Good evening … Great is His faithfulness …
DAY 16: REPENT
Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel [f]of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God [g]is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Saint Mark is putting written emphasis on the fact of John being PUT IN PRISON before JESUS starts His ministry, reveals a key purpose of the old covenant – to prepare the people for Christ – had been completed – (Galatians 4:1-5 – “Sons of God Through Christ and the Spirit”) … When Christ arrived, the time of preparation was FULFILLED … To REPENT, which we have spoke about many times is to do a total “about-face” … In Greek it literally means to “change one’s mind” … It’s a radical change, repentance that is a radical change of one’s spirit, mind, thought, and heart – a complete reorientation to a life centered in Christ …
(Luke 5:4-10 – “Four Fishermen Called”)
(v. 4): LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP: St. Ambrose sees a spiritual meaning of this simple command as an invitation to give one’s life over to the deep mystery of the knowledge of the Son of God …
(v. 10) THE GREAT CATCH OF FISH – (v. 9): This is seen as an image of the apostle’s bringing mankind to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and it fulfills the prophecy of Jeramiah 16:16- I will read it from Orthodox Study Bible …
Moving Forward
1: What do you focus on more: Jesus’ command to love others … or to repent and believe??? Interesting question, for me I focus on both, it’s sometimes hard to love when certain people do you wrong … But that’s why it’s important to focus on both, repentance to God keeps us honest, and we are holding ourselves accountable … This cleanses us even in our thoughts we get cleansed, the Lord’s prayer is a great prayer that covers both these things at once … To truly believe is to work it, it works if you work it, Christ that is put into practice His teachings and commandments … How can one love if one hasn’t truly repented???”
2: What incident in your life incited radical inward transformation??? Would you regard it as a miracle??? The only incident I recall was the night I was called by the Lord, right after watching the Season 1 and the first episode of The Chosen and ever since than I have been doing His will and not my own … Yes, it’s miracle everyday He shocks me on how He has transformed me each day I’m a better version of myself even with the good, the bad and the ugly …
3: Repentance fosters humility and surrender, so what can you repent of??? My biggest struggles are my own internal self-confidence, my social anxiety and sometimes my internal thoughts if I’m frustrated with people or some other circumstances, where I get frustrated when I see people or events that do not put God’s will first, but their own wills and narratives can be hard for me … I’m so in tuned with the Lord, it’s difficult to be around those who have know need for His ways or love …
Prayer Focus:
Pray to God for repentance for as many things as you can think of, but end the prayer with gratitude for His forgiveness …
Psalm 85 (86) – Part of this evening’s prayer focus …
Numbers 6:24-26:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared W. Campbell
TOTAL TIME 19:11 - Great Reflection - I pray you are all reviewing the videos the Lord's presence is all around for He is truly in our midst …