Scripture to Read: Acts 3:19–21
Yesterday, we started unpacking the words God had Peter share with the crowd that had gathered due to the miracle of the lame man being healed. Though the people learned they acted in ignorance, they knew they had sinned. God used Peter to give them the answer for how to be set free from their sin. God had Peter share in Acts 3:19–21, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Repentance is the key to receiving healing from the penalty and power of sin. God does not cover sin when people repent, but God wipes away all sin. Only through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is sin cleansed and not covered. Before Christ’s crucifixion, the blood of animals was offered to God, but animal blood could only cover sin, not cleanse sin. God provides perfect healing from all sin through Christ, and He refreshes us because He, through His Spirit, comes to live in us so that we experience His presence at all times. Christ will come again, but for now, Christ is in heaven until our Heavenly Father sends Him to receive everyone who has surrendered to Him as Lord. We wait expectantly for our Lord’s return, but until then, we must live for Him.
Challenge & Application
· What must happen for people to experience the refreshment and presence of our Lord God Almighty?
· What must we do until Christ’s return, and how are you fulfilling what you know God has called you to do?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!