FRIDAY - 31ST MAY, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
APOSTLE PAUL'S REPENTANCE
Read Acts 9:19-25
Acts 9:20-21, KJV
"20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?"
Today, I have obligation of God to push further on repentance. When Jesus met Saul on his way to Damascus, he became broken and had a changed life. However, I want to trace the story of his repentance. Saul is known as a destroyer of the Way and persecutor of Christians. He himself collected letters from the high priests in Jerusalem for the purpose of hauling into prisons those of the Way (Acts 9:1-2). That was his life.
After his encounter, the gaining of his sight, his being strengthened with meat and a tarrying with the Damascus brethren for awhile, he immediately begins to preach Christ. This causes no small stir and doubt that the Jews in Damascus wonders saying, "is this not he who came to Damascus to bring those of the Way bound? How is it that he preaches the very Way he persecutes now?"
That's the power of repentance. That's what it does to a man. It calls him into a life that's in sharp contrast to the one he's been known for. Paul on occasion would affirm his story of repentance and salvation even before kings and governors by summarily saying, "he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19-20). The heavenly vision he had on the way to Damascus challenges him out of his zeal for the Jewish tradition and instructs him further on the new life to live.
If Paul had not repented of his old life and ways, he wouldn't have come into immediate conflict, pressure and persecution with the Jews and their leaders. On many occasions, they sought to kill him and that was because he now lives a life worthy of repentance and the salvation he holds. Repentance connotes change of life. It's so notable in Saul that it made him enemies. If you truly had repented and you incur no enemy or have no contrastive life with the former, it may be that you are mistaken, delusional or hypocritical. Mere confession of sins without change in belief, orientation, life, isn't repentance depicted. If Paul had remained who he was, he'd still be friend with the high priests but he immediately lost favour and popularity with them upon his turning away from those things he highly esteemed but which he now counted dung to gain Christ. That reminds me of a cultist who turned to the Lord. He was searched out and brutally killed after a resolution to remain Christ's. Though, he lost his life but he shall regain it at the last resurrection. His act of genuine repentance simply made him lose favour with his once cherished band.
Evaluate yourself. Did you truly repent? Did you truly believe? Did you truly have a change of heart or you're still dead in your sin? Is there a conviction and clear conscience that you indeed have broken away from your past or you still continue in it? See to it and repent anew and in truth.
PRAYER: Father, I'm here to establish this truth in myself, let me see.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23, John 18:25-19:22, Psalm 119:113-128, Proverbs 16:10-11
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