repent and turn to God

Acts 17:16-34 – The Unknown God

Paul shows us how he responded when he was at odds with what he saw around him. When Paul saw all the idols and shrines for gods other than the one true God, he responded. Paul didn’t just sit back and hope everything worked out for the people of Athens. He sought out the people who were talking, the learned ones who were influencing people’s worldview. Yes, it seems there were “influencers” even in those days.

I’m sure Paul took delight in sharing about God to these people who we’re told spent a lot of time talking about spiritual things. Paul didn’t shy away from confrontation when it came to professing the truth and wanted to “reason” and “debate” with these leaders. I’m not sure I’ve ever been that bold. How about you? I think it’s something we should all aspire to as believers. We should want to state our case for being on Team Jesus. Paul spoke out “daily” to any who would listen. Continue reading “Acts 17:16-34 – The Unknown God”

Job 42:1-6 – How Job Responds to God

Read Job 42:1-6

Job was clearly remorseful for all he had said about God. Especially now that God had finally come forward. Yet who would be prepared for God to say the things he did? Boldly Job took responsibility for being the one who questioned God’s “wisdom with such ignorance.”

To acknowledge your sinfulness so directly and completely takes courage. Job couldn’t help but feel deep guilt and regret, and he faced it head on. Don’t people tend to want to hide their sins and be seen as good? We can’t hide our sins from God and Job knew it. Continue reading “Job 42:1-6 – How Job Responds to God”

Joel 2:12-17 – Repentance

Read Joel 2:12-17

This is a text for difficult times. Coming off the warning of the locusts and the feared day of the LORD, people were needing to know where to turn. Where do we turn in our own times of struggle? Here’s a word from the LORD for your weary soul. “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

God doesn’t expect us to “get our act together” before we approach him. That doesn’t matter to him. He wants us to come to him before it’s too late. The enemy is circling, trying to distract us and interfere with our divine allegiance daily. We can be sure these prophetic words are for us, too.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 – Where is the Lord?

Read Jeremiah 2:4-13

I hear such desperation in God’s tone, lamenting over how his children have abandoned him. Jeremiah is going to teach us how intimately God knows us and cares for us. We started this trek down memory lane in our last reading, and now God remembers how his people have responded to him. We’ve got the Bible history to see for ourselves how these people drifted away.

But it isn’t just “those people,” God’s chosen ones. When we look around our own communities, we see similar apathy toward God. There are those who deny God’s existence and there are those who acknowledge there’s a higher power but don’t have any interest in having a relationship with an invisible deity. What about you? Where is God for you?