This season, we’re blessed with a set of Lenten devotionals by contributing author Lee Hinkle.  Find out more about Lee at the bottom of this article, or at hinkledownunder.com.

Reading

John 10:22-40 (ESV)

Meditation

I am fairly new at trusting Jesus. Don’t get me wrong; I have known about Jesus since I was born, and knew that He loved me. And for the most part, I loved Him. I trusted that He loved me. But I didn’t trust Him.

[pullquote]Jesus knew me, but I hadn’t taken the time to know Him.[/pullquote]”Why wouldn’t He love me? I am a pretty great guy. No really, I am!”—and that is how I looked at it for many years. Of course I never came out and said it that way, but in my heart of hearts, that is how I felt.

No, trusting someone requires that you know them and have an experience with them. Jesus knew me, but I hadn’t taken the time to know Him. I knew about Him. I created things that I thought were like him. But the reality is that I was more than happy to have Him love me but not interfere.

[pullquote class=”left”]My fleshy heart still wants to pick up a stone when He doesn’t meet my expectations. And He still calls my name. [/pullquote]The Jews wanted to know who Jesus was because they wanted to see if He really lined up with what their desire was. “Don’t keep us in suspense. Let us know you are the one we want you to be; exactly how we envisioned you to be.”

Jesus lets them know that He has answered them, and that they haven’t heard because they can’t. But we can. For me, I was loved by God through Jesus not because I was such a great guy (which is beside the point, or icing on the cake for those who know me) (not really). God loved me through Jesus when I didn’t deserve it. And He called me when I was His enemy. He knew that I was really His. My fleshy heart still wants to pick up a stone when He doesn’t meet my expectations. And He still calls my name.

Prayer

Jesus, forgive me for putting expectations on you that are wrong. Forgive me when I look to you to be what I want you to be instead of who you are. Forgive me for demanding of you to reveal yourself in a new way that meets my immediate desire, instead of trusting that you know my true desire. Forgive me for trusting my own self for my hope, instead of being silent and listening to your hope for me. Thank you for teaching me to understand and believe.

Lenten Action

Find someone to share your story of being Jesus’ sheep with, and share the whole mess. Share about where you were, and where you are, and where Jesus is taking you and transforming you. It can be anyone, even someone who has heard the story before, but tell it out loud. It will remind you of the greatness and graciousness of our loving God.
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Lee Hinkle is an American pastor who, with his family of 7, felt God’s call to pack up and plant a church in Fremantle, a town in Perth, Western Australia.  Last Summer, the Hinkles left Indianapolis and arrived in Oz to begin their work.  You can follow their adventures at hinkledownunder.com.