Wednesday February 6, 2008
Joel 2:12: Rend Your Heart
"Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and
mourning."
My New Revised Standard Version completes the statement
with “rend your hearts and not your clothing.
In
My recollection of lent as a child and growing into an
adult was that it was a period of reflection, introspection and
repentance. We didn’t fast, or weep, or
mourn in a literal sense, but that was what it really was about. I gave up something that I liked or was important
to me so that I would remember what the season was about. I also remember going to church more often
especially on Wednesday evenings in order to reflect and pray.
God calls us today to change, “rend,” hearts to bring us
into a right relation with our creator.
As we travel through this period of lent let us reflect on what we need
to due in order to bring ourselves closer to our God and let that be our
prayer.
Thursday February 7, 2008
Luke
5:32:
I have not come to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
Moving away from the airport I saw my dad at the window and
my eyes filled with tears. What was to
come next? For the next five months I
would be with a new family, new lifestyle, new friends, in a new culture. Although I had been to
My experience was life changing. Getting used to the new culture was harder
than I thought. Stereotypes became
realistic. We become products of our
upbringing and surrounding culture. I
had to do much more on my own – finances, doctor's visits, going to a new
school – all became my responsibility alone.
Though I was halfway around the world, my world actually seemed smaller
– my new house was smaller, my new town smaller. Yet when it was time to return to
Jesus' message today is about being changed. It is about turning away from doing the wrong
things and living with our focus on him.
Jesus said to turn away from our sins and not turn back. Making major changes in our life is hard; but
it is why Jesus came. Whether Black or
White, whether American or German, we are sinners, and are all called to turn
from our sins – and not turn back.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to die for our
sins. Thank you for teaching us to turn
from sin. Staying Strong, and thank you for helping us to not
turn back. Amen.
Friday
February 8, 2008
2
Peter 3:9:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his
promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting
anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The Living Bible states it more simply, “He isn’t really
being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that
way. But He is waiting, for the good
reason that He is not willing that any should perish, and He is giving more
time for sinners to repent.”
What I found interesting about this verse is that it
doesn’t say God is waiting to save the sinners.
But instead, it says God is waiting for sinners to repent. In other words, God is waiting for us to
act. But more often than not, it is the
other way around. We are usually waiting
on God to bring about the changes in our lives that we pray for.
How many times do we pray for a change and then wait
impatiently for God to respond? We sit
around and worry instead of working to bring about the change ourselves. And it is often the result of our inaction
that leads us to prayer in the first place.
I know that too many times I have prayed for good health because I
stayed up late too many nights and became run down. Or, I have prayed to pass a test because I
didn’t study as hard as I should have the night before. I believe that God helps those that help
themselves. The burden is on us first,
not on God. But the good news is that
God is there to help us bring about the change we seek.
Lord, help us to be patient and not waste energy worrying
about how slow things are changing instead help us to direct that energy toward
making the changes we desire happen.
Saturday February 9, 2008
Luke
15:7:
I tell you that in the same way there
will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Repentance is turning away from sin by changing one's
actions to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ. The repentance process consists
of feeling sincere regret or sorrow for doing wrong, confessing the sin(s),
asking for forgiveness, making restitution for any damage done, and promising
not to repeat the sin.
This chapter of Luke contains three linked parables that
explain why Jesus associates with sinners. The linkage is evident in the terms
lost and found and rejoice and celebrate.
The above Bible verse follows the parable of the lost sheep where the
shepherd leaves “the ninety-nine” sheep behind to search for one that is lost. The parable's drama is built on the tension
of an attempt to find something that has been lost. Anyone who has lost anything or loses
anything on a regular basis can identify with this tension. In my house it is keys and the remote control
for the television that most often go AWOL.
When it is found, I am relieved, so in the parable with the sheep.
The parable pictures God's desire to find sinners and bring
them back into the fold. When the owner finds the sheep he throws a party,
asking his neighbors to celebrate with him since the lost sheep is found. In
the same way, Jesus says, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over ninety‑nine righteous persons who do not
need to repent. When a sinner turns to God, heaven throws a party. The prospect
of such joy keeps Jesus associating with sinners.
Thank You,
dear Lord, for being this kind of shepherd for us. Thank You for noticing when
we have wandered away from You. Thank
You for caring enough to look for us, even leaving “the ninety‑nine”
behind. Thank You for rejoicing when You find
us. How good it is, Lord, to be found by
You. How
wonderful to know the warmth and safety of Your
shoulders. How amazing to realize that You rejoice
when You find us. In the security and warmth
of Your embrace, may we find our true home in You.
Sunday February 10, 2008
Zechariah
9:9:The Coming of
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of
See, your king comes to you, righteous and
having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.
Ruby, what do you think this scripture means?
“It means someone is just telling what will happen in the
future. A king will come, and he will be called the Son of God, and he will be
riding on a donkey through the town.”
Who is the king?
“Jesus!”
Why a donkey?
“Because Jesus is just plain, but he is very special
because he is the Son of God, and God sent him out to
make the world better.”
Is this a happy or sad story?
“It is happy because it says rejoice, cheer and things you
do when you would have a celebration.”