Lent: Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 50:15-26

This passage has one of my favorite verses in all the Bible.  Joseph says to his brothers, what you intended for evil, God intended for good.  God was able to bring good even out of the worst possible situation.  Even this, the attempted killing of their brother, God was able to bring some good out of. The power of God is not that He always stops bad thing from happening. The power of God is that He can bring some good out of even the worst situation.  

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Once again, Paul talks about unity. There is so much division in the Corinthian church, he just keeps pounding this thought.  They are divided over theology. They are divided over practice. They are divided over baptism. They are divided over communion. They are divided over everything. Sounds  kind of like the modern church, huh?  

But Paul says, remember, it is the same spirit that is at work in you each. It is the same spirit of God that is at work, and if that spirit is at work in each individual and in each individuals gifts, shouldn't there be unity among us all?  If the same spirit is at work, then shouldn't all of us that are full of that spirit work for the same good and the same goal?  For, that spirit makes us one.  

Gospel Lesson

Mark 8:11-26

We see that the disciples never fully understood. He'd perform some great act, or give some great teaching, He'd do something amazing. And they would just look at Him dumbfounded. And while we are sometimes amazed at their thickheadedness, it can also give us hope. For, we don't always get it the first time, do we? We don't always understand.  We don't always do right. We aren't always who He calls us to be. 

And if He didn't give up on them, He won't give up on us, either. Today, rejoice in the fact that we have a gracious and loving Savior.