Acts 26:19-20 – “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.” 

What a day that will be when my Jesus we shall see.   When we look upon His face, the one who saved us by His Grace.  A glorious day is just around the corner. Know this, God loves you forever!

As I read in Acts 26, Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa, one statement in verse 20 refused to allow me to move on.   I heard, “Not fluff, but proof by change.”   Paul said, “I declared to those in Damascus first, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.”

Repentance means changing your mind and changing directions.  It means making a 180-degree turn.  You were going south now, and you turned and went north.  You were serving yourself; now, you serve God.

Two factors or dimensions of this transformation are Repentance and turning to God, not just feeling guilty, weeping, and saying the sinner’s prayer.  We have erroneously been taught that’s all that is required.

You may turn in the other direction by your willpower, but not be changed on the inside.   If we repent and turn to God, we produce fruit in our lives that reveals that character change.  We begin to live redeemed.  Voltaire said, “If you want me to believe in your redeemer, you need to appear redeemed.”

What is the evidence that we are redeemed?   Our lives, flowing out of a changed character, produce evidence of change.   When I got saved, I was changed.   I repented and surrendered my entire being to God.  It was an inside job, not simply praying a rote prayer.  My attitude changed.  My manner of speaking changed.  My habits changed.  My desires changed.  My purpose and focus changed.

Nothing was as important as God’s presence and purpose.  My hunger for Him was insatiable, and I devoured the Word.  That Word became alive and chipped away the rough edges of my life and still does.

Just saying, “I’m a Christian, and going to church doesn’t make you one.”   The external is inconsequential if the internal is not transformed. You must be born again. Being born again means becoming a different person.

It is instantaneous and progressive. Inside, we are immediately changed; then, through diligence, we are transformed. Our hearts are changed, and we then begin to manifest the deeds consistent with repentance and redemption.

Not fluff but proof, though change!   If the tree is good, the fruit will be good.  If the fruit is mixed or bad, we need to go back to the beginning. Repent (do an about-face) AND turn to God. Recommit our entire being to God. Bring every thought captive and give God our whole heart.

Out of our instantaneous change, we grow in grace and become transformed from glory to glory.   The Spirit of God challenged me to examine my fruit and deeds, measure them against the Word, and compare them to Jesus without excuse.   Repent where repentance is needed, and after doing an about-face to set my heart on the pursuit of God!

Have a great day, reject fluff, and seek the real stuff in your life!