RPG Adults
REPENT, BELIEVE, FOLLOW
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6
Mark 1:14-20
Acts 16:31
“…repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
REPENT, BELIEVE, FOLLOW
The Lord Jesus Christ preached: “…believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). What does it mean to believe? Note that the word “believe” in this passage is sandwiched in between two other words, namely, “repent” and “followed” (1:15,18). These two words really define what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ or what true faith is all about.
So, what is true faith? What is it characterised by? First, we see that true faith is characterised by repentance. The word “repentance” is from the Greek metanoeo which literally means a change of mind. It is making a 180-degree U-turn. It is to move away from sin and Satan in order to follow Christ and His truth. It is a conscious rejection of the things of the world to receive the things of God. The Bible says, “the friendship of the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). The Lord says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt 6:24). It is either money or Christ, you cannot have both. As the Bible says, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). But the converse is true as well, “the love of Christ is the root of all goodness.”
Second, true faith is characterised by obedience. When a person believes in Christ, he will desire greatly to obey God’s call and commands. While repentance is a negative—a turning away, to follow is positive—a moving towards. The two actions go hand in hand—one comes after the other. You make a U-turn to head in the right direction. This is well captured by the hymn, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” which expresses this sentiment, “The world behind me, the cross before me… No turning back, no turning back.” This is also exemplified by the disciples who followed Jesus when He gave the call, “Come ye after me… And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him” (Mark 1:17,18).
THOUGHT: Will you follow Jesus?
PRAYER: “I have decided to follow Jesus… No turning back, no turning back.”