Lent Devotion Guide #8 – Overcoming The Lies: It’s Too Late

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 3021

An Introduction
Hello Connect Church Family! As we prepare for the coming of Easter I will be sharing a sermon series titled, “Overcoming the Lies.” To accompany the sermon series and help us grow as individual Christians, we have also put together this devotional guide. I hope this will be a blessing to you! Every weekday, for the next several weeks, you are invited to join your church family and spend a few moments in this book. A number of people from our church community have contributed to make this booklet possible. On other days I have shared short thoughts on scriptures and left space for you to pray through what the scripture means for you. I hope you will join me and many others in your church family as we prepare for the coming of Easter!
-Pastor Adam Ricks

Read: Luke 18:9-14

When parents talk to me about how they interact with their kid’s success in my class, I get two typical responses. 1) I wish I could help my kid with algebra but I was just never good at math or 2) I’m trying to learn/relearn how to do algebra so I can help them.
These two thought approaches can be categorized as a 1) fixed mindset or a 2) growth mindset. It seems to me the second parent is in a much better position to help their child learn math.
In the referenced scripture the Pharisee has a very fixed mindset. His opinion of himself is quite high and sees that he needs to do nothing to improve his actions or thoughts. I’m not sure if the tax collector is in a growth mindset or not. Does he accept God’s mercy and continue to behave the in the same wretched way? Or, does he stop being so awful to his fellow citizens? He certainly is grieved at his sinfulness. However, Jesus says he is justified by God since he seeks forgiveness.
We are so grateful to be forever forgiven by acknowledging the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb. Once forgiven, we are made perfectly clean by the awesome grace of forgiveness. But how do we respond with gratefulness? Do we accept that we are made perfect and just move through life knowing we are forgiven? Or do we say “though my sins are forgiven, I am far from perfect and I need to keep working to do better in a way that glorifies God.”
-Noel York (ConnectUMC Member)