Devotion for 25 September

A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers this week. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin for today.  Today we resume the sermon series on “Foundations, back to the basics of faith”.  Our discussion theme today is on baptism as a foundational part of our faith.

NT Reading: Acts 2:37-39 (English Standard Version)

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Devotion: Metanoia

In our text, Peter is telling the Jews that they have rejected the true Messiah and what they need to do is repent and be baptized. It is said that repentance starts first with a change of heart and mind and then a change of conduct. The translation for “repentance” from the Greek “Metanoia” literally means a change of outlook from “meta” [meaning “after” or “beyond”] and “noeo” [meaning “reconsider”]. Peter is telling the Jews they should change their outlook and accept and embrace Jesus as their Savior. In fact, as we know, the whole life of a Christian is one of continual repentance. As sinners, we all will continue to sin even after we are baptized. In a life of repentance, the Christian keeps learning to forsake sin, amend his sinful life, and seek forgiveness in worship and prayer. God is merciful, and His love endures forever.

We pray: Lord thank you for forgiveness and your gift of eternal life. Amen