“When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this outrage committed by the returned exiles. And I sat there utterly appalled until the time of the evening sacrifice. At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the Lord my God.”
Ezra 9:3-5 NLT
Repentance is an important part of the discipleship process. Today it is a troublesome word, possibly because of its hyper religious overtones or because man’s hearts are wicked. Either way, humans have a problem owning such a stance. The act of repentance takes a certain amount of bravado that seems counterintuitive in a pious understanding of the Christian life. It requires a fervent push back and complete change in one’s personal life, away from past sins. It is the proverbial putting of our money where our mouths are. Ezra was calling the Jews to more than a confession, but also a repentance. Even in this moment of shock at the lack of disciplinary me on their parts in the restored city, his first act was to resume partaking in the basic element of sacrifice. In his state of grieving, he was not merely depressed, but he was proactive. Both are appropriate. We must be like Ezra when we encounter sin; shocked, appalled and even violent against it. But we mustn’t dwell there. We must also resume the necessary and right elements of our faith and return to the scripturally prescribed path.
JOSH McGARY. COM 