Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
One of the most prolific miracles had just occurred in the book of Acts (and there are some pretty amazing ones!). A lame man from his mother’s womb was sitting at the gate called Beautiful when Peter and John drew near. They were on their way to the temple at the hour of prayer. The man was begging alms of all the people passing by. Peter commanded him to rise and walk and the man did so. This created quite a commotion as people came running to see what happened. Peter begins to preach to them and our text today is part of his sermon. Let’s do a quick dive into it.
“Repent therefore and be converted…” are the life-giving instructions Peter shares with crowd. The two are a must if a real transformation is to take place. Repent means to change the way you think. Converted means to change the way you behave. You can never truly change the way you live until you first change the way you think. God’s word is the catalyst for repentance and the Holy Spirit is the catalyst for conversion. You and I need both!
When we repent and convert several things will take place. First and foremost our sins will be blotted out. It literally means that our sins will be obliterated. Secondly, we will experience “times of refreshing” that come from the presence of the Lord. Times of refreshing literally means revival; a second breath. There are times when you and I get the wind knocked out of us by life’s surprises. We can catch a “second breath” when we access God’s presence. Need a refreshing? Now you know the formula.