Today's Scriptures: Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28
The Passion theme fills today as we read of the lament of the suffering Jeremiah and Jesus telling his followers about the cup of sorrow that he has to drink. But we can find ourselves in here too. These passages remind us that following Jesus can involve suffering.
It isn't always easy to carry out what God asks of us. It's painful to get rid of our bad habits and self-serving attitudes. Sometimes it hurts to give up those things that we have become quite attached to.
There is also the suffering of being different. As followers of Christ we are becoming increasingly outsiders in this world. If you don't believe that, just watch a few hours of prime time TV and see if those shows reflect Christian values.
We can also suffer from being rejected or ignored. Even our best efforts are either misunderstood or misinterpreted. They are often taken for granted. Sometimes they are resented or not even noticed!
We involve ourselves in a change of heart during Lent because we know that it is a good thing to be involved with Christ. We shouldn't be surprised then when the cross is involved.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Lenten Lessons -- Day 14
Today's Scriptures: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; Matthew 23:1-12
Humility. A tough subject for many people, but that is what today's passages are all about. Isaiah tells us that no matter how bad we have been, God will still forgive us if we are willing to admit out sins and turn back to God. In Matthew, Jesus tells us that greatness doesn't lie in special clothing or titles; it lies in our willingness to serve others.
Humility is all about being realistic about ourselves. Understanding that what the world thinks is important is not all that important to God. Humility is all about admitting that no matter how great our human achievements are, they are full of sinfulness and not all that great anyway. That doesn't mean we are worthless. We are important to God, not for what we have done or what we can give, but for what we have received.
And just what have we received? The call and the ability to look out for our brothers and sisters as ministers of the loving God. Everything else is secondary at best and self-destructive at worst. Greatness lies in service and humility is that willingness to serve. Nothing else matters.
Today God call us to be realistic about our limitations and sinfulness, but also realistic about the potential for good that is in us from the gift of God. If anyone wants to become what God has intended for them to be, let them humbly serve others, especially the "least of these."
Humility. A tough subject for many people, but that is what today's passages are all about. Isaiah tells us that no matter how bad we have been, God will still forgive us if we are willing to admit out sins and turn back to God. In Matthew, Jesus tells us that greatness doesn't lie in special clothing or titles; it lies in our willingness to serve others.
Humility is all about being realistic about ourselves. Understanding that what the world thinks is important is not all that important to God. Humility is all about admitting that no matter how great our human achievements are, they are full of sinfulness and not all that great anyway. That doesn't mean we are worthless. We are important to God, not for what we have done or what we can give, but for what we have received.
And just what have we received? The call and the ability to look out for our brothers and sisters as ministers of the loving God. Everything else is secondary at best and self-destructive at worst. Greatness lies in service and humility is that willingness to serve. Nothing else matters.
Today God call us to be realistic about our limitations and sinfulness, but also realistic about the potential for good that is in us from the gift of God. If anyone wants to become what God has intended for them to be, let them humbly serve others, especially the "least of these."
Monday, March 5, 2012
Lenten Lessons --Day 13
Today's Scriptures Daniel 9:4-10; Luke 6:36-38
The Scriptures for today both deal with retribution. Daniel points out that the sufferings of his people are because they have been inattentive to God. In the Luke passage, Jesus points out that we can't expect compassion and forgiveness from God if we aren't compassionate and forgiving ourselves. I we are generous in our loving, God will be generous with us. If we are not generous with our loving, God will treat us as we have treated others.
You see, it is our own actions that determines our ability to receive what God wants to give us. If we are forgiving, we won't be able to recognize forgiveness from the Lord. If we are cruel and judgmental toward others, God's generosity to us won't make sense. We probably won't even realize that it is there!
The Lenten change of heart is not an attempt to change God's heart. it is an attempt to change our own hearts so that we are able to receive what God wants us to have!
The Scriptures for today both deal with retribution. Daniel points out that the sufferings of his people are because they have been inattentive to God. In the Luke passage, Jesus points out that we can't expect compassion and forgiveness from God if we aren't compassionate and forgiving ourselves. I we are generous in our loving, God will be generous with us. If we are not generous with our loving, God will treat us as we have treated others.
You see, it is our own actions that determines our ability to receive what God wants to give us. If we are forgiving, we won't be able to recognize forgiveness from the Lord. If we are cruel and judgmental toward others, God's generosity to us won't make sense. We probably won't even realize that it is there!
The Lenten change of heart is not an attempt to change God's heart. it is an attempt to change our own hearts so that we are able to receive what God wants us to have!
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