Day 2: The Gift of Repentance
Intention
Fulfilling the Great Commission by coming into alignment with God’s gift of repentance.
Scripture
“… and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
– Luke 24:47 NKJV
Reflection
Most of us are familiar with the “Great Commission” set forth in Matthew 28:18–20:
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
There is another “Great Commission” by the risen Christ set forth in Luke 24:47. In the New King James version it reads:
“… and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
The more we “chew” over Luke 24:47, two key revelations can be reached.
First, repentance is spoken by the Lord, the risen Christ, as a key commandment, even before the remission of sins. Clearly, repentance is not a punishment but is God’s gift along with Jesus’ blood. The risen Christ commanded the church to be “zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19). When we obey this commandment, it opens up the experience of ‘dining’ with Him, and He with us (Rev 3:20) – another wonderous gift of His grace.
Second, the message about repentance must be preached. The disciples then, and you and me now, are called to “preach”. You may or may not be called to stand behind a podium as a “preacher”. But either way, your increasingly godly character – grown as you repent with Him regularly – will increase your witness to others. Your testimony of the value of repentance will preach to many, helping to bring them into His Kingdom, and you will be doing your part in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Video
Prayer
Father God, Abba, help each of us have a revelation of Your eternal Word that repentance is Your gift by which we enter Your Kingdom, cleanse from old sin patterns, purify as the Bride of Christ, and begin to fulfil Your Great Commission.
We acknowledge that we have not kept You at the centre of our lives, nor the life of our nation. Forgive us for that and give us the ability to turn our lives around. Let us re-focus again on who You are, on Your promises, which we have discarded for what the world has offered us.
Re-form us as Your people into Your own image and allow us to reflect Your glory to a lost and hurting world. Revive us again, oh Lord, that Your people may rejoice in You.
Amen.
Author Bio
A former Wall Street lawyer, atheist and New Ager, Jeffrey Daly had an epiphany, repented, and committed to serving Jesus Christ in 1991. He is the Founder and Executive Director of National Day of Repentance, a ministry focusing solely on personal and national repentance to encourage the Body of Christ in preparation for the Bridegroom’s return.
Prayer Points for Wave of Glory
- Pray for a wave of the “knowledge of the glory of the LORD” to sweep the globe and the WPA in Australia on 3–6 October. Isaiah 40:5
- Pray for awakening for Australia and millions to find Christ. Isaiah 64:1–2
- Pray for a global awakening for the world and billions to find Christ. Romans 10:1
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