An unusual day, Father, with the snow last evening, we canceled services today but thank You for a true day of rest. We didn’t really go anywhere and all I really did was to move a little snow and enjoyed the day with Karen. Thank You for Your blessings this day. Amen.
Mark 1:14-15 (<<click to read the passage)
Over the last several months I have really come to appreciate the Amplified Bible. This past fall I quoted Wikipedia as stating, “It is designed to ‘amplify’ the text by using additional wording…to bring out all shades of meaning present in the original texts.” Those “shades of meaning” speak to me.
In today’s passage, Jesus says,
“The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation].”
Isn’t that a great filling out of the word repent? And that first word – change – is the catalyst! And it is not just an initial change it is an ongoing lifestyle!
A couple of years ago I wrote a post entitled A Pond of Faith? (<<click to read the post) In it, I spoke of our faith being a pond or a reservoir. For too long I allowed my faith to stagnate. Was I a Christian? Yes, but I must admit a poor one. By no means have I reached anything close to perfection but Jesus’ infilling of me has encouraged change, change in my inner self – my old way of thinking. Each day I truly strive to live my life in such a way that proves that repentance – that change. And I endeavor and am determined to aggressively seek God’s purpose for my life. There is great satisfaction in doing so!
Have you repented? Lord Jesus, I pray so!
Create in us an insatiable, burning desire to be all You want us to be! Amen.
Jan 13th, 2019, Sun, 7:36 pm
