All men everywhere are to repent.

The Judge is still withholding judgement.

Forsake sin

In light of Christ’s imminent return, Paul exhorts believers to repent of and forsake their sins.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for Romans 13:12.

Lost Living

The prodigal son evidently took his share in liquid assets, and left, abandoning his father, and heading into a life of iniquity.  His life became not one of merely wasteful extravagance, but also wanton immorality (Luke 15:30).  The Greek word for “prodigal” means “dissolute” and conveys the idea of an utterly debauched lifestyle.  The main feature of this parable, however, is the joy of God and the celebrations that fill heaven when a sinner repents.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for Luke 15:13.

Set

If He has ‘set a day’, then it’s wise to be God-centered and repentant.

We have centers for everything: childcare centers, convention centers, ministry centers, and shopping centers.  The word center comes from a Greek term meaning a sharp point, specifically the exact point in the middle of a geometric circle.

If something is the center, everything else revolves around it.  Just as the planets orbit around the sun, our habits, hearts, affections, and thoughts must revolve around the Lord Jesus, who is the ultimate center of all reality (Colossians 1:17).

The French writer Fenelon advised us to become so committed to God’s glory that all other motives pale in comparison, saying, “It is then that God becomes…the center of the soul to which all its affections tend…”

When we’re self-centered, we’re self-deceived.  When He is central, we can have confidence that He is in control and that our worlds are aligned correctly.

For of Him and through Him are all things,

to whom be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36

Portions of commentary from David Jeremiah’s Pathways Devotional, November 28.