The Manger
Convert – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:17-22

Key Verse: Matthew 4:17

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Our key verse points to the subject of Jesus’ first sermon: “…repent of your sins and turn to God…” Modern theologians have called this process conversion, or being converted. The dictionary explanation of “convert” describes the changing of one’s opinion. Jesus’ words spotlighted two aspects of being a true convert: repenting and turning.

Repenting comes from the Greek word: metanoeo, meaning “think differently.” Jesus’ message from the beginning was all about a transformation. He never meant for His message to be watered down to a mere statement of fact such as, “I believe in Jesus.” When the Bible speaks about being saved by believing, it means believing to the point that one is willing to turn from their opinions to Jesus’ teaching. Saying that we believe in Jesus, but living the same old lifestyle indicates a lack of true “conversion;” no change of thinking has occurred.

The manger, when Jesus was laid in it, had a conversion, so to speak. It was converted from an ordinary feeding structure for animals to part of the amazing landscape where Jesus entered the world. Jesus wanted every person to be converted from an ordinary existence to a child of the Living God! (Continued)

Father, my mind has been changed; I no longer want to trust my opinions. I want your truths to guide me. In Jesus’ name, amen.