Open the Bible UK Daily

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 This is a great description of repentance! Notice the negative and the positive: “You turned… from idols”—that’s the negative. These people stopped doing certain things that were displeasing to God. More than that, they started doing other things that are pleasing to God. “You turned to God… to serve the living and...

If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13 John Owen says that putting your sin to death involves the following: 1. A habitual weakening of sin Every time you say “no” to the flesh you weaken its power. 2. Constant fighting and contending against sin Sin’s root remains in us, so don’t expect an end to you...

“Sin is crouching at the door.” Genesis 4:7 Sin is a power. It has life and vigour in it. That means you have to track it down and deal with it, or it will destroy you. In the story of Cain and Abel, Abel brought God an acceptable sacrifice, but Cain did not. So Cain became angry. God said, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do no...

My sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:3 Once you have identified an area of sin that you need to deal with, start watching for its movements in your life. Suppose you are stalking pride, lust, laziness, or unbelief. Ask yourself, “When am I most vulnerable to this? In what ways do I see it being expressed?” John Owen wrote extensively on this subject in the 17th century, and his most famous book is c...

Examine yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Using the Bible as a tool for self-examination is good to do on a regular basis. It is also good to set aside some particular times for self-examination. On a regular basis When you read the Bible ask yourself, Is there a promise to believe, a command to obey, or a sin to avoid? Try to see if what you are reading points to a sin that could be lurking in your...

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin. James 1:15 James is using a picture here—desire conceives. The point about conception is that it is a hidden thing. Nobody knows when it actually happens, and it only becomes evident later on. When the impulse to sin remains hidden, undetected, and unchallenged, sin will grow. James speaks about sin, “when it is fully grown” (1:15). Sin grows,...

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:14 It is clear that we will all be tempted. There is no if here: “Each person is tempted when…” Every Christian will be tempted throughout the entire course of his or her life. James is talking to Christian believers, and he is reminding us that sin is not out there in the world, it is in here in each of our lives. When...

“Please show me your glory.” Exodus 33:18 This is how people pray when they see that lasting change begins with knowing God. Think about the difference between Job and Esau: Esau wanted to change, but he couldn’t because he was far from God. Job changed because in all his pain he just kept on seeking after God. The way you see the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ: God “has shone in our...

Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. Genesis 24:67 The word comforted is the same word Job used when he said, “I repent.” There is a wonderful comfort in repentance. You could translate Job 42:6: “I repent and comfort myself in dust.” What comfort could there possibly be for Job in the dust? He has finally resolved his conflict with God. Being out of sorts with God is a terrible thing for...

“I lay my hand on my mouth.” Job 40:4 In a nutshell, this is how Job responded to his encounter with Almighty God. It is very different than his attitude toward God beforehand! What is your prevailing attitude toward God right now? Is it one of complaining? Is it questioning? Or is it resenting? What would your prevailing attitude be if you saw God’s glory? You would have complete confidence in Hi...

“I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” Job 42:3 The breakthrough in Job’s life came through a fresh glimpse of the greatness and glory of God. The encounter was devastating. God asked Job nearly 40 questions: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (38:4) “Who determined its measurements?” (38:5) “Who laid its cornerstone” w...

“I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 10:1 Job was a man of faith, a strong believer. But his faith had been stretched to the limits. He believed in God, but he struggled with God, so he poured out his questions and complaints. Job wasn’t the only believer to complain like this. Some of the Psalms express similar questions an...

“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6 Job got what he asked for – a clear, direct, audible encounter with God. But afterwards Job said, “I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” What did Job repent of? God doesn’t accuse Job of any sins. Instead, He vindicates Job and is angry with his f...

When Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place… to show him sympathy and comfort him. Job 2:11 Job had some friends who were worried about his spiritual condition, and so they came to comfort him in his loss. They should be commended for that. These friends felt quite sure that Job’s suffering must be a direct consequence of some sin in hi...

“There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” Job 1:8 Job was one of the finest men who ever lived. Listen to what God said about him: “There is none like him on the earth.” Imagine having God say that about you! The story of Job is about how he became the target for a focused attack from Satan, and God allowed it. One day, the bottom f...

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31 God says that He “gives” repentance. You say, “Isn’t repentance our responsibility?” Yes, but it is God’s grace that makes it possible. That’s why David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart!… See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psa...

When he [Esau] desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. Hebrews 12:17 Why was Esau unable to repent? Hebrews gives us two answers: 1. Esau was godless See to it that… no one is… unholy like Esau (12:15-16). Esau believed in God and wanted the blessing of God. He burst out with a bitter cry when the blessing he wanted was gi...

For you know that afterward, when he [Esau] desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. Hebrews 12:17 Maybe you’ve been a Christian for some time. You’ve tried to get free from certain sins, but you haven’t been able to, so you’re convinced that real, lasting change is no longer possible for you. When you hear the word repenta...

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:8 Here is a good definition of repentance from J. I. Packer: “Repentance is turning from as much as you know of your sin, to give as much as you know of yourself, to as much as you know of your God.” Once you’ve grasped this definition, you won’t be thinking: Been there, done that when you hear the word repentance . 1. Repentance is turning from a...

“The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15 Some Christians hear the word repentance and immediately think: Been there, done that! It’s easy to see why. Imagine you were brought up under teaching that emphasised repentance at the beginning of the Christian life. Sermons ended by calling sinners to repent and believe, inviting them to come to the front of the church...

“The younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.” Luke 15:13 Jesus told a wonderful story about repentance: A son takes his inheritance, goes into a distant country, and wastes everything he has on riotous living. But eventually the bottom falls out of his life, and he ends up scratching out a living on a pig farm....

“There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 What is your reaction to the word repentance ? We come from many different backgrounds, and your reaction will tell you a great deal about what you think repentance is. For some of us repentance sounds heavy! If that’s your reaction, it probably means that you think of repentance as beating yourself up. A lot of people...

Keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ... 1 Timothy 6:14 One day we are going to see Jesus Christ. The day will come when your faith will be turned to sight. This is an amazing promise. A few verses later, Paul reminds us that God “dwells in unapproachable light” (6:16). God is not hidden in unapproachable darkness, but in unapproachable...

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus… to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach. 1 Timothy 6:13-14 The command mentioned here seems to be what Paul says in the preceding verses. There is a character to pursue, a battle to fight, and a life to gain. A character to pursue “As for you, O man of God... pursue righteousness, godliness, fa...

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness… 1 Timothy 6:11 The tenth distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel hope . Timothy had been given overwhelming responsibilities. He was a young man, and he was leading the church in Ephesus. This was a massive responsibility. We know that by temperament, Timothy was timid (2 Tim. 1:7). He was not confident by natu...