Times of Refreshing

Date: January 28, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Acts 3:19

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,"

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, I come to you today asking for your guidance as I read and study this passage from the Bible. Help me to understand the true meaning and how I can apply it to my life.

I ask that you give me the strength to turn away from my sins and draw closer to you, so that I may experience your peace and refreshment. As I grow in understanding of this passage, help me to use it to glorify you and bring others closer to you.

Thank you for your love and grace, and for the opportunity to study your word. I trust in you and your plan for my life.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

Acts was written by Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul. He wasn’t one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, but most likely was one of the 70 that were appointed by Jesus.  The book of Acts is a historical account of the early Christian church, describing the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. It is believed that Luke wrote this book between 60 and 90 AD.

This verse specifically is from a sermon given by the apostle Peter to a group of people in Jerusalem who had gathered at the Temple. In this sermon, Peter is preaching about the power of Jesus to forgive sins and heal the sick. He calls on the crowd to repent and turn to God, so that their sins may be wiped out and they may experience times of refreshing from the Lord. The audience of this sermon is mainly Jewish people who were familiar with the temple and Jewish religious customs and practices.

The verse is written in the context of the early Christian community, where the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ was being spread among the Jewish people and Gentiles. It is a call to repentance, a fundamental concept in Christianity, and an invitation to receive the forgiveness and refreshment that God offers through His son Jesus Christ.

Study and Savor – Key Words

"Repent": to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or feel remorse about a past action

"Turn to God": to change one's direction or focus to God

"Sins may be wiped out": to be forgiven and have the guilt and penalty of sin removed

"Times of refreshing": a period of renewed energy, spirit, or interest; a time of renewal or rejuvenation from the Lord.

Summarize and Share

Acts 3:19 is a powerful reminder that we all have the opportunity to turn to God and experience forgiveness for our past mistakes. The verse encourages us to repent, which means to feel remorse and regret for our actions, and to turn towards God in order to have our sins wiped out.

One practical way we can apply this verse to our daily lives is by taking time each day to reflect on our actions and ask ourselves if there are any areas in which we need to repent. This could be anything from hurtful words spoken to a loved one, to actions that have caused harm to ourselves or others. Once we have identified these areas, we can take steps to make amends and ask for forgiveness.

It's also important to remember that repentance is not a one-time act, but a ongoing process of turning away from our sins and towards God. We should strive to make this a daily practice by regularly confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness, and committing to living a life that is pleasing to God.

By turning to God and repenting, we open ourselves up to experiencing "times of refreshing" from the Lord. This can be a time of renewal and rejuvenation in our spiritual lives, where we feel a renewed sense of energy and purpose. We can also look forward to the promise that our sins will be wiped out, and that we can experience true freedom and peace through our relationship with God.

In summary, Acts 3:19 is a powerful reminder that as believers, we have the opportunity to turn to God, confess our sins and experience forgiveness, and rejuvenation in our spiritual lives. It's important to make it a daily practice to reflect on our actions and ask for forgiveness, so that we can live a life pleasing to God.

Bible Cross Reference

Amos 9:11-12 - This verse in Amos speaks of the restoration of the fallen tabernacle of David and the rebuilding of its ruins, which is a reference to the Messiah and the redemption of God's people. In this way, it relates to Acts 3:19, which is about the times of restoration that have come through Jesus.

Joel 2:32 - This verse in Joel speaks of everyone who calls on the Lord being saved, a message of hope and salvation that is echoed in Acts 3:19.

Isaiah 55:6-7 - This passage from Isaiah invites all to come to the Lord and receive the forgiveness and life that is freely offered. This relates to Acts 3:19 as it is about the times of repentance and forgiveness of sins that have come through Jesus.

Zechariah 13:1 - This verse in Zechariah speaks of a time when the Lord will cleanse the land of sin, which relates to Acts 3:19, which is about the times of restoration and purification that have come through Jesus.

Ezekiel 36:24-27 - This passage from Ezekiel speaks of the Lord restoring the hearts of His people and putting His Spirit within them, which is similar to the message of Acts 3:19, which is about the times of restoration and renewal that have come through Jesus.