3 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Matthew 4:17 (CSB): “From then on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Interestingly, the first recorded words out of Jesus’ mouth when His ministry officially started were the same exact words that John the Baptist proclaimed in Matthew 3:2 when his ministry began. It was a call to “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Upon reading this, our first reaction might be negative. Repentance sounds glass-half-empty. But the opposite is true. This call to repentance is positive and life-changing. Let’s talk about it for a few moments.
Repentance is simply acknowledging that we are heading in the wrong direction and then turning in the right direction. It recognizes that we have been violating God’s laws, so we own our disobedience (a.k.a. confess) to a holy God and then turn toward obedience. We will stop doing what God has forbidden and start doing what God has commanded.
Imagine arriving at your home only to realize that thieves had broken into your dwelling. Rather than play it safe and call the police, you feel brave. So you step inside your home with your gun drawn. Then, you realize that the thieves are still inside, and your eyes lock. You suspect that they have a weapon, and you are moments away from pulling the trigger on your own to defend yourself and your property. But, instead, you tell them, “Guys, if you get out of my house and leave all of my stuff behind, you can keep your life and I won’t press charges.” That’s grace, right?
Friends, in that scenario, we were the thieves in the house. Jesus stepped in and could have sent us to a Christless eternity in Hell forever. But, instead, He offers grace. He told His listeners they needed to turn from their sins because the Kingdom of Heaven was near. They could give up their sins and start doing the right thing of obeying Him. That’s repentance, and it is nothing short of grace that the Lord gives us this option!
Salvation is by grace. We receive forgiveness by simply placing our trust in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. But we demonstrate that we have been truly saved by a life of repentance: turning from what God has forbidden and engaging in what God has commanded.
And that brings us to the second half of what Jesus said: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
So, what’s the kingdom of Heaven? The kingdom consists of all Jesus-followers and Jesus (as our King). He rules over us while we’re on planet Earth, and we follow, obey, serve, and enjoy Him. Living under Jesus’ rule dictates that we engage in repentance regularly because we will regularly find that we do what God forbids. So, we must regularly turn from it to what God desires.
Are you saved? Then are you living like Jesus is your sovereign King? Do you demonstrate this by immediately and wholeheartedly believing and doing what He tells you in His Word? If not, you can quickly fix that by repenting and then obeying and experiencing God’s grace yet again.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are my King. But I sometimes don’t act like it. You are the One who has purchased me with Your blood, so You have the right to tell me what to do and expect immediate and complete compliance. But I don’t always give it. Please forgive me. With the power that only Your Holy Spirit can give me, I repent of my disobedience and resolve right now to live as a citizen in Your Kingdom should behave. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 