Therefore, tell the people of Israel, 'This
is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop
all your detestable sins.' Ezekiel 14:6
In the Old Testament Ezekiel proclaimed God’s
message of repentance. He wanted people to turn to Him from idols and stop sinning.
Jesus proclaimed the same message—with even more intensity—to the Israelites.
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| Where are you headed? Who will you follow? Crossroad Sign in Israel. |
Jesus announced that this promised
time had come. He was walking in the Galilean region and then along by the Sea
of Galilee. This was the beginning of His ministry. Why would He be calling
people to “repent” and that “The Kingdom of God is near”? That was His main
message—He was the Messiah—but people were not expecting a young carpenter and
Rabbi to be their Messiah. They were expecting a political ruler that would
save them from Roman oppression. Here was a Rabbi walking the dusty trails of
Galilee calling people to repent.
Jesus was with the people of Galilee.
This was an area that was in the crossroads of civilization and most of the
people there were literate. They knew the scripture. At this point in the Book
of Mark, Jesus begins to call His disciples. Follow me. Note that those fishermen that He
called, James and John, didn’t hesitate—they immediately left their fishing boats and business and followed Him.
You can be sure that they were repentant and followed Jesus with pure hearts.
That is what Jesus expects—and requires of them and us—pure, repentant hearts.
How’s your heart? Have you listened to Jesus—and repented as He asked?
Prayer
~ O God, Create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do
not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to
You. Psalm 51:10-13 NASB.
Daily
Bible Reading: Malachi
© 2018 Text and
photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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