Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper
Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.
In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.
Reflection: A New Life
Digging for Truth: No matter how far we have wandered from righteous living or what we have done in the past, when we confess our sin against God and others and turn to Jesus, we are offered a new life in Christ. God remembers our sin no more (Hebrews 8:12). With the Helper, we learn how to love like Jesus. To turn to Jesus is to leave a sinful life behind and obey his new righteous direction for our lives. Because we cannot make things right with our holy God without Jesus, we become dependent on what our sinless Christ alone can do to forgive us and bring us into fellowship with Father God.
There are many choices we make for our lives each day, but this is the biggest life choice any human being will ever make, because it carries with it the weight of eternity. When Christ comes to live in us, we may not see the change in our actions immediately, but there will be a supernatural change in our hearts as we obey the Helper. Obedience brings power for living the new life.
Grace for the Heart: In our passage today, Peter is preaching his first sermon since the Spirit of God filled the disciples at Pentecost. The man who out of fear denied three times that he even knew Jesus, is now unapologetically proclaiming him as Messiah with such convincing power three thousand people run to receive Christ. When God forgave Peter’s sin, the evidence of new life came out of him like a rushing wind.
Peter had no trouble leaving his old life behind, because he hated the shame and the failures of his past. We can all identify with Peter. Whatever is behind you, give it to Jesus and live in the victory of the new life!
Acts 2:37-38 NLT
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Challenge: Christ calls us to live beyond our human capabilities and embrace Life in the Spirit. Don’t let anything stop you from receiving the power to proclaim, because God does not focus on your past sin, he focuses on Christ and the new life in you. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Prayer: Lord, if there is any sin we need to confess, we invite you to bring it to our awareness or remembrance. We want to be free from anything that would hinder us or hold us back from being powerful for your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.