Lent 2024 | Day 12

By Janet Nygren
Day 12 (Tuesday, Feb 27)

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.¹

Pause and pray.

“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:17-19)

Think about it.

Paul invites us on a J-Curve, just like him. He says that if we are not suffering with Jesus, we are actually living as enemies of Jesus. If we live our lives trusting in something else, it makes Jesus’ sacrifice unnecessary. But also, our “destiny is destruction,” not a J-Curve ending with a resurrection moment. Paul Miller describes such a life as reversing the great commandments: “instead of loving others, we love ourselves (pride); and instead of loving God, we seek other gods (idolatry).² That’s a pretty big claim. If you’re anything like me, you might be trying to justify your struggle as “not that bad.”

Consider.

We don’t have to do mental exercises to see where misplaced trust leads; we can look at Paul’s life. Prior to knowing Jesus, he was passionately persecuting Christians, and participated in the stoning of Stephen, who was very much walking the same path of Jesus (Acts 7:58). Whatever you answered yesterday in terms of where you place your confidence, how does it result in loving yourself rather than others? In what ways does it erode your trust and love of God? Are you willing to ask Jesus to help you walk on a path that dies to your own reputation?

Pause and Pray.

Jesus, help me to know you better.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2)

Notes

1. Prayer used daily in Lectio365 found at https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/

 2. Paul E. Miller, J-Curve (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 35.