February 2, 2010

Our Daily Bread

This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner. —Luke 7:39
A friend once told me, “In my lifetime I’ve seen a lot of things change, and I’ve been against them all!” Perhaps he overstated the point, but many of us would agree that we don’t like change—especially if it involves altering our habits and attitudes.

That’s one reason Jesus was so unpopular among the Pharisees. He challenged their long-established system of good works and self-righteous living. Consider the incident when the town “sinner” entered the home of the town “saint” in Luke 7. Simon the Pharisee wasn’t impressed with the woman’s lavish display of affection for Jesus. Reading Simon’s self-righteous thoughts, Jesus immediately challenged his flawed perception of his own goodness by telling the story of two debtors—one who owed much to his master and one who owed less. “Which of them will love him more?” Jesus asked (v.42). Obviously, the one who had been forgiven more. Speaking to Simon’s I-feel-pretty-good-about-myself attitude, Jesus said, “to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (v.47).

The challenge is clear. Lulled into thinking how good we are, our love for Jesus wanes because we have forgotten that we too are among the ones “forgiven much.” And when that happens, ready or not, it’s time for a change! — Joe Stowell

Forgive us, Lord, for failures past,
Then help us start anew
With strength and courage to obey
And closely follow You. —Sper

When God starts changing things, He usually begins with changing us.

WAITING FOR REDEMPTION

Romans 8:26-27

Dear Father, who knows my secrets,

Help me to wait patiently for my redemption. Thank you for giving
me your Holy Spirit to make up for the inadequacies of my body and
spirit. I know not how to pray as I should, so I praise you for
your Spirit, who takes my inexpressible groanings and lifts them to
the Lord Jesus, thus sharing in his intercession for me.

I thank you that the Holy Spirit searches out the remotest cranny
of my heart, knows me in a way that I cannot even know myself, and
expresses to you what I wish that I could say but cannot. How
wonderful! How loving!

Thank you, Lord, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hallelujah.
Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you again!

In the name of Jesus and with the support of your Spirit I come to
you, with gratitude for doing these things. Amen.