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Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped
out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts
3:19 "Repent" isn't a very
popular word these days, but it's still in the Bible, so we'd be smart to find out what it
means. Forget the stereotypes--you know, the long-bearded weirdoes walking around in
sandwich signs, or the army of hell-and-brimstone breathing women attacking a saloon with
axes in one hand and a Bible in the other. Repent simply means to change your mind about
God.
Most people relegate just a small part
of their life to God; perhaps a few Sundays a year, and a couple of bucks in the
collection plate each time they visit. The rest of the time they're caught up in
everyday living: trying to get by, pay the bills, and maybe have a little fun, too. God
doesn't seem very real most of the time, so He doesn't get a whole lot of attention.
To repent means to change your mind
about God's place in your life. He loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die on the
cross for you. Change your mind about that: it's not something that happened long ago and
far away; you can have peace and joy and forgiveness of sins today because of that cross.
Jesus also challenged people to give their lives to Him in return--and that's not
just a special calling for those who wish to be priests or nuns. Change your mind
about it; Jesus wants to be a major part of everybody's life, and that's not such a
terrible thing. You'll find that everything goes smoother when He's leading the way:
family, job, and especially your spiritual life. That emptiness you sometimes feel
when you dare to get honest with yourself is the spiritual hunger that comes from not
giving the Creator His rightful place in your life.
So do it now. Repent. That
is, change your mind about God and His place in your life. Ask Him to forgive your
sins and come into your heart and life today. Determine to live as He would have you
to live. He will not turn you away. He has waited all your life for this
decision--and so have you. Don't delay any longer--fill that emptiness with Jesus.
See you in church...
Copyright © 1998
Kim Harrington, Masterbuilder Ministries. All rights reserved.
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