Devotions with Pastor Bill Ritchey

In Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission, Jesus Christ says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Most theologians agree that Jesus’ first command is “repent”. Over the years I’ve noticed that while baptizing tends to be pretty common, disciplining and teaching the commands are not as much.
The Greek word that is translated repentance is metanoia, “to change one’s mind or purpose.” The English word “repent” is an old nautical term for when a sailing ship is sailing against the wind. A sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind. It must take an angle against the wind for a time and then turn 180 degrees to the opposite angle against the wind. When the captain decides to turn the ship one hundred eighty degrees, he orders the crew to “repent!” This brings us to what the Bible says about repentance.

“Repent” is what people do when they recognize they made a mistake and decide to go the opposite direction. Repentance is a process that involves the voluntary renewing of our minds, adjusting our moral and spiritual vision, and thinking toward that of the mind of GOD. It is GOD’s requirement for everyone on the face of the earth. I believe that repentance is a lifestyle, although not necessarily needed daily. When the Holy Spirit brings something to mind we need to deal with “it” obediently and not make excuses because we may still enjoy “it” or feel “it” is useful. Proverbs 28:13 reminds us that we will not prosper if we conceal transgressions but mercy is obtained by confessing and repenting. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness . . .” (Acts 17:30-31a).
Pastor Bill