Contemplation #223
God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life. Acts 11:18

To truly reorient our lives toward God, the essence of repentance, is an act “unto life.” We often think of repentance as turning away from sin, evil, and an existence of self-will. Indeed, we turn away from living by our own desires, which leads to ruin, and but it is equally and more significantly a turn toward life as offered, defined, and sustained by God and in God. Each day and in many instances we are faced with the decision of which way we will turn, toward our own selfish desires, or to the way of God. Repentance occurs constantly as we persist in our seeking of God.

Contemplation #224
God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life. Acts 11:18

The Jewish believers affirmed a mystery in this statement when they acknowledged that God was granting or giving repentance to the Gentiles. We may be unable to explain how our repentance is both a gift of God, given to us in mercy and the strength of grace, and yet is also our own turning toward God. God’s gift is not simply the offer of an opportunity, but the repentance within us. As we constantly live in repentance and seek God, we praise God for the gift of this turning rather than boast in our own choice. When we know that repentance is a gift, we look to God for the grace to turn toward Him . . . and He gives it without restraint.

Contemplation #225
God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life. Acts 11:18

Though these Jewish believers had witnessed only one family of Gentiles, the household of Cornelius, turning toward God, they recognized that God was giving repentance to the non-Jewish nations. On the one hand they are surprised that even the Gentiles are receiving grace, and yet they are perceptive enough to know that this is something much greater than one family. The fact that we have received grace, if we understand how undeserving we are, should lead us to not be surprised when that same grace is given to others. There should be no even on these in our own thinking.

Contemplation #220
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. Psalm 25:21

Hope is a precious inward blessing that is the fruit of knowing God. God gives us hope by simply being Himself. Because God is who He is, we do not despair of our existence but have a reassurance and confidence that is more certain than any trying circumstance or frightening possibility about the future. Our hope grows the more we know God, his goodness, mercy, love, and faithfulness. Truly we find that our hope is in God and God alone.

Contemplation #221
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. Psalm 25:21

Whose integrity and uprightness does the psalmist refer to, his own or God’s? Perhaps we should say both. The primary integrity and uprightness that protects one who has hope in God is the integrity and uprightness of God Himself. By far our hope is in God’s good and gracious nature. That God is true and righteous is our assurance. In a much lesser way, our own integrity and uprightness, to whatever extent these are cultivated in us by God’s grace, lead to our well-being. Our fidelity to God and participation in God’s own nature become assurances of God’s protection.

Contemplation #222
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. Psalm 25:21

Though the psalmist may speak of both God’s integrity and uprightness and our participation in those virtues, the protection afforded is God’s alone. God is the One who protects even though we may speak of our own integrity and uprightness, as derived from God, as assuring us of the blessing. It is much like the Holy Spirit serving as our guarantee . . . the Spirit of God in us but not from us. Our own submission to and reception of the gifts of God, as we embrace intentionally these formative blessings, give us confidence of protection and care. Let us not forget to practice integrity and uprightness, knowing how God wills these for our protection in divine love.