Matthew 3:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[a]”

Mark 6:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.

John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus by telling others to repent of their sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven was drawing near. Jesus’ disciples were sent out to carry this same message to all they came in contact with.

Repent & turn.

Why, do you suppose we have such a difficult time making disciples and telling them to repent and turn? The bible says ALL have sinned, so we must conclude that ALL need to repent.

In a society that prides itself on being tolerant & politically correct on all issues, the message of repent & turn is usually met with much hostility. Since the fall of man (& woman) in the garden, we have struggled to resist the enemy & submit ourselves completely to Our Creator. When confronted with the choice to repent, we often find ourselves mimicking Adam & Eve, blaming the enemy- or others for our sin.

Genesis 3:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

So how do we model Mark 6:12 in 2013?

It begins with me.

I know from experience that if I do not have daily communication with God (& by this I mean; beginning my day going to a room- ALONE, locking the door, reading scripture, praying, repenting, listening to Him…& talking and listening to Him throughout the day) I am destined to live a life full of pride. This will result in me making myself the center of my universe and consequently blaming everyone else around me when a comet or plant collides with ME! This choice makes it extremely difficult for the ones I am discipling to receive anything through me. However, when I repent & turn to God, my heart perspective changes & God is given His rightful place; the center of my life. Then, the Holy Spirit equips me to advance His Kingdom by making disciples….AND, I no longer fear telling them to repent & turn.

That is Jesus’ model of discipleship.

Repent & turn.

May 2013 be a year where we, disciples of Jesus, repent & turn to God every day and boldly “go, make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)