Mark 1:14–15 ‘Repent and believe the good news!’ (v15)
The word ‘repent’ still has unhealthy overtones for many people. It’s a word used sometimes on placards by Christians keen to see people turn back to God, and in some people’s minds it implies feelings of remorse or perhaps even tears.
The original Greek word simply means ‘change of mind’. Jesus is saying that because of this new reality of God drawing near, you will need to change your way of thinking. During the season when a COVID-19 virus was spreading and scientists were looking to understand it, the public were asked to ‘repent’, namely change the way we were thinking about it in the light of the new evidence.
This is what Jesus was calling His hearers to do. If the Creator God is at work then everything changes and it’s time to think differently about life in the light of this new information. Now God is not like electricity, where you plug in your gadget and expect it to work!
He is an unseen personal being who always acts for good, but not always in the way that we would like and the time we would like it! But whatever you are facing, you can depend upon the nearness of God, and His presence should make your future steps radically different than if He wasn’t there. This is a new and preferable way of thinking. Why not try it?
A Prayer To Make:
‘My mind is often focused on what I can see and how I feel. Please lift my mind and heart to Your presence today. Amen.’
Actions To Take:
Remind yourself that God is with you. Use a sticky note as a reminder so that you can live your next twenty-four hours confident in this glorious reality.
Scripture To Consider:
Isa. 30:15–18; Ezek. 18:30–32; Acts 17:29–33; 2 Cor. 7:9–11
