Lent Devotional - Day 37

Read John 18:19-24.

This is the Messiah that they have been waiting for. Rather than living with humility and love, and being able to recognize the one they love, they are blinded by their pride and arrogance. I wonder how that one guy who slapped Jesus on the face is going to feel, when he sees Jesus as the judge. I wonder how we are all going feel when we come face to face with Jesus and he returns not as a lamb, but as the lion.

By God’s grace and mercy, we live in a season where we can judge and scrutinize God and his goodness and faithfulness, even his very existence. But the time is coming, when we will all be held accountable by our words and actions, and to give an answer for why we lived as we lived.

What answer could we possibly give to Jesus at that time? If you were given a performance review as to your life as a follower of Jesus, how would you do? If you truly believed that Jesus is the Son of God, and he is your Lord and Saviour, would you live any differently? Can you honestly tell Jesus that you are living 100% into the fullness of his grace in your life?

The good news is that we are saved by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ, and not simply by what we do, but remember that what we do tends to be the evidence of our faith. So it will be good for us to be found doing what Jesus wants us to be doing when he returns. Let us be clothed and ready for service. What a price he paid on our behalf. Jesus loves you. Now love him back.