Lent 2018 Devotional: Day Thirty-One

"Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God." --John 12:42-43

When we confess Christ, we accept the incomparable healing, forgiveness, and new life that comes through him. We trust that he will guide us in the ministries he calls us to; through our faith, words, and actions, we demonstrate our confession. And that can be risky. Jesus' ministry was never about playing it safe. Standing with the same people Jesus stood with--the outsiders--is not a path to worldly power. If we fear challenging the status quo because we seek more power and control for ourselves, we place our own glory above God's. Then we are not living our confession of Christ. Our fear and self-love alienates us from God.

How is your fear holding you back from living your confession of faith? How is Christ calling you to courage?

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