REPENTANCE AND HUMILITY
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:37,38)
One of the greatest paradigm shifts that the disciples had to make, and one that Judas was unable to make and one that the other disciples only really grasped after the resurrection was; that Jesus did not come to establish a physical Kingdom, one which would establish the Jewish Nation as the Superpower on earth, but that His Kingdom was an eternal kingdom built on love and not power.
The greatest mindset shift that repentance must bring in us is humility. This means laying down the desire to control, dominate, operate from a position of power over, and to be in authority.
Jesus chose to love the world back to God with gentleness and self-sacrifice. This is counter intuitive.
Jesus held a high standard, He expected a great deal from people, he was not shy to point out their faults, and he never fell into the trap of going with the flow. To associate with sinful people and not become like them, requires a special kind of strength. He was even accused of being a sinner, just for mingling with them, and yet was not! He loved people and cared for them even at the risk of his reputation.
The disciples repeatedly wanted to use God’s power to overcome their problems, but Jesus said – true power is in showing restraint, for the benefit of the oppressed, the weak, the sick, the needy.
Jesus said that love is the greatest weapon. He taught that, when we love our enemies we will overcome.
Praying for our enemies is a powerful weapon, because it changes our attitude towards them. If we are praying for their salvation and well- being, we will act accordingly. When they do us harm, we won’t retaliate, because we are trying to win them over with love. When we see the salvation of others as the most important thing; when our desire is that they too will experience God’s love, then we will truly be carrying our cross, then the way that we interact with them will be different.
*Meditation*
Think about someone who has offended you!
How do you feel about this person, what emotions does thinking about them cause in you?
Now pray for their salvation. Pray for God’s blessing upon them. Pray for their healing and well-being. Pray that God will be merciful to them and forgive them their sins.
Now think about them again – what is your attitude towards them now?
Repeat the exercise and see the change – when you ask God to help you love someone as opposed to fighting against them and wishing for their downfall, it will change your life!
*Prayer*
Forgiving God, help me to love my enemies and to do good to those who are against me. Show me that love is the power that you seek us to use as we participate in your great act of salvation of the world. Strengthen us to bring your light into darkness. Heal us that we may encourage others and that they too may receive your forgiveness and grace.
Amen.
Be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
