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HOW DO I
KNOW IF I NEED TO REPENT?
Luke 12:54-13:9
1. Am I wise
about some things, but foolish about others?
And He was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud
rising in the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,'
and so it turns out. And when you see a south wind blowing, you
say, 'It will be a hot day,' and it turns out that way. You
hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth
and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
2. Am I sure I’m always right?
"And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is
right? For while you are going with your opponent to appear
before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to
settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge,
and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer
throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not get out of
there until you have paid the very last cent."
3. Do I imagine that I’m immune to the catastrophes other
people experience?
Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to
Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their
sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these
Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because
they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent,
you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those
eighteen
on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse
culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no,
but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
4. Do I rationalize away my personal fruitlessness and
ineffectiveness?
And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which
had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit
on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper,
'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this
fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use
up the ground?' And he answered and said to him, 'Let it alone,
sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in
fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not,
cut it down.' "
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