NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

CONVERSION

SCRIPTURE READINGS

ISAIAH 55:1-9
1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13
LUKE 13:1-9 

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Conversion” Conversion means repentance and change to a godly life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We shall reflect on the following facts:

1. We may incur the wrath of God when we fail to repent.

2. We experience love and the fulfilment of God’s promises in our lives when we repent.

Firstly beloved in the Lord, we may incur the wrath of God when we fail to repent. For this reason, Jesus said, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish…I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:3,5). Paul also cited an example of the Israelites who failed to repent and incurred the wrath of God when he wrote, ” God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did…We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did —and were killed by the destroying angel. 1 Corinthians 10:5-6,8-10). Dear friend in Christ, sin has both existential and eternal ramifications. Living a life of sin is never profitable. In the end, it only incurs the wrath or judgement of God. God further reminds us about His wrath towards sin and unrepentance when He said in Isaiah 13:11, “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” In everything we do, we are to remember Paul’s admonishment in Romans 6:23, that “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”.

Secondly, we experience the love and the fulfilment of God’s promises in our lives when we repent. To avoid the wrath of God we must repent and experience true conversion. Jesus assures us of God’s mercy and grace and His patience for us to repent when he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9) We are the fig tree in the parable that represents a life of unproductivity and disobedience. God is the owner of the vineyard and fig tree, and Jesus is the caretaker of the vineyard and fig tree who who is always interceding on our behalf. Let us remember that although the caretaker interceded on behalf of the fig tree, a definite time of one year was given to the fig tree to produce fruit lest it be cut down. Similarly, we are to understand that we have limited time in this world to bear fruit and prove our worthiness to escape the wrath of God. We need to understand that like the fig tree, God’s ultimate desire is for us to repent and be productive so that His love and promises shall be fulfilled in our lives. It is for this purpose He invites us in Isaiah 55: 6-9 to “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9). Again because He wants us to repent and be blessed, Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. God want us to repent so that we do not perish therefore If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

In summary, we have been reminded that we may incur the wrath of God when we fail to repent. Again, we shall experience love and the fulfilment of God’s promises in our lives when we repent. May the Holy Spirit enable us to overcome sin and live a life worthy of our salvation. Amen.