Parting Words 离别之言
Dexu Xia
The Lord is not slow . . . . He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish. 2 Peter 3:9
As he neared the end of his life, John M. Perkins had a message for the people he would leave behind. Perkins, known for adcating racial reconciliation, said, “Repentance is the only way back to God. Unless you repent, you will all perish.”
These words mirror the language of Jesus and many other people in the Bible. Christ said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3). The apostle Peter said, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19).
Much earlier in Scripture, we read the words of yet another person who desired that his people would turn to God. In his farewell address “to all Israel” (1 Samuel 12:1), the prophet, priest, and judge Samuel said, “Do not be afraid. You have done . . . evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (v. 20). This was his message of repentance—to turn from evil and follow God wholeheartedly.
We all sin and miss the mark of His standard. So we need to repent, which means to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus, who forgives us and empowers us to follow Him. Let’s heed the words of two men, John Perkins and Samuel, who recognized how God can use the power of repentance to change us into people He can use for His honor.
By: Dave Branon
Why is it vital to turn from sin and ask Christ for forgiveness? What does it mean for you to follow God with all your heart?
Dear God, guide me to true repentance. Please help me to recognize my sin and put my total trust in the saving power of Jesus.
约翰·帕金斯（John M. Perkins）在他生命接近尾声之时，给了他的美国同胞一个重要的信息。这位提倡民权运动及种族和解的牧师说：“悔改是归向上帝的唯一途径。你们若不悔改，都必灭亡！”
从圣经中我们看到，耶稣以及其他人也说过这样的话。耶稣说：“你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡！”（路加福音13章3节）使徒彼得说：“所以你们当悔改归正，使你们的罪得以涂抹。”（使徒行传3章19节）
在旧约，我们读到有个人也说了类似的话，这人渴望他的同胞能回转归向上帝。身为先知、祭司及士师的撒母耳，在告别“以色列众人”时（撒母耳记上12章1节），劝导他们说：“不要惧怕！你们虽然行了这恶，却不要偏离耶和华，只要尽心事奉祂”（20节）。这就是撒母耳劝人悔改的信息，即离开罪恶，并且全心全意跟随上帝。
我们都犯了罪，无法达到上帝的标准。因此我们需要悔改，也就是要远离罪恶并归向耶稣，祂能赦免我们的罪，并赐我们力量来跟随祂。让我们留心听帕金斯和撒母耳的忠告，因他们知道，只要我们悔改，上帝的大能就会改变我们，使成为合乎主用的人，以彰显祂的荣耀。
作者： 白德夫
为何离开罪恶并祈求基督的饶恕如此重要？
对你而言，全心全意跟随上帝是什么意思？
亲爱的上帝，求祢引导我真正地悔改，帮助我承认自己的罪，并全心信靠耶稣拯救的大能