Devotion for Tuesday, March 11, 2025

“And the man came to his second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; and yet he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:30-31).

There are those who live by pretense.  They say they will and never do, but they put on a show as if they were faithful to their obligations.  There have always been these kinds of people.  People who regularly go to church, but do not live with Jesus as the source of their daily living.  Do not be one of these.  Faithfulness is about being faithful to what you believe.  If you believe that Jesus is Lord – and He is – than live with Jesus as your Lord.

Grant, O Lord, that I would be rid of all of the pretense in my life.  Lead me out of the pit of this world’s deceptions to live into the life You grant by grace.  Guide me to the place where my yes is yes and my no is no.  With You who knows all things, I may lie to myself, but You know all truth.  Help me to walk in truth.  Keep me from deceiving myself or trying to deceive others.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save me not only from death and the devil, but from the sins that are within me.  Teach me how to live the ‘yes’ of faith.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me.  Help me to follow through with all You give me to do.  Through all things, may I be found living the life You have given me.  Inspire me to willingly follow where You lead.  Amen.