Nothing.

This is the kind of verse that I can easily read, like the sound of, and highlight - only to forget later that it had pricked me with conviction. So, as I think about it, I want to simply pray in response. Maybe someone reading this needs to respond in prayer as well.

Lord God, make this verse true in my life! May I truly be able to pray with the Psalmist that I have nothing in heaven except You! May I truly be able to say that there is nothing on earth I desire except You! I confess that I have not placed you on the throne of my heart, often finding cheap replacements to serve and seek satisfaction in. Though I say with my words that You are all that I have, my life and actions speak otherwise, preaching to the world that I need more than You to satisfy. Lord God, I am reminded of how powerful You are, and how small I am in comparison. Yet, You loved me enough to send Your Son, You love me still to the point of eternal patience, and You will love me eternally, beyond any time I can imagine or understand. I glorify You, Father, because there is no one in heaven or on earth besides You who is worthy of my praise.

Jesus, be to me so ravishingly beautiful that I cannot tear my eyes away from You. Thank You for coming to this earth and living the perfect life that I am incapable of living. Thank You for being the perfect example of humility, sacrifice, and love. Remind me time and again of your glorious and terrible suffering on the cross for my sake. Forgive me for not trembling at the sight of it, for not weeping over Your sacrifice, for not being deeply broken over my sins which were the reason for Your suffering. Jesus, You died for me and rose again, and I am eternally grateful.

Holy Spirit, help me to meditate upon this verse, night and day, to the point that I truly begin to understand the extent of idolatry in my heart. Help me to know how to wage war with and kill the flesh that fights so strongly against me. Help me to confess my sins with conviction, and to turn away from them and flee to the cross. Remind me that my flesh and heart fail because of sin, but that God is my strength and portion forever. Remind me, Spirit, forever remind me that I have only to be silent and the Lord will fight for me. Remind me, Comforter, that God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Holy Spirit, fill me with power from on high so that I might proclaim the mysteries of this treasure hidden in jars of clay, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Create in me a heart that desires nothing other than to be a faithful witness to the glory of Christ, that wants to know nothing among those around me except Christ and Him crucified. Holy Spirit, draw me ever nearer to You because the nearness of God is my good. Finally, Holy Spirit, remind me that God is my refuge so that I can tell all about His works and so, send me out into this world to declare all that God has done for those who are dying without Him.

"What is Truth?"

Pilate asks the question to which everyone wants the answer. "What is truth?"

Not "What?" Pilate, but "Who?"

If only he had known Who he was talking to. If only he had not been so desperate to get out of this situation. If only he had not wanted to please everyone so badly. If only he had listened to his wife and her dream.

There are so many things about Pilate's actions that we can look at now, and wish they were otherwise. But, they cannot be otherwise. If it had not been Pilate, it would have been someone else acting so instrumentally in the crucifixion of Jesus.

But, I can realize that every day I ask the same question. "What is truth?" Every day I live as though I know the answer, whether it is Jesus Himself or some other god of my own making. Every day I have been given the grace to choose: which truth will I follow? Which god will I worship?

Will I believe the One Who came to earth as a man, who declared Himself to be ultimate Truth, who died the death I deserve to die, who paid the price I could never pay for my sins, who rose again and sits at the right hand of God and intercedes on my behalf?

Or will I follow the self-proclaimed truth that I am the master of my own fate, that I live in a world of my own making, that I am the god of my life and no one can take that power, security, or truth from me?

In light of Pilate's choice, so obviously conflicted and wrong after the fact, I must recognize and admit that I too have a choice.

What will I live for this day?

WHO will I live for?

Regret and Repentance.

"The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart."

Genesis 6:6

It seems that there are probably many times where the Lord could be sorry that He created man. We mess up so often.

As a reminder and rebuke to myself, what sins do I insist on repeating that might make the Lord regret having made me? Am I headed down the road to death?

As an encouragement and challenge to myself, how am I confessing those sins and living in the grace that God has given through Jesus and His blood shed for me on the cross?

I want to live a grace-infused, repentance-laden daily walk with the Lord. Where are you in this journey? Let's pray for each other to walk daily in this way.