Lent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 18:1-11

This is that great passage about the potter and clay. Just as the potter molds the clay into the vessel that he wants it to be, so does God mold us into the vessel that He wants us to be. Sometimes the clay is too hard to be molded. Then the potter has to work on it, kneed it, break it, even, for it to be molded into something useful.

Likewise, there are times when we are too hard, when our heart are too hard, when we may already have our minds made up. It is in those times God has to break us to mold us. We must remember that we exist not just for ourselves, but for God. We are here for His purpose and His plan, and we must allow the Holy Spirit to be at work on us, pulling us, prodding us, molding us, making us into His image. Making us into a useful vessel, making us into something God can use.

And, He will use us. We just have to allow ourselves to be molded.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 8:1-11

There is that great reminder for us today, there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. If you are in Him today, there is no condemnation. The things of the past have been forgiven. You are allowed to walk in new life. You are allowed to leave behind those burdens of past wrongs. You are all allowed to lay down that past baggage.

Why? Because if Jesus doesn't hold it against you, you should not hold it against yourself. Today, if you are in Christ, you have been forgiven. You are called to walk in that freedom and grace. God doesn't beat you up, you should not beat yourself up either. Today, if you are in Christ, you are not condemned.

However, if you are not in Christ, if you are not His, if you have not accepted Him, you will stand condemned one day. Won't you accept His freedom and grace today? Won't you know what it means to be forgiven and free today?

Gospel Lesson

John 6:27-40

Jesus is the bread of life. Nothing else will satisfy. Not your job. Not your hobbies. Not you money. Not your car. Not your teams. Not your hunting. Not your shopping. Not you vacations. Not even your family. He is the bread of life. Without Him, you will always be wanting, always be empty, never be what you can be. Only He can satisfy. Only He is life.