Archive for month: March, 2021

Christ suffered because he was obedient in choosing to love God and others. Even on the way to crucifixion, Jesus did not become hardhearted and bitter. In all his trials Jesus reverently submitted to God and God’s way of mercy, forgiveness, and compassion, but we humans have a tendency to reject and act violently against mercy and forgiveness. Jesus “learned” obedience (Hebrews 5:7-9).

If Jesus learned obedience, how much more should we? Through the Holy Spirit and by the example of Jesus Christ, God transforms us unto the image of God in Jesus Christ. In this transformation, we learn to obey God to the degree that we do it naturally and instinctively (Jeremiah 31:31-34). We are in the process of “learning” obedience as Jesus learned in the hope that the longer we are Christians, the more Christ-like we will become.

Spiritual growth is about letting the light of God shine into the darkness of our sin, but God’s light is so bright that we can only incrementally come to terms with it. It is like when we have been in a dark room and suddenly the lights are turned on: It takes time to adjust. Likewise, we can walk into a dark room and in time adjust to the darkness. This Lenten Season, examine the darkness in your life, find out what prevents you from following Jesus in the way of truth and life found in a life of compassion.