The Big Repeat/Doing Teshuvah

Most of us don’t celebrate Rosh HaShanah. It starts on September 16^th this year.   In Hebrew it means “Head of the Year”.  In other words, this is a New Year to Jews.  Following the blowing of the shofar, (those funny looking Ram’s horns) there is a big celebration.  However, this leads up to Yom Kippur. 

 There are 10 days between Rosh HaShanah and Yon Kippur called the Days of Awe.  This is when the observant Jews and Messianic Believers focus on repentance and asking forgiveness from anyone whom they have insulted or injured in anyway. Getting themselves right with God. Focusing on the wrongs they have done. We have our Messiah Jeshua/Jesus who has taken our sins and offered Himself as our repentance.  But where does that leave us? 

In Hebrew the word for repentance is teshuvah.  It’s a good word and as in most Hebrew words it has many meanings but mainly regretting and repenting of past mistakes.  As Believers, this is what we need in our lives every day. 

But after we knowingly make a mistake and repeat the same transgression again what should we do?  For example, I resolve not to speak badly of others, but after a short while I am back to my old bad habit.  Does this mean that my teshuvah was insincere? 

If we are faced with the same temptations but truly and sincerely refrain from acting on them, we have rightfully come to terms with repentance!!  But what if I repeat the error?  It is possible to have very genuine feelings of teshuvah but still mess up again. 

We’re all humans, subject to highs and lows.  We often repeat our mistakes.  It’s time for us to rethink if we are truly sincere in our repentance.  But there is more that just asking God to forgive us. 

Teshuvah, on its most basic level, consists of three ingredients: a) Remorse for the bad that was done. b) Resolving never to do the offensive act again. c) Connecting with the person or persons with whom we seek forgiveness. 

 With those thoughts in mind, you and I must examine ourselves in the light of what Jeshua teaches us.  See Matthew 18:21 as well as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Forgiveness/Repentance go hand in hand!

In seeking forgiveness and repentance, Jeshua told us to lay our gifts on the “altar” but first go to the person we have offended and seek forgiveness.

   That’s Teshuvah.