When we think of the word repent, our minds’ eye may be filled with a vision of angry preachers yelling at fearful congregations! Yet Jesus spoke of repentance in a totally different spirit. His words were always spoken in the spirit of love and truth, towards those He was calling to Himself. Whenever Jesus preached repentance, it was out of a heart of love and an desire for broken humanity to turn to Him and connect with the living God in a larger way. Jesus said to His disciples, “Unless you repent from your self-sufficiency and pride, humble yourselves, and turn to me like a trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving child, you will not be able to receive the life I have prepared for you in my kingdom – here or in the hereafter.” Jesus was not mad or even impatient with His disciple, and passionately longed for them to follow His example of humility. Jesus spoke tenderly and affectionately as He directed His disciples to repent and find out the meaning of true greatness. Today, Jesus still directs us to repent and turn to Him, as He calls forth and guides our destinies into His kingdom.

“At that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, ‘Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you repent [change, turn about] and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, foreging] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-5