ON THE EVENING OF THAT FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, WHEN THE DISCIPLES WERE TOGETHER, WITH THE DOORS LOCKED FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS, JESUS CAME AND STOOD AMONG THEM AND SAID, “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” AFTER HE SAID THIS, HE SHOWED THEM HIS HANDS AND SIDE. THE DISCIPLES WERE OVERJOYED WHEN THEY SAW THE LORD.
AGAIN JESUS SAID, “PEACE BE WITH YOU! AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, I AM SENDING YOU.” AND WITH THAT HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. IF YOU FORGIVE ANYONE HIS SINS, THEY ARE FORGIVEN; IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE THEM, THEY ARE NOT FORGIVEN” (JOHN 20:19-23).
TODAY’S DEVOTION
When Adam and Eve declared independence in the Garden by disobeying God’s one restriction, they thought they could govern themselves and their earthly domain at least as well as God could, if not better. They were wrong. No sooner had they “freed” themselves from God’s control than they found themselves deposed from their earthly thrones altogether. Their sin against God corrupted their human nature, and they became enslaved to the power and will of the pretender. He preferred to work behind the scenes, however, pulling the strings while letting them think they were governing themselves.
Humanity’s efforts at self-government have been disastrous from the beginning.…The first act of human self-government after leaving Eden was an act of fratricide: Cain murdered his brother Abel. And as a race we humans have been chained by envy, hatred, and murder ever since.
(God’s Big Idea, Chapter Five)
CONSIDERATIONS
1. Rather than bringing about self-improvement, all our efforts at self-government have moved us closer and closer to self-destruction. Why?
2. Thousands of wars and six millennia of social, scientific, and technological advancement have not changed things to any great degree. Why?
3. Jesus Christ inaugurated His public mission by announcing the return of the Kingdom and calling people to respond: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17b). The word repent is seldom heard in today’s political, religious, or other conversations. Why is there a need for an understanding of this concept?
4. For 33 years, from Jesus’ birth to His ascension, the Holy Spirit showed up nowhere on the Earth except in Jesus Himself. Why are believers now worthy vessels for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
5. Through His death and resurrection Jesus cleansed us of our sin—our rebellion against God—and gave us access to His Kingdom. Why is it so easy for believers to want to self-govern? What keeps us from submitting totally to His authority?
MEDITATION
[God] gave us the Governor to teach us how to live as Kingdom citizens. The Governor, the Holy Spirit, is the Master Gardener who ensures that the gardens of our lives produce good fruit that is appropriate and pleasing to the King, to whom the gardens belong. Could there be any greater freedom—or any greater destiny—than this?
(God’s Big Idea, Chapter Five)
Is your independent nature stronger than your submissive nature? What can you do to surrender your idea and accept God’s big idea?