Ever felt stuck or like you needed a change? Ready for a life-changing experience? How about trusting and taking a step that can change your life?
Today we step into day 2 of the passion week and this incredible devotional my brother Peter invited me to join in the adventure with him.
Today’s Devotional:
“Based on the cinematic study The Easter Experience, this devotional will leave you thinking Easter changes everything. Themes include redemption, forgiveness, compassion, and love.”
The plan I am joining my brother Peter in comes to us from City on a Hill and so I would like to thank them for this plan and Peter for the invitation to join him through this via Bible.com. I look to share what I learn and consider how we can apply it to being dads.
The Easter Experience (bible.com)
Today’s scripture about life-changing experiences
How godly sorrow can produce a life-changing experience
‘For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death. ‘
2 Corinthians 7:10
How a change of heart can produce a life-changing experience.
‘When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) conferred together against Jesus, [plotting how] to put Him to death [since under Roman rule they had no power to execute anyone]; so they bound Him, and led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor [of Judea, who had the authority to condemn prisoners to death]. When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was gripped with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary, he left; and went away and hanged himself. ‘
Matthew 27:1-5
How doing what you thought you would never do could produce a life-changing experience.
‘Then they seized Him, and led Him away and brought Him to the [elegant] house of the [Jewish] high priest. And Peter was following at a [safe] distance. After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him!” A little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ‘
Luke 22:54-60
Knowing the rest of the story, it is sad to think about Judas and how had he not been stuck in worldly sorrow, he might have been able to repent, turn back to Jesus, and have a different life-changing experience. We know this as we see how Peter who was so sure that He would stick by Jesus and then deny Him 3 times turned back to Jesus and Jesus chose to use Him to have a life-changing experience and build the church upon His life. No matter what we’ve done or where we’ve gone, the key is to turn back to Jesus, invite Him into our hearts, and become new creations, transformed to being a new life because of our encounter with Jesus and life-changing experience.
My Life Can Change
- Today’s devotional starts with a question: “Have you ever done something you never thought you would do? And not something for which you are proud. The other kind. “
- Firstly, let’s be the dads who know that how you respond to it makes a difference. Consider Judas and Peter’s stories:
- Secondly, let’s be the dads who realize we have a choice and choose to turn back to God when we have done something wrong.
- Today’s devotional points out that there are 2 responses: “remorse or repentance.”
- Thirdly, Let’s be the dads who realize that how we respond will produce a life-changing experience and choose repentance..
- Today’s devotional speaks to Judas and Peter’s response when it says:
- “Judas tried to give the money he earned for his betrayal back to the chief priests. But that act wouldn’t erase his guilt. It didn’t change his responsibility in the death of Jesus. His remorse and sorrow couldn’t heal him. He ultimately committed suicide.“
- “Peter wept and repented. Later Jesus would reinstate Peter and ask him to watch over His sheep. Jesus wanted to use Peter because even though he made mistakes, he still loved Jesus deeply.“
- Finally, let’s be the dads who choose to “trust Jesus, admit your mistakes, and give them to him“! Jesus paid it all and there is nothing too big that His sacrifice can’t cover, so it’s up to us to decide how we will respond when we miss the mark. Let’s be the dads who have life-changing experiences because we go the route of repentance rather than remorse.
- Today’s devotional closes with a question and then a challenge:
- “Will you let Jesus’ love for Peter and forgiveness for his mistakes lead you to repentance and godly sorrow?“
- “Make a list of yesterday’s sins. Read the list aloud to God. Ask His forgiveness and then rip the list up and throw it in the trash because He forgives you.”
