
that they drop powerless behind you
when you praise Him."

Anyhow, as I listened to this song and the verses, which allude to the fact that Satan is deceiving us through our struggles, I repented for my attitude lately. Satan wants us to think that we are paupers when he knows that we are children of the King. The song also says that we should,
"lift up our mighty shield of faith for the battle must be won,
we know that Jesus Christ is risen so the work's already done."
(Something like that.)

Repentance doesn't come easily. It is not something that we can simply say, "I'm sorry," and walk away unchanged. When we really repent, when the grief for what we have done hits us in the heart, we are immediately strengthened for the battle and filled with joy.

So, are we forgiven for things that we do that we don't understand or that we do in ignorance? Yes! Every sin is forgiven. However, it takes accepting responsibility for that sin and repenting of it before we attain true intimacy with our Father. He is soooooooooooooooooooooooo good!