Lent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 7:8-24

Notice in this passage we see Pharaoh harden his heart, or have his heart remain hard. In a few passages later we'll see that passage where it says that the Lord hardened his heart.  Before the Lord hardened his heart, Pharaoh first began the process of hardening it himself. And we see that in this passage, Pharaoh sees the works of the Lord, sees what the Lord is doing, and rejects it. 

Perhaps the hardening of the heart was not even on purpose. Perhaps it was just a rejection of what God was doing and wanting to do. I don't think that many of us would say, "sure, I want my heart to be hardened."  But I think that if we are not very careful, when we reject what God is trying to do our live, in the life of our church, in the life of our community, in the life of the world, we greatly run that risk.  

New Testament Lesson

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6

Paul here says we are the aroma of Christ. I love that image.  On the third Sunday of every month, when we have our men's breakfast (by the way, that is this week, guys!) when I walk into our CMC building, the first thing I experience is the smell of bacon cooking, sausage, and all the other great smells of the breakfast table.  Your mouth starts watering just thinking about it. 

That is how we are supposed to be. When folks are around us, that sweet "smell" or presence of Christ should be all over us. And just as when I smell that bacon cooking, I can't wait to eat, so should it be that when folks are around us, they can't wait to meet and experience that Jesus that has so transformed our lives. We are the aroma of Christ.  What a blessing.  

Gospel Lesson

Mark 10:1-16

Everyday when my children see me, they want to run and jump into my arms. This is not because I'm an exceptional father.  There many, many ways that I could and should improve as a father. This is simply because they love their dad. 

Do we as the children of have the same joy, same excitement, same passion for the embrace of our Father as my children have for me?  I think part of what we lose as we grow older is that childlike excitement just seeing your parents after a day of school or daycare. Perhaps what it means to come to God as child is to simple eagerly desire to be in His presence as a child longs to be in the presence of their parent.  

May we have that desire today. 

Lent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 5:1-6:1

We see here that faith is always about something you can't see.  The people didn't see their deliverance. They only saw that they were being mistreated and they were forced to work harder.  Their eyes saw only abuse, and that made it hard for the eyes of their hearts to see deliverance. 

That is where faith steps in.  Faith allows us to believe and see the things that appear to be impossible. Their eyes didn't see how they could be free.  Their faith knew that it could be so. 

It is just hard to believe when our eyes can't see. That's why the Bible calls faith a gift. For through His grace, through our walk with Him, through knowing Him, even when we can't see, we can believe.  

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 14:20-40

We see Paul's continued concern for the body of Christ. Everything mentioned in this passage, its primary concern is for the body. There are even times, Paul says, that we must humble ourselves and not do what we feel like doing, not do what we feel maybe even led to do, if it is not for the good of the body. That is our primary concern. For if the Body of Christ is strong, the believer will be encouraged and those are not believers will be led to faith.  

Gospel Lesson

Mark 9:42-50

Let us not cause one of the little ones to fall.  Remember in this life, there are always eyes watching us. There are always folks watching how we live, how we talk, how we care, how we treat one another.  As these eyes are watching us, our faith can really shine though.  So, let us live lives of grace and mercy, and as we do that, God will be glorified.  

Lent: Monday, March 10, 2008

Happy Anniversary to my sweet wife for putting up with me for 7 years.  You have me to follow my calling, never complaining.  You have made me a better man, father, and preacher.  I love you.

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 4:10-31

One of the things we are prone to say when the Lord calls us to something is to day, I can't do that.  Surely anyone but me, I'm not gifted.  I can't teach.  I can't do whatever it is.  We all feel that way at times.  That is a common thought at times. Today, we see Moses felt that way.  

We see Moses say, but Lord, I can't.  And what did the Lord do?  He gave him someone to help him.  We are right to a point. We can't do these things that the Lord has called us to alone. We need each other. We each need our Aaron. Someone that can help us do the things that God has called us to do. Remember, we don't walk this road of life alone, we walk it together. We need each other.  To accomplish all that God wants to do in us and through us, we need each other. 

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

We see Paul echo these thoughts in Corinthians today. He reminds us that we we do in church is useful for the building up of the entire body of Christ.  Through worship and teaching and preaching, we are called to build one another up. We are called to build up the body. He says that the more useful gift would be prophesying, because in that, everyone is built up.  

In the building up of others, we will find life, as well. As important as it is to have an Aaron to help us in what we are called to do, we also need to be an Aaron that is trying to accomplish what God has called them to.  It is not just that we others, but other folks need the gifts that we can give. That is the joy of church, we find what we need, and we are able to help others find what they need. And through all that, we are drawn closer to God, and each other. 

Gospel Lesson

Mark 9:30-41

I love the last verse in this passage.  If we give even a cup of cold water, then we've done something.  Jesus doesn't always call us to what we may think of as "great things." He simply calls us to be faithful.  Be faithful with all that we have and all that we are.  Be faithful with the little things. And if we are faithful, God will do the rest. He doesn't always call us to climb the mountain. He calls us to be faithful. And if we are faithful, the mountain climbing will take care of itself.  

Lent: Thursday, March 6, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 1:6-22

We see here the two Hebrew midwives that did the right thing, even though it was disobeying the Pharaoh.  Augustine wrote in the 6th century that we are citizens of two cities. The City of God, and the City of Man. We have dual citizenships. We are to faithful citizens of both. We are to do what is requited to be citizens of both. But, we must always remember which is our hire priority: the City of God.  Today, based off their actions, the midwives were in the wrong, in the City of Man. But, their hire allegiance was to the City of God, and because of their faithfulness to their true home, they were rewarded. 

Remember, our true home is not this earth. That means that are to live by the rules of the City of God. We are to do right, at all times. We are to love, at all times. We are to show grace, at all times. We are to be ambassadors of God, at all times. For in doing that, we will actually be better citizens of the City of Man as well. For when we live for God, we make everything around us better as well.  

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

As we talk about how we are one in Christ, let us also remember that we are not all the same, either. We have different gifts and graces. We have different talents. We are different things we are called and able to do.  We are are one, but we are all different. And that diversity is a good thing. For God needs each of us to do what we are called to for the church to be the church. We need hands and feet and arms and heads for the body to be the body. 

But, we must take care not to feel bad or discouraged because we might not all have the gifts of others. I cant' sing a lick. That's ok. There are others that called to sing.  I need to use my gifts for the glory of God and the good of the kingdom. And if we each use our gifts as we are called, God will be glorified.  

Gospel Lesson

Mark 8:27-9:1

We see Jesus tell us today that the true way to life is to lay down our lives for Him and for others.  Living only for ourselves will leave us empty. Living only for what we want and what we desire will leave us lacking.  Living only for what we want is a true way to sadness. 

But, when we lay down our lives and life for Him, when we lay down our lives and live for the good of others, we find life great than we could have ever imagined. Today, may we find life, and may we find that life in living for Him.  

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.

Lent: Tuesday, March, 4, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 49:29-50:14

One of the important facts of the Bible is that we stand not alone, but we stand with all those that have gone before.  Jacob, or as he is called, Israel, wants to be buried with his ancestors.  He wants to be buried where his father was, and his father's father.  He wants to be laid to rest there among his forefathers. 

Family matters.  Tradition is important. What has been done in the past has a great impact upon the present.  We must never be too quick to rush ahead to the future that we forget the lessons that we have leaned in the past.  And let us never be too hasty to forget those that have gone before us.  

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Paul continues his talk about communion by warning the people that they should respect what happening at the table. In that day, communion was not as it is now, a wafer and bread, and juice or wine.  It was a meal.  And some folks were able to arrive early to the meal and eat all the food and drink all the wine. Paul says, don't do that. Respect your brothers and sisters.  For we gather at the table not as individuals, but as a community. Communion is not a singular experience, but we commune both with God, and with each other.  We join each other at the table, and we join all those that have gone before that are with the Lord as we speak. 

Gospel Lesson

Mark 8:1-10

With a few loaves and fish, He was able to feed the multitudes.  Imagine what He do through us today!  Imagine the good that He can do through us. For as we find just how great His love is for us, we will see just how much He calls us to love each other!  

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.