“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.’” – Hosea 14:1-2
Cameron Clark professed faith in Christ as a boy, but in high school, he began being drawn to new age philosophies. “I would have still said that I was a Christian, but I didn't think drinking or smoking pot was wrong. I thought that was just fun. I just looked for, well, maybe there's like a spiritual way to justify the life choices that I was making: crystals or magic or whatever, was fine.”
When Cameron went off to college, his interest in New Age grew. “It felt like I was taking control and like could have some kind of control over what was happening in my life. It's cleverly worded as ‘healing,’ or "evolving." The New Age told me that Jesus was an ascended master; He was just a human who realized He was God. Beginning to believe them, you run up against what you were taught, or what you learned when you were younger.”
About that same time, Cameron read an article--ironically in a New Age magazine--that made him question his new beliefs. “Jesus was in there with His words from Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:28, ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who persecute you.’ And I thought, "Okay, Jesus, can you help me do these things?”
Through a mutual friend, Cameron met Pastor Chad Osborne and his wife Hunter, a former Wiccan who had turned to Christ, for dinner.
That night Cameron bowed his knees, repented, and gave his life to Jesus.
The Lord not only wants us to repent and turn away from our sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin and your life and take the needed steps of repentance.
“A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis
God’s Word: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail
DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS