“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” (John 1:12)

Have you received Jesus as your Lord, God, and Savior? Then, you have the authority to proclaim your membership in the family of God. How can you receive the Gift of God? By trusting in His name. What is so special about the name Jesus? Jesus is a statement, a life-giving statement. “Je” stands for the name Jehovah, and “sus” stands for saves. Je-sus means “Jehovah saves.” This excludes your ability to save anyone, especially yourself.

Jesus, to trust in Your name is to trust. You save.

Thank You, Jesus, for saving me.

“He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.” (John 1:7)

John’s whole reason for living was to declare the light that lights every human soul ever conceived. That light was the Person of persons, the Son of God, Jesus the Christ. Without His story, we have nothing to trust except our puny efforts to stave off fear, guilt, and shame. Why do we suffer these things? Because we were made for better things, such as trust, hope, and love. With these qualities of God in Christ in us, we begin to burn with a fire that is never quenched and never destroys us.

We are the light of the world.

Jesus, shine, burn, radiate through me, bringing purity, light, and love to all.

“And He said to them, ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!’” (Luke 24:25)

It is foolish to trust a distrusting heart. Jesus was chiding people for not trusting Him. Now, that was a foolish thing to do. Why? Because everything the human heart desires is in our union with Christ Jesus. He has been gifted, and we can receive the Gift of Grace. Like a magnet drawn close to another magnet, they correct themselves and attach themselves. Jesus said no one could disengage them from that union.

I am caught with no escape.

You, Lord, inspire my heart to collapse at Your feet. With but a touch of the hem of Your blood-stained garment, I find the Prince of Peace united to my soul.

“‘If You are the Christ, tell us.’ But He said to them, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe;’” (Luke 22:67)

Many have asked me, “Who am I, and what am I here for?” I gave them the answer only to realize they did not want to know it. Why? Because to know the answer means you could not justify looking and failing to find it. Same with those asking Jesus for a direct answer. Their hearts were set on looking for Christ but had no intentions of submitting to Christ when found.

Distrusting Christ takes a lot of work.

Father, I’m exhausted trying to fashion my own Christ. I receive Your Christ.

“‘If You are the Christ, tell us.’ But He said to them, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe;’” (Luke 22:67)

Many have asked me, “Who am I, and what am I here for?” I gave them the answer only to realize they did not want to know it. Why? Because to know the answer means you could not justify looking and failing to find it. Same with those asking Jesus for a direct answer. Their hearts were set on looking for Christ but had no intentions of submitting to Christ when found.

Distrusting Christ takes a lot of work.

Father, I’m exhausted trying to fashion my own Christ. I receive Your Christ.

Now that we've embraced our new selves, our hope has also transformed. We no longer strive to be like God; instead, we hope in His work through us. We've moved beyond the need to escape fear, shame, and guilt through our actions or by seeking a deeper understanding of God's nature.

Our fresh hope is anchored in the trust that Father God can replicate His character in those who rest in this trust. Indeed, He has the power to guide a peaceful soul. When we stop trying to take control and trust, His Love naturally shines through us in every situation.

Gone is our old hope of trying to emulate God; it's replaced by the new hope that God can express His likeness through us.

Not I, but Christ!

“but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

Jesus says Peter’s trust in Christ would not fail Him in the long run. It did fail for a time, as seen in Peter denying Jesus three times. It was restored when the object of trust, Jesus, asked him three times if he loved Him and then said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ Jesus gave three chances for Peter to declare his trust in Him publicly. Jesus trusted Peter.

Christ’s trust in you will never fail.

Father, thank You for the embodiment of trust in You. Christ is the end of trusting for those who trust Him. Thank You for a life of trust. Thank You that trust is the very substance of the thing I hope for.

“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

Was this a rhetorical question? The answer is yes and no. He was asking if He would find people trusting Him when He came. He had come. He was standing right in front of them. Many trusted Him for things for a season and greatly benefited from it. But humanity generally rejected the need to trust Him for life itself. Even today, most believers in Christ think He is a way for them to get what they want. They don’t want Christ ruling them but want what He can offer.

If Christ isn’t ruling your life, who is?

Father, with one glance toward You, I am whole, complete, even perfect. I am trusting Your will to rule over my will. I serve Your will.

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and be planted in the sea”; and it would obey you.’” (Luke 17:5-6)

At least five times, Jesus declared to His disciples that they had little faith. In these verses, He says the little they have is enough. They wanted more. Why? They wanted power to do the things Jesus did. Their trust was not in Jesus. What they wanted was enough faith not to depend on Jesus. They wanted to do God’s things without God doing them. Our Lord turned it back on them and said you have enough.

Jesus said, “Trust Me! That is enough.”

Can you imagine me bossing You around, Father? Oops. Unfortunately, I can. I repent.