Week 4 Devotion by Jennifer Morris
Have you ever been lost? Blame it on the passenger, blame it on the road signs, blame it on Apple Maps but it’s probably happened to you. Sometimes when you are lost, your navigation system will reroute you. A right turn, another right turn and you are back to the road that will get you to your destination. Sometimes though, there is no fixing how lost you are except to stop, admit you are lost, and make a complete turn around to get yourself back on the right route.
When the prophet Isaiah encountered the power and holiness of Almighty God, we see how quickly Isaiah realizes his need for a complete turnaround.
“The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Almighty.”
Isaiah 6:4-5
Repentance stops you in your tracks and says, “Turn around, this is not the right way.”. Isaiah not only realized his own sin but the sin of all of humanity. He saw the expansive gap between God and us. He realized he wasn’t just a little misguided he was completely lost and going the wrong way. Repentance requires a change of direction. As we approach Easter, we need to adopt the attitude of repentance Isaiah had when he came into the presence of God. Our need for a savior becomes evident in the presence of God’s perfection.
Jesus came to bridge that gap. When we make a u-turn in repentance and get on the right road it leads straight to Jesus. Repentance opens the door to belief and eternal life. Our Messiah, Jesus, was sent so that the gap between us and God could be bridged. When we turn our hearts toward Jesus in repentance our sins are wiped clean. Easter begins with repentance. Like Isaiah, we have to realize we are ruined without Jesus.
Acts 3:18 – 20
“In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets – that his Messiah would suffer. Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah”
In the wake of repentance comes forgiveness of sin and seasons of refreshing. As we welcomed Spring this week, let this new season be a reminder of God’s promise of refreshing that follows repentance. No matter what is going on around us, refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord and repentance leads us to His presence.
This week our fast is from sugar and caffeine. As you give attention to denying yourself from these things think about God’s promise of a season of refreshing. When we replace something good with something better we bring our attention back to God. As we fast it allows us to pursue deeper fellowship with God and experience His presence in new ways.