Repent or Refuse?

Meditate on this Scripture today:

How big was that Fish that swallowed Jonah?
Repent -- that was Jonah's message.
Repent -- that was Jesus' massage.
What message do you hear today?

 As he (Jesus) was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, "God bless your mother--the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!" Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, "This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God. "The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here--but you refuse to listen. The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here--but you refuse to repent." Luke 11:27-32 (NLT)

People haven't really changed much in the past 2000 years. There were some who refused to repent when Jesus was right there with them...and now there are some who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and repent today. Maybe you are wondering just what does it mean to repent? Repenting isn't a difficult action--it is just humbling.  You have to admit you are a sinner. Can you do that? It is interesting to note that the idea of everyone sinning is a universal problem not just a New Testament concept. This is expressed in the Scriptures below:

     LORD, we confess our wickedness and that of our ancestors, too. We all have sinned against you. Jeremiah 14:20 (NLT)

     For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Romans 3:23 (NLT)

Everyone--since Adam and Eve--has sinned. That sin breaks our possibility of a relationship with God. To restore that relationship we merely have to confess our sin. Merely you say. That is humbling. Can you do that?  Only a day left in this year...it would be a great way to end the year--with a clean heart. I try to keep my account short by confessing my sin daily--or even more often if necessary. Jesus is the answer--renewing my mind--so I am not a slave to sin. 

     Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.  Romans 7:25 (NLT)

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

Repent. Let God transform you.  Good way to go into the New Year--transformed. 

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus--yes, You are my Lord and Savior. I repent of my sin and ask that You would continue to renew my mind-- that I would be more like You each day. 

Daily Bible Reading: Revelation 12-18

© 2019 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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