From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God. Self cannot satisfy self. We must hunger for God.
This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God. Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.
“The triumph of grace is that we accept the humiliation of failure, which is indeed a triumph, a greater triumph than external success. In actual fact, the experience of failure in ministry teaches us in the long run how to do it, which is with complete dependence on God.” —-Thomas Keating
Day 30: Fasting Unrighteous Self-Confidence
Judas and Peter both betrayed Jesus, but in very different ways. Judas planned his betrayal while deceiving others; it stayed hidden in his heart for some time. Peter betrayed Jesus, because he was deceived about the power of his own sin nature. Remember, with great self-confidence, Peter pledged to give his life for Jesus. Yet…he, too, failed in his allegiance to Christ when fear began to constrict and squeeze like a serpent.
Every person, even believers, experience some measure of disillusionment. Oh, we think we know ourselves perfectly and how we would react in a certain situation, but when life starts pouring on traumatic pressure and fear starts rising in our hearts, the reality of what lies within comes out. Never forget Satan wants believers to leave the faith, so the sin nature rises to deny Christ verses willingly deny self.
Please listen when the Holy Spirit convicts you of areas in your life where you have internal deception before it is revealed. However, when we do fail it may seem like the worst thing that could ever happen, but Jesus has promised to use everything for our good (Ro 8:28). Even the things that are not good, will be used by God to make us more like Jesus when we call upon the name of the Lord. Praise God!
Two thieves were crucified with Jesus; one on either side. The one thief was entirely deceived and disillusioned about himself, so he died mocking God. The other thief realized his failure and begged for salvation. Jesus responded to the man who knew the Truth.
Today we will fast unrighteous self-confidence in the heart, because believers know we can be disillusioned about ourselves. We must put our confidence in Christ. Peter could not see his limitations, but Jesus did and warned him. Be real with yourself. Jesus sees what is in us, too, so we need to listen for his Voice of Truth.
John 19:17-27 NLT 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice [cast lots] for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.
25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the Voice of Truth we need each day, so we can remain faithful to your Word. Continue to search us, Lord, and know our hearts. Test us and know our anxious thoughts. See if there is disillusionment hiding within us. Lead us in righteousness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.