Lent: Monday, March 3, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 49:1-28

We see Jacob blessing each of his children before his life ended. It would be these twelve that would be the fathers of each of Israel's tribes. It was through these that God would work, God would be worshiped, and would make himself known.  These twelve, none of them perfect, would be the people through whom God would do so much. All we have to do is look at the promises that were made, look at the lives that were lived, look at who these folk were, and in that, we are reminded that God doesn't just used those that we think that are perfect. God uses each of us; all that are willing. God can use us.  He used these 12 in spite of their misdeeds. So can He use us.  

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

I love as Paul references communion here. As we break one bread together, so are we one in Christ. There are so many things in this culture that try to tear us apart. So many things that try to separate us. As those that believe upon Christ, shouldn't we be the most unified? Shouldn't we be one?  Since we share the same Lord, shouldn't we be one?  Think about all that we each have in common.  We share more than than we disagree about. And think of all that we can do together ! Imagine what God could do through our combined forces!

We share the same Lord.  Let's share the same love of the Lord!

Gospel Lesson

Mark 7:24-37

(If you click this link, you'll see I had to change bible websites.  During this devotional, Ornemus messed up, so I switched over to the TNIV)

We see Jesus healing everyone.  We see life springing out all round Jesus. Wherever He went, life erupted.  It just flowed out from Him. People were lifted, God was praised, good was done.  Everywhere He went, this just happened. 

Have you ever been around someone that just lifted your spirits?  Someone that made you feel more alive?  Someone that just made you smile by being around them? That is what Jesus did.  And that is what He still does. Just drawing close to Him through reflection and the word and prayer and lift our spirits. So can service to others.  So can worship. So can forgiveness.  In all that we do in service to Him, we can find our very spirits lifted. 

So, today, if you are in a funk, do something kind for someone else, and see if it doesn't lift your spirits. For, when good is done in His name, every one's spirit is lifted.