Key Bible Verse: "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God" (Matthew 3:8). Bonus Reading: Matthew 3:1-2, 6-10

A man was fired from his job for poor work habits and insubordination. As I met with him and his employer, each began to see how they'd contributed to the problem. She admitted she hadn't provided him with reasonable, consistent instructions or spoken to him constructively about his work deficiencies.

When we met a second time, she showed her former employee a manual she'd written calling for regular reviews and a process for informing employees of work deficiencies and helping them improve. "If I'd taken the time to write this two years ago," she said, "a lot of unnecessary conflict could have been avoided, and you'd probably still be working for me. If you're willing, I'd like you to come back to work so we both have another chance to do things right."

Seeing the time and effort she'd invested in that plan, the employee knew she was serious. He admitted that his poor work habits and open criticism of her decisions had justified his termination, thanked her for her offer, and agreed to come back. He eased her doubts about his sincerity by pledging to serve her more faithfully and offering to work overtime to make up for time he'd wasted.

—Ken Sande in The Peacemaker

My Response: When has altered behavior convinced me that repentance was genuine?

Thought to Apply: True repentance spends less time looking at the past and saying, "I'm sorry," than to the future and saying, "Wow!"—Frederick Buechner (author)

Adapted from The Peacemaker (Baker, 1991, 1997, 2004) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Prod me, Lord, to own up to my sin, deal with its consequences, and alter my behavior.

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