No Need for Repentance?
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.”
Luke 10:13–14
The little towns around the Sea of Galilee saw most of the miracles that Jesus performed during His life and ministry. Multitudes of sick people were healed, thousands were fed from one little boy’s lunch, demons were cast out, and blind people received their sight. There was certainly no shortage of miraculous evidence to support the claim that Jesus made to be the Son of God and to highlight the importance of His message of repentance and faith. Yet many of those who saw the greatest evidence refused to believe the message because they thought that they were fine the way they were and had no need for repentance.
The gap between the way we view ourselves and the way God views us is vast. The pride in our heart convinces us that we are really not that bad (there is always someone we can find who is worse to make us feel better about our own failings), and thus there is no need to turn to God for help. Yet our self-righteousness is both built on a false foundation and is an offense to a completely holy God. He knows all that we conceal from those around us, and even from ourselves.
This phenomenon is not limited to the world. Many times Christians have an exalted view of themselves. We see this highlighted in the warning given to the church at Laodicea. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
Luke 10:13–14
The little towns around the Sea of Galilee saw most of the miracles that Jesus performed during His life and ministry. Multitudes of sick people were healed, thousands were fed from one little boy’s lunch, demons were cast out, and blind people received their sight. There was certainly no shortage of miraculous evidence to support the claim that Jesus made to be the Son of God and to highlight the importance of His message of repentance and faith. Yet many of those who saw the greatest evidence refused to believe the message because they thought that they were fine the way they were and had no need for repentance.
The gap between the way we view ourselves and the way God views us is vast. The pride in our heart convinces us that we are really not that bad (there is always someone we can find who is worse to make us feel better about our own failings), and thus there is no need to turn to God for help. Yet our self-righteousness is both built on a false foundation and is an offense to a completely holy God. He knows all that we conceal from those around us, and even from ourselves.
This phenomenon is not limited to the world. Many times Christians have an exalted view of themselves. We see this highlighted in the warning given to the church at Laodicea. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
Today’s Growth Principle:
When we see ourselves as God sees us, pride flees, and we recognize our need for His grace.
Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).
—Hebrews 13:8
Studies show that 10 percent of people will never like you. This means we won't have a perfect record with everyone and we should celebrate who we are. A person who knows how to do this does not allow the moods of other people to alter theirs.
A story is told of a Quaker man who knew how to live independently as the valued person God had created Him to be. One night as he was walking down the street with a friend he stopped at a newsstand to purchase an evening paper. The storekeeper was very sour, rude, and unfriendly. The Quaker man treated him with respect and was quite kind in his dealing with him. He paid for his paper, and he and his friend continued to walk down the street. The friend said to the Quaker, "How could you be so cordial to him with the terrible way he was treating you?" The Quaker man replied, "Oh, he is always that way; why should I let him determine how I am going to act?"
This is one of the amazing traits we see in Jesus. He was the same all the time. He changed people; they did not change Him.
When an unhappy person is unsuccessful in making you unhappy, they begin to respect and admire you. They see your Christianity is something real, and they may be interested in hearing what you have to say.
Even people who seek to control you will disrespect you if you allow them to do it. I encourage you to be your own person. Do what God expects you to do and don't live under the tyranny of other people's expectations.
Trust in Him: Don't let others determine who you are or what you do. Don't put your trust in the opinions of people. Stay confident in who God's called you to be!
Break Free from Other People’s Expectations
by Joyce Meyer - posted April 18, 2016Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).
—Hebrews 13:8
Studies show that 10 percent of people will never like you. This means we won't have a perfect record with everyone and we should celebrate who we are. A person who knows how to do this does not allow the moods of other people to alter theirs.
A story is told of a Quaker man who knew how to live independently as the valued person God had created Him to be. One night as he was walking down the street with a friend he stopped at a newsstand to purchase an evening paper. The storekeeper was very sour, rude, and unfriendly. The Quaker man treated him with respect and was quite kind in his dealing with him. He paid for his paper, and he and his friend continued to walk down the street. The friend said to the Quaker, "How could you be so cordial to him with the terrible way he was treating you?" The Quaker man replied, "Oh, he is always that way; why should I let him determine how I am going to act?"
This is one of the amazing traits we see in Jesus. He was the same all the time. He changed people; they did not change Him.
When an unhappy person is unsuccessful in making you unhappy, they begin to respect and admire you. They see your Christianity is something real, and they may be interested in hearing what you have to say.
Even people who seek to control you will disrespect you if you allow them to do it. I encourage you to be your own person. Do what God expects you to do and don't live under the tyranny of other people's expectations.
Trust in Him: Don't let others determine who you are or what you do. Don't put your trust in the opinions of people. Stay confident in who God's called you to be!
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