Hi Faith Family!
This is the first in a series of lenten devotions entitled
"Guilt Trip."
This series will endeavor to emphasise that a "guilt trip" is a good thing and a short trip. Our guilt trip is the distance between where you are right now and the cross of your loving Savior. I pray this will be a reflective and meaningful series as we together spend time in giving careful thought and consideration to all Jesus went through in order to show you his love for you. God bless you today.
Guilt. The term itself has an inky, ominous tone. This is a courtroom term. I write this devotion while Roger Clemens is answering questions before a Congressional hearing regarding his use of HGH and steroids. All the congressmen and congresswomen asking questions are trying to get at one point: guilt. Is Clemens guilty of using these illegal drugs? It remains a question. The conflicting testimony between Clemens and his accusor, Brian McNamee do not agree. Someone is lying. Whatever testimony is given in this hearing will push the status beyond a "he said, he said" stalemate. We won't know who is lying. We won't find out who is guilty, and guilty of what. We may never truly know who will walk away from these hearings with a guilt trip.
But there is no question about our guilt, is there. Our very beginning was tainted with sin from our parents. Our very end is proof that sin infected us. In God's fair courtroom, we were declared "guilty." Proofs of our daily selfishness, lack of love, and misuse of God's gifts stand as exhibits A, B, and C.
Jesus spoke of guilt with the Pharisees in John 9: 39-41
39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"
41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. The Pharisees couldn't see the truth. They couldn't see their own guilt. They were not among the spiritually blind Jesus spoke of who realized their need and received spiritual sight from God.
Instead, the Parisees claimed they could spiritually see just fine. They didn't think they needed a Savior. And so, as Jesus said, their guilt remains.
But your guilt does not. You have made a "guilt trip" already. You have made that short yet vital trip to the cross to acknowege your spiritual blindness. You have been drawn to the cross for the forgiveness that only God gives. You can see. You can spiritually see your Savior, listen to his voice, and follow him.
Your guilt no longer remains, because it has been removed. You know this from your "guilt trip" to the cross. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Your guilt has been removed. God's gavel has come down in his courtroom and he has declared you not guilty, all because of what Jesus has done.
God bless your trip to the cross today, as you revel in the forgiveness Christ won for you and for all souls everywhere.
Well, the Congressional hearing just concluded for the day. The whole question of guilt in that situation? Still up in the air. Treasure the fact today that the question of your guilt is not in question. You have been declared "not guilty" in God's sight. Praise God! God bless your day.
Prayer idea: Give thanks for your Savior Jesus and all he endured for your soul's salvation. Spend a moment to consider Jesus' time on the cross, giving thanks for his committed love toward you. Pray for someone you know who does not yet believe in Jesus.
Blessings on your week!
--Pastor Dan