Day 17 - March 24, 2025
New to the Lent, A Closer Walk with God 40-Day Devotion? Start with Day 1!
Take this time to enjoy a closer walk with God. Read a short devotion and a selected Bible verse each day.
It’s Day 17 of the Lent, A Closer Walk with God 40-Day Devotion.
DEVOTION
Hey there! As we journey through Lent, let's take some time to reflect on the importance of repentance in our walk with God.
In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus shares some pretty profound words: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
When you look at this at first, Jesus' words might seem pretty straightforward, but let's dive a bit deeper.
Jesus is not saying that some people are inherently "well" or righteous, while others are "sick" or sinful. Rather, He's emphasizing that we all need repentance, regardless of our perceived moral standing.
When you think about it – we all have areas in our lives where we've messed up, where we've fallen short of God's standards. And that's exactly why repentance is so important. It's not just a one-time event; it's an ongoing process of turning away from sin and towards God. It's recognizing our need for a Savior and surrendering our lives to Him.
It's easy to get caught up in justifying our actions or downplaying our sin. However, Jesus' words remind us that we're all in need of repentance. We're all "sick" and in need of the Great Physician.
That’s great, Chris, but what does repentance look like in our daily lives? Maybe like this:
• Recognizing our sin and taking responsibility for it with no excuses, no blame-shifting
• Turning away from sinful patterns and behaviors and it's not always easy, but it's necessary
• Seeking forgiveness and restoration through Jesus because He's the only one who can truly heal our brokenness
• Walking in obedience to God's Word and the Holy Spirit, which is a daily choice, and one that's worth making.
As we walk through Lent, let's take time to reflect on our own need for repentance. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of our lives where we need to turn back to God. Let's be honest with ourselves and with God, acknowledging our sin and our need for forgiveness.
Reflection Questions:
• What areas of your life do you need to repent of?
• How can you take responsibility for your actions and seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ?
• What does walking in obedience to God's Word and Spirit look like in your daily life?
• How can you experience the joy of repentance and the restoration that comes through faith in Jesus Christ?
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You, acknowledging our need for repentance. We recognize that we're all "sick" and in need of Your healing touch. Help us to turn away from sin and towards You.
Reveal to us the areas of our lives where we need to repent. Give us the courage to take responsibility for our actions and to seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
As we journey through Lent, may we walk in obedience to Your Word and Spirit. May we experience the joy of repentance and the restoration that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
Help us to remember that repentance isn't just about feeling bad about our sin – it's about turning away from that sin and towards You. It's about experiencing the freedom and forgiveness that only You can offer.
In His name, we pray. Amen.
VERSE
Verse Luke 5:31-32 (NIV)
Don't have your Bible handy? Click here to read online.
AUTHOR
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Chris Scotland
Chris Scotland adds to The Morning Show with Denise and Chris, and he is the Assistant Program Director at The Bridge.Hi! You should probably know this about me, first. I'm always 30 seconds away from crying. Just a heads up. You should also know that I love Jesus, my wife, coffee, my kids, coffee, and Star Wars. I also love coffee. If you had asked me 20 years ago what I would be doing as a career, I would have told you that I would be in the music industry. However, I would have been the one on the radio singing the songs, not the one playing them. But....God had a bigger and better story.
