Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near”.

Matt 4:17

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 1:14-15

In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, the first words of Jesus when he begins to preach are “Repent. The kingdom of heaven is near!”

Maybe when you hear these words an image springs to mind of an old fashioned, itinerant preacher standing on a street corner giving out a doleful message to unheeding passers by.

But this is good news! This is a message of redemption. This is why Jesus came. His message is alive today and we need to proclaim it too!

This is a message of hope, not judgement…if we heed it. It’s a message the world needs to hear…urgently. Jesus said “I did not come to judge the world but to save it”. John 12:47. Only God can judge but through Jesus, he has given us a way back to him.

Repent. Think again. Believe. Turn to him. The kingdom of heaven is near, very near, in these extraordinary times.

Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that he has made a way for me to come home to you. Help me to come before you today with clean hands and a pure heart so I can proclaim your message of salvation to a world desperate to hear it.