I want to draw your attention to a verse found in the Old Testament - a word from one of the Minor Prophets. This word I speak of is found in Hosea, chapter ten and verse twelve. Please turn there with me.

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. - Hosea 10:12

Hosea's ministry was directed to Israel's northern kingdom prior to their being taken captive by the Assyrians. It has been said of this book that...

It's a story of one-sided love - between the prophet and his adulterous wife, Gomer, and between God and his faithless people, Israel. - Daily Walk

As Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea so Israel had been unfaithful to God and just as Hosea demonstrated unconditional love by buying his wife back from slavery her adultery led her into, so God, declares Hosea, will restore his chosen people after a period of purification through punishment. Today's scripture reading then, Hosea 10:12, is a call to repentance. The message is clear; the time had come for Israel to amend her ways and a turning from sin would bring the blessing of God.

Hosea's words here remind us that we reap what we sow. It is our responsibility to break up the unplowed ground of our hearts. We need to be persistent in our seeking after God.

What I want you specifically to see is that in today's scripture reading Hosea was calling for was genuine repentance.

Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. - Hosea 6:1-4

Many commentators feel that the words of vv. 1-3 express a very shallow repentance on Israel's part. In fact, in many Bibles, the heading over this chapter reads something like "Israel Unrepentant." That her repentance lacked sincerity seems to be made clear by the word of the Lord recorded in v. 4. The Israelites (like us, unfortunately) were fickle in their interactions with God.

The attitude expressed by the people of Israel here in verses 1- 3 of chapter six seems to be, "OK, we've gotten away from God so let's return. He's upset with us but things will blow over quickly. After two days we'll be revived and on the third day everything will be back to normal." This was shallow repentance.

You can say, "I'm sorry without being truly repentant." You may simply be sorry that your sin has been exposed and the truth may well be that, if you had your way, you'd keep right on indulging in that sin. But please hear me, there is a problem with shallow repentance and that is that God sees right through it! The Life Application Bible has this to say about Israel's shallow repentance...

• The people did not understand the depth of their sins
• They did not turn from idols
• They did not regret their sins
• They made no pledge to make changes

After making these observations, the Life Application Bible goes on to ask a sobering question; "How about you?" Do you repent easily, without seriously considering what changes need to take place in your life? May God help us to avoid shallow repentance and instead help us to experience genuine repentance.

I am glad to tell you that not only does the book of Hosea contain an example of shallow repentance, it also contains an illustration of the real deal! We find this illustration in the 14th chapter of Hosea.

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say "'Our gods" to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion. - Hosea 14:1-3

Notice with me the elements of real repentance.

• A turning
• A confession
• An affirmation - Specifically that our hope is not to be found in things outside the will of God for our lives.

All this helps us to understand that genuine repentance is a deep work of God's grace in our hearts and it impacts the "total person" We agree with God that past action was wrong. We experience sorrow over our actions rather than pleasure, and we change our behavior.

How glad I am to be able to tell you this morning that God is gracious and ready to forgive the truly penitent. So many passages of scripture point this out.

"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. - Joel 2:12

If God is speaking to your heart about things you need to make right with him, I encourage you to move into genuine repentance.

It may be that some readers are struggling with what is sometimes identified as "besetting sin" - that is, a particular sin that one falls prey to on a consistent basis. It's a sin you are particularly vulnerable to - a real problem area in your spiritual life - a habitual sin. If that's your struggle, please hear what I'm about to say.

• Agree with God - John 17:17b - Stop trying to justify behavior branded "sinful" in his word, the Bible. His word is truth!

• Take a stand - Daniel 1:8 - Purpose in your heart to make a change!

• Pray - Matthew 6:13 - "Deliver me from evil!"

• Establish boundaries - Romans 13:14 - Rather than thinking about how to indulge in wrong behavior, create "fences" around such conduct that will make it harder for you to participate in it.

• Become accountable - James 5:16 - We are to confess our faults to one another. They can help keep us honest.

• Repent immediately if there is a lapse - I John 1:9

God is incredibly gracious and patient with us. He offered Israel many chances to get things right with him before judgment came. But they would not turn from their wickedness.

I say to you today, "the time has come!" It's time to get serious about serving God. I plead with you today - turn from sin and turn to God in genuine repentance. Why wait one day longer?

There is no guarantee of tomorrow. There is no way to get back wasted years or wasted opportunities. Listen to the word of our God as recorded in Romans 6:20-21...

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!

Choose to persist in wrong behavior and ultimately, you'll only live to regret it?to say nothing of all the pain you'll cause yourself and others along the way. Why do that? It's foolishness! Today God offers mercy and grace. Don't refuse it. Let us draw near to him and experience his blessing. God desires to do things in and through us that are beyond our ability to even imagine.

May his name be praised!

Mark is the Pastor of the Evangel Assembly of God located at 1633 Portage Road, Wooster, Ohio, and he would like to extend a cordial invitation for you to join them in worship. If you do not live locally but will be visiting some of the popular attractions in Ohio's Holmes County, please consider making Evangel one of your stops.

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