Parting Words

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled, Parting Words, was written by Dave Brannan. As he neared the end of his life, John M. Perkins had a message for the people he would leave behind. Perkins, known for advocating racial reconciliation, said, Repentance is the only way back to God. Unless you repent, you will all perish. These words mirror the language of Jesus and many other people in the Bible. Christ said, Unless you repent, you too will all perish, in Luke 13 3. The apostle Peter said, Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, in Acts 3 19. Much earlier in Scripture, we read the words of yet another person who desired that his people would turn to God.

In his farewell address to all Israel, the prophet, priest, and judge, Samuel, said, Do not be afraid. You have done evil, yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. This was his message of repentance, to turn from evil and follow God wholeheartedly.

We all sin and miss the mark of his standard. So we need to repent, which means to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus, who forgives us and empowers us to follow him. Let's heed the words of two men, John Perkins and Samuel, who recognized how God can use the power of repentance to change us into people he can use for his honor. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Samuel chapter 12 verse 1 and verses 19 through 24. Samuel said to all Israel, I have listened to everything you said to me, and have set a king over you. And picking up in verse 19, the people all said to Samuel, Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.

Do not be afraid, Samuel replied. You have done all this evil, yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols.

They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name, the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right, but be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.

Consider what great things he has done for you. Let's pray. Dear God, guide us to true repentance. Please help us to recognize our sin and put our total trust in the saving power of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. I'm Stephen Tabor and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.