Lent, Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 37:12-24

There are two things at play here. First the brothers should not have been jealous of all the special attention Joseph received from their father or for the dreams he was having. We have to learn not to be jealous of other's success. Sometimes it is easy, but quite often it is hard when we feel like that success is not earned. But, what is that to us? We are called to live our life to the best of our abilities and be faithful to God with all that we can. We cannot control others and we cannot control decisions other people make, and in that same way, we should not covet the success of others, ill gotten or not. Did Joseph deserve all this special attention. The brothers obviously thought now. The challenge for us to not focus on others, but within ourselves. How are we living as we should? If we live faithful lives, then honestly, that is all that matters.

But, if we are given some special reward, then we shouldn't rub it in. You can almost picture Joseph walking around everywhere with his coat of many colors, just to show his brothers that he had it and they didn't. If we are blessed by God with something, then we should remember that we have been blessed by God with it. He deserves the praise and the glory, and if we are to brag about something, may that something be God's mercy.

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

We see that thought from Genesis put forth here by Paul.Not many of us where much when the Lord called. He called the weak the shame the strong. He calls us not because we are worthy, rather He calls us to make us worthy. And this calling comes through preaching Christ, and Him crucified. As we are in the season of Lent, our thoughts should never drift too far from the cross. We should constantly be bringing back to our minds what our Lord did for our sake. It was through His suffering and through His blood that the penalty for our sin was paid. Once again, if we feel to need to start getting arrogant and bragging, let us remember what our Lord did for our sake and for out salvation. We did not earn it, it was done through grace.

Not many were wise or strong or brave. But, through grace of God you can be. Only through His grace and by clinging daily to that grace can you be transformed. I have a friend that reminds me constantly in the midst of life, pray, read the Bible, and go to church. These three simple steps don't sound complicated but in being faithful to them, we are being faithful to God, and in that we will hear God speak. By clinging to God we will hear God, for it is thought Christ, and Christ alone, that we are saved.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 1:14-28

We see in the calling of the disciples the phrase "at once" and "without delay" used. Mark shows us that Jesus had a sense of urgency. He had come for a purpose and He came with something to say and with something to do. We see that later in the text when it says that He taught with authority, and the people were not used that type of teaching. God had a purpose in Jesus Christ, and that purpose was the redemption of the world, in all that believed would have eternal life. He walked and lived with that sense of purpose.What about you? Do have a purpose in life. Whether you know it or not, you do. Only in Christ will you find that purpose, and when you do find it, it will give your life a sense of urgency. Jesus did a lot 'at once" and "without delay."

What about you? Do you move through life with purpose, or do you just kind of float around. God has something specific for you. Apart from Him you will not know it, and you will float. With Him, you will find it, and find what you should be done. Do you know your purpose? Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord? That is how we find that purpose.