Tuesday, December 12
Quick to repent
Scripture: Revelation 9
Amos 4:11 “I overthrew some of you the way God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the flames. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking!
Revelation 9:20–21 The rest of humanity, who had not been killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk about. 21 Furthermore, they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells, of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing.
Observation
The seven trumpets announce God’s judgment. The final three trumpets are also the Three Woes, each worse than the previous. As the horrors of judgment pile up, you’d think someone might connect cause (their sin) and effect (God’s judgment), but no one does. They still did not repent.
This reminded me of my other reading today in Amos. God says the same thing to Israel. Five times in chapter 4, God recites some judgment He sent and each time says, “Still you did not come back to me.” He ends with the ominous warning, “Prepare to meet your God.” (Amos 4:12)
We human beings are deeply sinful and remarkably stubborn!
Application
I’ve seen this stubbornness in others…and in me—a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my wrong and repent. It’s costly every time.
Be quick to own your junk and repent. I remember my parents saying, “Don’t make me say this again.” One warning should do it. It shouldn’t have to take multiple negative consequences to get my attention! Don’t be proud. Humble yourself. Confess your sin. Repent.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to be stubborn and stuck in my sin. Help me to be humble and quick to repent. I don’t want to be someone who needs multiple warnings. Just one…then repent!
More: Amos 3-4, John 2