“One of my neighbors,” Stan began one morning, “just got back from a trip where they drove all over England.”
“How was that?” I asked.
“He said they had a great time, but there was some real adventure involved in driving on the left-hand side of the road.”
“I can imagine that took some real adjustment,” I commented.
“Yeah,” Stan replied, “all sorts of different things to watch for. But the thing that my neighbor said that really took some adjusting was driving in and through each round-about they encountered until they got used to them.”
“Oh,” I said, “those circle things. I’ve heard they can be a real nightmare if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“My neighbor,” Stan said with a laugh, “mentioned that when they got into the first round-about they just kept going round and round because they didn’t know how to get out.”
“I’ve experienced the same thing with my faith walk,” I commented. “Just keep going round and round because I don’t know how to get out of where I am to go in the direction God’s wants me to go.”
“You are not alone, my friend,” Stan replied. “More times than I like to admit that is where I have been. In fact, the other day I saw in Luke’s gospel that John the Baptist was talking about the same thing.”
“Driving in a round-about?” I asked.
“Not exactly,” Stan replied, “but something similar when he told the people that they should be bringing forth fruit in keeping with their repentance.”
“Bringing forth fruit in keeping with their repentance,” I repeated. “Kind of like not just doing the same old thing over and over, going in circles.”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “Confession is to be followed by repentance, and repentance is supposed to result in a changed life that brings forth fruit in keeping with that repentance.”
“And if it doesn’t?” I asked.
“Need to check out why,” Stan replied. “Could be that the fruit of the Spirit is not being manifested.”
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Bible verses to consider:
Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance. Luke 3:8.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you allow me to come before you in confession and repentance, and that you provided all I need to bring forth fruit in keeping with my repentance. I confess that too often three is not that fruit manifested in my life because I choose to go my own way, rather than your way. Please help me in following every step of you lead so I choose to stop going in circles and I choose to to surrender and abandon all that is contrary to you so I do, in fact, bring forth fruit in keeping with my repentance. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you come to faith by confessing, repenting, and accepting by faith all of God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him when it’s time? If no, why? What is standing in the way? If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing in bringing forth fruit in keeping with your repentance? Do you find yourself going in circles, repeating the same things that require confession and further repentance? If you sense some changes may be needed in your life in that regard, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 