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.
“Lord, make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring your love; where there is injury your pardon; where there is doubt, true faith in you. Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope; where there is darkness only light; where there is sadness, ever joy. Grant that I may never cease so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love with all my soul. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving to all men what we receive, and in dying that we are born to eternal life.” —St. Francis of Assisi
Day 34: Fasting Criticism
Not always, but many times faultfinding or criticism takes place in secret conversations without the person present; it’s rather cowardly. Most of these conversations are not about helping a person improve in any area or to be helpful. Rather, this really exemplifies a critical spirit—when a person expects and finds disappointment wherever he or she looks. A critical spirit sets him or herself up as a judge and arrogantly takes account of every wrong done believing there is no hope of being pleased.
When Jesus was on the cross, he was criticized and insulted by those who stood far off; they did not draw near the cross coming to share something that would benefit Jesus. People passing by mocked and shouted, “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Mat 27:40). The leading priests scoffed, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” (Mat 27:42). Bystanders yelled, “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him!” (Mat 27:49). As Jesus was dying to save the world, the Creator was criticized. What kind of a creation treats the Creator in such a way? The answer: A sinful one.
Today, we will fast criticism. We do not know everything and we assume a great deal. Like the religious leaders, we can judge falsely, but with conviction. May we seek to know more Truth and share it, assume much less, and pray for all hearts! That’s what Jesus did! In our passage today, Mary gets a bigger picture at the tomb and runs to share it with others. Share Good News…not criticism. When we criticize others, we just make ourselves look small.
John 20:10-18 NLT
10 Then they went home.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
16 “Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
Prayer: Lord, today we fast a critical spirit, because we know it is all too easy for us to enter into secret conversations that bring no value. Help us look at other believers with the awareness that you live in them. Constructive criticism, Lord, is helpful and even loving to others. Yet, we must keep ourselves in check, by making sure what we say is benefiting another’s well-being and wholeness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.