Welcome to today’s devotion.
Openness to God
Hebrews 4:16
- Times of need in our lives are divinely designed to bring us before the throne of grace. Many people do not acknowledge their needs, and so they never become acquainted with grace, they remain foreigners, trying to be what they know they should be, but living in dishonesty about what they really are.
Jesus Christ invites us to come with courage. To speak openly and honestly before him, with great confidence. He wants a people who will find courage in love, which allows them to be open about their failures and needs. This does not mean that we should go on listing our sins all day long, nor does it mean that we should sit before God grumbling and preaching. It means, we come as we are, and simply say, “Lord, I have a need.” No one has yet gone astray, who comes before God with an honest heart.
Because the Pharisees were such enemies of Christ, they had a mental block against grace, and an emotional block against love. They had a wisdom of life that made them love their own humanity, refusing to see themselves stained by sin. They never allow love to pierce and light to dispel darkness. Their works were visible, and the darkness became easy for them. In 2 Peter 2:13, we are warned not to “play games” with God in self-deception. God wants people who will not play gamee with Him, in self-righteous hypocrisy. He wants us to love the truth and face reality. Mercy is never withheld from the person who, under the protection of grace, is simply transparent with God.
Today’s reading: 1 John 3-5
I sincerely appreciated the effort you’ve invested here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material chic, however, you seem to have developed some uneasiness about what you aim to offer henceforth. Certainly, I shall revisit more regularly, just as I have been doing nearly all the time, should you uphold this climb.