WAY
TO REPENTANCE
Tenth
of twelve devotions in Advent Parallel
Bible Study series
Isaiah
2:2-4, Luke 24:47
Luke
24:46-47: “He
told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the
dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached
in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’”
Repentance
is pure sorrow. Repentance is admitting and turning away from the sin that now
disgusts us. The disgusting thing
glowers at us. “For I know my
transgressions, and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:3). Repentance is the only way we can make the disgusting
thing disappear.
Jeremy blurted out, “Ms. Deturk has the
face of a turkey—with those wobbly things dangling from her chin,” when their
teacher stepped outside of their fifth grade classroom. The class laughed out loud. Jeremy was pleased. Then Jeremy noticed Ms. Deturk standing in
the doorway.
She looked straight into Jeremy’s
eyes.
Jeremy sighed, quickly sitting
down. The whole class went silent.
Ms. Deturk walked to the first student
and handed her a stack of paper. “Missy,
please hand these out to the class.” she said.
She wrote on the white board, “North Carolina is a ________ place to
live because…” She instructed the class,
“Finish that sentence with what North Carolina is and tell why. I’ll choose one to display in our school. Whoever wrote it will win an ice cream cake from
Baskin Robbin’s”.
Did Ms. Deturk overhear Jeremy?
Jesus lived perfectly. He willingly died for the sins of all people. He rose from the dead on the third day, then
ascended to heaven. Now Jesus intercedes
for believers’ best every day. Jesus
offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life to whomever chooses Him as Lord of
their lives. Because Christians love
Jesus, we willingly repent (confess, then turn away from) our sins.
Jesus is the only way to repentance
and forgiveness.
When believers understand the importance
of forgiveness and eternal life—gifts we didn’t know we needed, nor requested—our
response ought to be repenting our sin.
How do you think Jeremy felt?
Take Home Nugget
The night Jesus was arrested, Peter
bragged, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33).
Luke 23:60-62 tells the story: After
being recognized as having been with Jesus, “Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know
what you’re talking about!’ Just as he
was speaking, the rooster crowed.
“The Lord turned and looked straight
at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word
the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows,
you will disown Me three times.’ And
he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Jesus’ gifts are of utter importance;
Jesus is the way to repentance.
J.D.
Griffith
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