February 12

Evidence of Repentance

Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. — Matt 3:8 BSB

The only way to prove we’ve truly repented is through our actions. It’s not enough to say we’ve repented—people will wait to see the evidence in our lives. Imagine a man known for his wickedness joins the church, but the next day he returns to his old, sinful ways. Will anyone believe his Sunday confession? To show his repentance is real, he must live a new life starting Monday morning. Everyone knows what’s right in such a situation, even the wicked. In fact, sinful people are often the quickest to call out hypocrisy, revealing that even they know what true repentance looks like.

Repentance that doesn’t lead to change is worthless. It’s not enough to shed a few tears or feel a moment of regret. It’s not enough to feel frightened by the thought of judgment, only to return to the same old sins the next day. So what are the works worthy of repentance?

One example is a grocer who, after hearing a sermon on honesty, burns the false measure he’d been using to cheat customers. Another is a father who, convicted of his neglect at home, restores family devotions and confesses his failings to his household. These are examples of repentance in action—leaving the sins behind and walking in new, clean ways of holiness. Our heart is where spiritual life begins, but the heart shapes the life. If our actions remain sinful, our heart hasn’t truly changed. The best way to prove we’ve repented is to actually repent, and soon our lives will speak for themselves.