Daily Devotions – Repent and believe the Good News

Daily Devotions – Repent and believe the Good News

 

Jesus Begins His Ministry

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

This brief passage is a summary of Jesus’ preaching: “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe.” While it is important to confess our sins, and turn away from sin and turn toward obedience to God, Jesus is helping us see what the ultimate issue is. The reason we sin, and the reason we disobey God, is because we don’t believe in the Good News! We fail to believe that God loves us, that God is charge, that God has a good plan for our lives. When we lack faith in God’s saving love, then we try to save ourselves. Every act of disobedience is an attempt to get some pleasure or advantage for ourselves (because we fail to believe that God will give us something better). Only when we believe the Good News, will we have the hope and strength to turn away from lesser things.