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Luke 11:53-54
In these ending words of Jesus being critical of the Pharisees and scribes, they react in the way of the sinful nature that blinds man to the constructive criticism that Jesus has given to help them see their wrong-doings and make the necessary corrections in their lives. They, in their prideful and arrogant ways, seek to blame Jesus instead of accepting that they are in the wrong and in need of a new way of life. Jesus has bruised their ego, and now they want to bruise His. They refuse to see their own faults.
This is an example of how Satan blinds us to Jesus.
This is an example of living in the sinful nature.
No one likes to be corrected. We all like to be right in all we say and do. But we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). When someone corrects us, we have a tendency to become upset at that person and feel that they have insulted us. This is the sinful nature at work in us; this is Satan blocking us from drawing closer to God; this is due to two of the main tools that Satan uses against us all – pride and arrogance. They keep us from humbling ourselves to receive constructive criticism as a learning tool to grow as God would have us to do.
We must put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) every day and seek our new life in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:17-24). We cannot overcome Satan on our own; we need the help of our Savior Jesus, who has defeated sin, death, and Satan once for all (Romans 6:10-11).
Dear Lord,
The sinful nature of this world strikes at each of us every day. Please help us to focus on Jesus and put on the whole armor of God to detour the attempts of Satan to make us fall away from You. Please help us to accept Your corrective criticism with humility as it will help us to draw closer to You each day. In Jesus name I pray, amen.