Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
In this scripture, Jesus was telling people to turn from their ways of sin and turn to God. Sin is living apart from God-choosing to live our own way and making wrong choices. Sin is destructive and leads to death. God, because He loves us so much and wants us to live forever with Him, sent His only Son, Jesus, to take the penalty of our sins. The kingdom of heaven came near by Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect sinless life, dying on the cross for our sins, and resurrecting from the dead. He bridged the gap that sin caused between God and man. When He ascended into Heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit, who would empower us and live in us. Because of what Jesus did, God is not only near, but He lives in us.
I repented of my sins and asked Jesus to forgive me, make me new, come and live in me and take control of my life. Because He lives in me, I am able to choose not to sin because the Holy Spirit gives me the strength I need to do what is right. I feel convicted if I do sin, which causes me to repent, turn around and follow what He wants me to do. I read His Word, the Bible, which shows me not only what He wants me to do and not do, it also tells me how much He loves me and what an awesome God He is. He has so many good things for those who choose to turn from their ways and turn to Him. The longer I live for Him, the more I love Him and want to do what He wants me to do rather than what I want to do. He loves each one of us and wants to have a relationship with us, showing us His love, His goodness, and giving us His strength and His blessings. All we have to do is repent!
--Heather Bursch
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