Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
WEEK 3
“THE HERO IN YOU”
A lawyer decided to test Jesus. This is always dangerous! Testing Jesus quickly became a self-test, for the Messiah was not passive and asked questions back. The lawyer’s motivation here is unknown but suspect: “wanting to test Jesus” could mean wanting to embarrass him or take his measure. He puts the question in a typically Jewish way, assuming the question of eternal life is an individual matter of actions we perform—”what must I do to inherit eternal life?” It is difficult to convince someone who is confident of their own sanctity that the gift of eternal life cannot be earned by pure character or meritorious effort. Their sense of self and view of God must alter in a radical way. They must realize the poverty of their own souls, the paucity of their own resources, and the impossibility of pleasing God without his grace and underserved mercy.
When did you first lose confidence in your own sanctity?
What caused this?
Are you glad?
FAMILY TIME—
What is the difference between testing Jesus and trusting him?
