Day 18 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below.
• During days 15-21 (at your own pace) read chapters 7 thru 10 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 15-21, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 3

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15 ESV) 

When we typically think of the word repent, we think "stop sinning"; it is more than that. Stopping a sinful act is a behavior change. Repenting of your sins is a lifestyle change. 

Finke explains near the end of chapter 8, "the Greek word which is translated here as repent is the word meta-noeo which is bigger than stop doing naughty things. Literally meta-noeo means a changing of the mind which is accompanied by a corresponding changed direction of life. In other words, Jesus is inviting us to completely reorient our minds and lives around this new reality of the kingdom being redemptively present and active around us. He is saying, 'Reorient your thinking and presumptions around it. Reorient your values and priorities around it. Reorient how you interpret what you are seeing and hearing around it. And believe this good news I am telling you.'"

• Jesus is calling you to repent and believe in the gospel, what is your response? How will you repent in the fullest sense of the word?

• Now in day 18 of this 50-day journey, what things of your mind and heart have you found already going through a reorientation (the Spirit and the Word's doing in your life)?