Repentance

 Devotion: Repentance — A Change of Residence

Scripture

Luke 13:3 (KJV)
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Reflection

When Jesus hears about the Galileans who were killed by Pilate, He challenges the assumption that they died because they were worse sinners. Instead, He turns the spotlight on His listeners—and on us. The real issue, He says, is not how others have sinned, but whether we have repented.

The Greek word metanoeo means to change one's mind and direction. But the Hebrew word Jesus would have had in mind, nacham, goes deeper. It paints a picture of grieving, lamenting, and—most strikingly—destroying the house. True repentance means not just feeling sorry or doing better; it means moving out of the old life completely and beginning anew in the Kingdom of God.

It’s not about behavior modification. It’s about a spiritual relocation.

Contemplation

Take time to examine where you’re living today—not your physical address, but the spiritual domain of your heart. Have you torn down the old house of sin, or have you just redecorated it with better intentions?

Repentance isn’t a moment at the altar that we leave behind. It’s a lifestyle—a daily departure from the kingdom of self into the Kingdom of Christ.
We all need to ask: Am I living like a resident of God’s Kingdom today, or have I returned to the ruins of my old life?

Questions to Ponder

• What does “destroying the old house” look like in my life?

• Have I mistaken sorrow over sin for true repentance?

• How can I cultivate a lifestyle of daily repentance and Kingdom living?

• Is there an area in my life where I am still clinging to the old domain?

Prayer

Father,
Thank You for calling me out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Your beloved Son. I confess that too often I return to what You’ve called me to leave behind. Teach me the depth of true repentance—not just changing my behavior, but changing my residence. Help me to destroy the old house completely, to grieve over sin, and to daily walk in the light of Your Kingdom. May repentance be the rhythm of my life, and may I never grow weary of seeking Your mercy.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.