Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 1:3 (NIV)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost. We are not to live in fear of rejection for He turns no one away who willingly seeks Him. If we seek Him, we will find Him if we seek Him with our whole heart. We are not to think of God as having diminishing mercy as His mercy is as great as His power. The soul that has a proper understanding of God’s goodness has a great advantage. Our affections will follow our understanding. The more we know Him the more we will love Him. Contrastingly, if we think of Him as a cruel task master that delights in our misery it will be difficult, if not impossible, to love Him.
We are all sinners. And every sin strikes at the honor and glory of God, the heart of Jesus, the joy of the Holy Spirit and the conscience of man. Sin costs us greatly and will always carry with it a death to something. It is never worth it – no matter what the world may scream. Whereas repentance is turning to all that is good, and pleasing and perfect. We are all constantly in need of repentance - turning to the Lord from sin for forgiveness - as we are ever so prone to wander. We can often be fearful to come to Him and continue to wallow in our willful ways. Repentance is not an easy work rather a mighty work - well beyond our frail human power. We may seek to melt stone as to melt our own hearts, Amen? We need the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. “Won’t He tire of forgiving us,” we wail. Indeed, behind much sin is often much fear driving us deeper into darkness rather than to our loving Father’s feet for freedom and cleansing. Just as the prodigal in Scripture. We must learn to keep our accounts short with Him. Whenever we turn from something, we turn to something and that turning should be to Him. We are never beyond the love and the arms of our Savior. Forgiveness is certain when we approach Him with a broken and contrite heart. Indeed, He will never despise such a heart. True repentance understands the mischievousness and miseries of sin. It turns angels into demons and it makes men godless, Christless and hopeless. Flee from it as you would a serpent into the arms of the Savior.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)