Think Again - Karen Pourbabaee
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15 NAB
When the infant Jesus arrived on earth, the kingdom of heaven descended. The entrance of this realm upon earth became cause to ponder its meaning and impact upon our lives. Both John the Baptist, in Mark 3:2, and Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, admonished us to repent.
The Greek origin of repent essentially means to think again. Jesus wanted us to think again and believe in the gospel, for repentance is not just rote confession of our ungodly ways in order to wipe our slate clean. True repentance involves re-thinking what is important in life and what direction our life course is taking us. What better time to re-think than the beginnings of this year?
True repentance requires action:
It will cause us to align our minds with God’s thoughts and ways. To believe in the gospel.
It will lead us to diligently change our lives. To reverse direction and go the opposite way of sin, a reformation of our ways. We can be reformed or transformed by the renewing of our minds, according to Romans 12:2: “…be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” But we cannot renew our minds without repenting, thinking again.
It will cause us to bear fruit as outward signs of our repentance. “Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance.” (Luke 3:8) Our lives should look different.
Repentance should become a life-long process leading to transformation. If you have never had occasion to repent and believe in the gospel, Jesus desires for you to reconsider your ways and allow the kingdom of heaven to envelop your life. He said this kingdom is at hand…so close. Think again and believe in Him.
Contact Karen and read more of her devotionals HERE. | 
