Good morning people who repent and apologise

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Yesterday I defined repentance as undergoing a metamorphosis by having a renovation of the intellect. I also said repentance results in a change of direction.

I believe that as a Christ follower there will be times where we need to repent and apologise. Both are needed.

The prodigal son repented before he apologised, but he did both.

In the past I would have said that he repented when he turned around and headed back home. Now I understand that was the fruit of repentance. His repentance is seen in the following verses.

Luke 15:17-19 When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’”

His repentance started with changing his thinking. The result of his repentance is the next verse.

Luke 15:20a So he got up and went to his father.

Repentance results in a change of direction.

The prodigal son also apologised to his father when he saw him.

Luke 15:21 The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

Apologising is about taking responsibility for what we have done. This is something that is essential and is God-honouring and relationship-restoring.

Have you done the wrong thing to someone? I encourage you to repent and apologise.