“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
Forgiveness and refreshment. Two great gifts that can only really come from God. The world does try to offer counterfeits and substitutes –so cleverly designed that they give the appearance of the real thing. But just as a cubic zirconia is not a diamond, the refreshment offered by the world is a far cry from the genuine refreshment that comes only from God.
We want the gifts, but they come only after the command to repent and turn to God. Look at the order in the verse.
We do a disservice to unbelievers when we “market” Jesus with the lure of refreshment and the peace it brings without focusing first on the need for repentance. Our coming to God is first and foremost because we are sinners in need of a savior. Until I acknowledge my sin – and my inability and inadequacy to fix it – I will not see my need for a savior.
For the believer, life also brings opportunities for continual confession, repentance, turning, and cycling back to receive the forgiveness and refreshment that only God can provide.
Where is God calling you and me to repent and turn?
Lord Jesus, how I praise you that forgiveness and the refreshment that follows are there for the asking. My sin seems so convoluted and so complicated in contrast to the simplicity of confession and forgiveness that you give so freely. Stir up my heart today, convict me of any unconfessed sin, and restore to me the joy of being clean before You—all because of You.
Live Sent Action Point: Ask God to reveal an unconfessed sin in your life. Make the process of repent, (re)turn, and refresh a daily lifestyle. Your lifestyle of freedom will draw others to the One who has set you free.
{Note from Laura: This is day 10—I can hardly believe we are one-third of the way through our 30-day commitment to live sent. Whether you have just joined us or whether you have been a faithful reader from day one, I want to say thank you for joining me in the journey through Acts and accepting the challenge to live sent. Please consider posting your comments or reflections. It’s difficult to make this a one-way conversation. I would love your feedback! Have you been challenged? Have you been stirred to think or pray differently? Have you tried any of the Live Sent Action Points? What has been your favorite day of these first ten? The blogging world is relatively new to me. I’m much more accustomed to teaching to a roomful where I have feedback from faces I can see. Your feedback will help this natural extrovert feel like she is having a real conversation with friends, rather than writing to the black hole of cyberspace. And to those of you who have posted comments and shared on your facebook page or clicked, “like”—thank you for blessing me!}
