April 14th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON ACTS 

REPENT

Acts 3:17-19 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out . . .”    

In Acts 3:13-15, Peter poured out the Law upon the hearts of his listeners: “You handed Him (Jesus) over to be killed, and you disowned Him before Pilate, though he had decided to let Him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life . . .” In today’s devotional verses Peter said that they had acted in ignorance but he also urged them to repent and ask God to forgive the sins they had committed through their sinful actions toward Jesus.  

“Repentance means turning from sin just as yesterday’s devotion said that faith involves turning to God. . . repentance is much more than being sorry for your misdeeds; it involves the active acceptance of God’s gift of faith in Jesus through whom you receive the forgiveness of the sins you commit.” (A theological wordbook of the Bible. Richarson, page 192)  

It is one thing to feel sorry or bad over the sins you commit. It is another to actually repent of them, isn’t it? As Peter reminded his Jewish audience about the many sins they committed toward Jesus during his trial and crucifixion, his message is recorded in the Bible to remind you of the many times you have denied Jesus, turned against Him, and rejected him. That is what you do when you sin.    

Peter’s message today urges you, as he did the Jews, to recognize your sins, turn from them to Jesus and pray to His Father to forgive you because of the cleansing blood of Jesus shed by Him for you on Calvary’s cross. Through faith in Christ alone your sins are forgiven. This is what you hear every time you receive the Lord’s Supper: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.”  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me all my sins for Jesus’ sake in whose name I ask. Amen. 

Just as I am, without one plea  
But that Thy blood was shed for me  
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am and waiting not  
To rid my soul of one dark blot,  
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, though tossed about   
With many a conflict, many a doubt,  
Fightings and fears within, without,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;  
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,  
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,  
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;  
Because Thy promise I believe,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am; Thy love unknown  
Has broken ev’ry barrier down;  
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,  
O lamb of God, I come, I come.  

Just as I Am, without One Plea // LSB 750