Lent - Jeremiah's Vow

Lent 2022 | Day 2: Prayer

God is not merely interested in hearing what we have to ask of him. God is interested in speaking to us.

1. The purpose of prayer is to position our minds and hearts according to God’s purposes

There are many misconceptions about what the purpose of prayer is. Enacted because we have not fully appreciated the lesson that Jesus gave to his own disciples when they asked about the subject. Often times when we think about prayer we see it as one-way communication. That means that we are the ones speaking and God is the one listening. But this misses an important aspect of the relationship we have a God.

The reality is that God is not merely interested in hearing what we have to ask of him. Even though he invites us to do it. We have to recognize that God is interested in speaking to us. That doesn’t mean we will always find it easy to hear what he has to say. But God has spoken. And God will continue to speak. The question is will we recognize his voice when he does?

This is what prayer seeks to find an answer for. Not only can we communicate with God and to God what is on our hearts and in our minds, but God can speak to us and share with us what he feels we must know.

2. The reality of prayer can be difficult when we merely desire for God to satisfy our whims

Related to the purpose of prayer is understanding that prayer can at times be difficult. God is not some divine Santa Claus who is sitting in heaven waiting for his children to offer him all the reasons he should fulfill their requests. That is not what prayer should be. And yet many of us have made it that or something similar.

There is a deeper reality that God is seeking to create within us. And that is to make us and conform us into the image of his son Jesus Christ. That we might live in accordance with his purposes and fulfill his will. So how has God determined to provide us this information? Through a listening for the prompting of his Spirit as our ears have been trained through the reading of his word.

The Bible serves us as teacher to train our ears to recognize the voice of God. When we merely read the Scripture to increase our knowledge we silence what God is trying to say through his revealed word. Yes, we can learn from the Scripture, but I think it is more important that we learn to listen by the Scriptures.

3. The power of prayer is found when we surrender our will to that of God’s.

There is a power to prayer that is oftentimes left unused and unseen. The power of prayer will be experienced when we are no longer trying to cajole God into doing what we want. When we stop and listen and learn what it is God desires we become more able to do what God has revealed to us.

Of the many challenges associated with praying, one of the greatest is understanding that when we surrender our limited understanding to God’s infinite wisdom we will come out better in the end. And so prayer functions in our lives to reveal those areas of our lives where we are not truly surrendered to God’s will.

Series Page

Lent 2022 | Day 1: Faith

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the fulfillment of promises and prophecies that God gave to his people from the moment they fell and were removed from the garden of Eden.

On this Ash Wednesday, as we prepare to enter into a season of reflection it is important to not lose sight of what we’re marching towards. Within the liturgical calendar, the season of Lent is a time of preparation. In this season we look back over the last few months to the journey that began during the season of Advent.

In Advent, we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But in Lent, we prepare ourselves to acknowledge and celebrate the reality of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the fulfillment of promises and prophecies that God gave to his people from the moment they fell and were removed from the garden of Eden. On virtually every page of Scripture, we see the hand of God and we hear the voice of God through his messengers declaring the fulfillment of his ultimate redemption. A redemption that would bring to an end the sorrow and suffering that was brought into the world by sin.

The first day of the season of Lent is a time of reflecting upon the impact of sin in our lives. In particular, in those churches that have a service on Ash Wednesday, a particular practice has been used to mark both day and the believer. The use of ashes (which are made by burning the palm branches of the previous year) to signify that this life we lead on earth is transient and will eventually come to an end are imposed upon the foreheads of every believer.

The ashes are applied in the shape of a cross and the words “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” With these words, we are reminded we are mortal and that this life will eventually come to an end. However, the ending is merely a transition from life on this earth to life before God.

We rehearse and remember the reality of the Lenten season because we as a people have a propensity to forget. And it is in this forgetting that we should force ourselves to remember.
Tweet

The season of Lent, which leads to the celebration of Easter morning, begins with a solemn service where we are called to remember that the weightiness of the season requires a seriousness of thought and reflection upon our lives. The celebration of Easter 40 days after Ash Wednesday should be a time of great rejoicing. After 40 days of reflection and meditation, we should be properly prepared to receive the glorious news that salvation has been purchased for us.

We might wonder why we believers who have already received the message of the gospel and the promises to which it signals should rehearse and repeat the season from year-to-year. I find that the reason is much simpler than we would care to admit. We rehearse and remember the reality of the Lenten season because we as a people have a propensity to forget. And it is in this forgetting that we should force ourselves to remember.

As we begin this season of the line I would encourage you to take some time to consider those areas of your lives where we all must surrender again our trust in our own abilities for a genuine confidence in Christ’s.

Series Page

Lent 2022 Series

In this season we are looking to bring into clearer focus the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was incarnated in Jesus as he died on the cross and was raised from the dead on the third day.

Tomorrow we begin the season in the Christian calendar called Lent. The season of Lent is a time of contemplation and preparation. It is a time when we refrain from indulging in certain things for the sake of our souls.

It is not that continuing with the normal rhythm of life is bad or wrong. It’s just that in this season we are looking to bring into clearer focus the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was incarnated in Jesus as he died on the cross and was raised from the dead on the third day.

In the season of Lent, we contemplate the reality of sin and the impact it has on our lives in our journey of faith. We take the time to look back at where we have been and to look forward to where we are going. This time of reflection and contemplation serves to prepare us for what we will be celebrating on Resurrection Sunday morning.

Lent is also a time of preparation. This means we are looking forward to the fulfilled hope of Christ’s resurrection. The regular rhythm of the liturgical calendar provides us with a framework that helps us to remember how the promises of God have been fulfilled throughout the passage of time. This continual call to preparation will persist until Christ returns. We need to be reminded that until we see the fulfillment of our redemption when we have finally entered into God’s eternal rest, we must not lose sight or lose heart along the way.

The journey of the Christian faith should be a steady and persistent walk with God. What this means for us on a daily basis is that in spite of the challenges we might encounter we can trust in God’s goodness toward us.

And so we enter the season of Lent. Readying ourselves to celebrate the great gift of salvation and the resurrection of Christ. But also recognizing that in order to properly appreciate this gift of grace we must put our hearts in a proper posture to receive.

I invite you to read the reflections and devotions over the next several weeks. Meditate on the ideas discussed. Pause when led to do it. Pray a little more than you may feel comfortable. Read Scripture seeking to hear rather than to be informed. In these small and simple practices, we cultivate the kind of faith that endures difficult times.

For many of us taking the time to consider where God has brought us can be challenging. But it is worth the effort and I invite you to join this journey towards Easter morning as we contemplate various ideas over the next few weeks.

Series Page

Easter Sunday

Reflection

He is RISEN!

Christ is risen indeed!

This acclamation and response has become one of the most common used during the celebration of Easter in the Christian Church all over the world. It declares the glorious news that Jesus conquered sin and death.

After all that happened at Jesus’s trial and crucifixion, the hope of the disciples seemed lost. The darkness of the day seemed to seep into their souls as well.

But, on Sunday morning everything Jesus said was restored by his exit from the tomb. In that moment hope and joy were infused with life and power. The promises of God from ages passed were being kept and fulfilled.

Today we celebrate. We celebrate because what once appeared lost and finished was only just the initiation. The end of one story had become the opening lines of a new chapter of another. And this new story was filled with possibilities never before imagined.

Happy Easter!

Worship

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 40 | Holy Saturday

Reflection

“Saturday Mourning”

The darkness deepening
Our sadness winding
listing in the waves

The loss of friendship
Our life upending
crashing on the shore

The Master descending
Our hope departing
for now, the world is cold

Our weight compounding
Our fear increasing
a future, left unsure

The Lord is silent
His voice is quiet
We wait for Easter morn’

by: Victor Scott
Holy Saturday (April 3, 2021)

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 39 | Good Friday

Reflection

On that first “Good” Friday, there was nothing good happening. At least not from an earthly perspective.

The Son of God was falsely accused and tried in the middle of night. Those who should have defended him fled for their lives. And all who wanted him dead were doing all in their power to see it happen.

But if this is all you could see, then a dark picture was taking shape.

We look back with a different vantage point. What we see, is filtered through the completed text of the New Testament and the collective wisdom of a church 2,000 years removed from those difficult event.

As the Holy Spirit began to work in and through those first Christians, the overwhelming sadness of that first Good Friday would give way to an incomparable joy. The light of God’s grace in the sacrifice of his Son would change everything we ever thought we knew about God.

All of the questions that were lingering in the mind of those disciples would eventually find their answer in the resurrection of Sunday morning. The darkness on Golgotha as Jesus entrusted his spirit to the Father would be replaced by the shining brilliance of a risen savior.

The reality of Good Friday is not that Sunday is coming. Even though it is.

The most helpful thing to remember about that first Good Friday is that in spite of what we know or think we know, if God is involved we need to wait and see what God has in store.

The call to a holy patience is not easy to tolerate. But it is the price we pay to see how God fulfills his promises.

Let us give thanks to God for Good Friday. It is the first step toward a resurrection on Sunday.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 38 | Psalm 119:173-176

Psalm 119:173-176

¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me,
    for I have chosen your precepts*.
¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation, O Lord,
    and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵Let my soul live and praise you,
    and let your rules help me.
¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
    for I do not forget your commandments.

* Through these reflections, those phrases that identify God’s word, revelation, or law will be highlighted in the text in the hopes of accentuating the many and varied ways we can visualize what God has given to us for our good.

Reflection

As we conclude our study through Psalm 119, I wanted to take a little time and look at what we have learned. The author of this psalm wanted to look at and extol the wonders, beauty, and majesty of God’s word. The synonyms and images used to describe God’s revelation have been many. And the implications are just as varied.

First, God’s word is not just for religious exercise. Engaging and consuming of God’s word has very practical ramifications for how we live in the world and with others. To know how to live well, we need the best information and insights we can get. There is no greater wisdom than that given by God. Therefore, we should seek it, meditate on it, and employ it in our daily living.

Second, God’s word is a source of comfort. The constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness are found throughout God’s word. We are given encouragement to remember the grace and mercy of God; to be called to deep trust and truer affection of God as we read and consider the history recorded.

Third, God’s word is a library of instruction. God desires for his people to know how to live in a way that reflects his character. In order to achieve this, we have to learn what is in line with God’s character what is not. As we study God’s word, we can see what he commands. As we grow in our obedience, we are transformed. As we are transformed, we become more like Jesus, who is our example of a God-filled life.

Finally, God’s word is a promissory note. What God has promised he will fulfill. To do anything less is to be accused of being a liar. God will comply with every promise he makes, and he makes no promise he cannot fulfill. This is the beauty of God’s love. He can do what he says. Just because we would have done things differently doesn’t mean God has failed. It should help us realize there are still things we don’t know.

God’s word is anchor for our faith. When we go to it we can find the God who gave us those words. But we have to be looking for him there to find him.

Commentary

Verse 173: The phrasing of the verse leaves the impression that the Psalmist, by choosing God’s precepts, is “reminding” God of what God has promised. Now, God does not need reminders. And that is not really the intent. The author is not putting a demand upon God. Rather, the author is acknowledging the reality of what God has promised to do when a believer lives in obedience to what God commands.

Verse 174: When we have come to know what God has said, our desire for salvation intensifies. What this would suggest is not that the gift of salvation has been rescinded and then reapplied. It would make more sense to see how delighting in God’s law is a steady reminder of the gift of which all who believe in Jesus are the beneficiaries of.

Verse 175: The write describes the posture of life they are taking. They want to live in such a way that it is obvious to all who see, that they are committed to God with the totality of their being. For the soul to “live and praise” God means that in daily living there will be an element of worship. That in all things God will be glorified.

Verse 176: The final verse of the psalm is a bit odd. The oddity is that after all the various ways that the Psalmist describes and rejoices in God’s faithfulness to keep them, they end on a note of deep humility. This acknowledgment of a tendency for failure serves two purposes. First, it is a humble admonition to wandering away from God is not only possible, but far more likely than we would like to admit. However, the petition is made for God to seek our the wandering sheep. Second, through this humble declaration we can see that we can trust in God’s faithfulness to seek us when we wander and to never abandon us when we feel like we have disappointed God. Even when we drift (or even run) off course, we know what we have learned about God. And it is this knowledge that will help us find our way back home.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 37 | Psalm 119:169-172

Psalm 119:169-172

¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
    give me understanding according to your word*!
¹⁷⁰Let my plea come before you;
    deliver me according to your word.
¹⁷¹My lips will pour forth praise,
    for you teach me your statutes.
¹⁷²My tongue will sing of your word,
    for all your commandments are right.

Reflection

The word of God is the great treasure of the Church. It is the message of hope for the lost and it is the perfect guide for those journeying towards heaven.

In the Scriptures we are given wisdom and counsel for living life. We are shown how to become angry and not sin, how to mourn and not lose hope.

As we turn the pages of our bibles we are able witness the miraculous works of God even among the foolishness of broken men and women.

On virtually every page the fullness of human frailty is on display. But right alongside this inadequacy we find the eternal strength of God.

The tapestry of history has been woven together by the steady hand of the God of heaven. Although the finished product escapes our understanding, we can trust in the vision and direction of the one who is weaving all things together.

Commentary

Verse 169: When we cry out to the Lord, we are expressing those deep needs of our hearts. In those moments we are seeking what only God can provide. While we all would like to be relieved of all the troubles of this world, there is something more important than the absence of pain. Living according to truth is vital to a life that pleases God and satisfies us. Therefore, what we need most of all, especially in times of difficulty is to understand what God is teaching us through his word. This kind of wisdom is clarifying and comforting.

Verse 170: As children of God we can petition the Lord. He has given us access to his presence. This access is a precious gift, and one we can enjoy often. When we bring to God our cares we must accept the deliverance he extends. We can become discouraged when God does not act according to our desires. But our desires do not compare the the infinite wisdom of God.

Verse 171: A grateful heart will give thanks for God’s instruction. Not because we liked what we were being taught, but because we were being taught by God. Not every lesson is easy. Sometimes the lessons we must face are difficult and costly. But if God is the teacher, then the reward is worth the price and the effort.

Verse 172: Not only is thankfulness an appropriate response to God’s faithfulness to his word, so is sing. When sing we are engaging not just the rational faculties of the mind, but also the emotional realities of the soul. The “right”-ness of God’s word only increases our confidence in joy when we sing.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 36 | Psalm 119:165-168

Psalm 119:165-168

¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love your law*;
    nothing can make them stumble.
¹⁶⁶I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
    and I do your commandments.
¹⁶⁷My soul keeps your testimonies;
    I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸I keep your precepts and testimonies,
    for all my ways are before you.

Reflection

The Scriptures are not merely a collection of writings over the course of 1,600 centuries. They are more than that. The Old and New Testaments are the living record of God to his people. They are the testimonies of God’s work in, and through, and sometimes even in spite of his people.

To not see the hand of God in his word is to not see God at all. I know that may appear to be a stretch to some. However, to reduce the Bible to simply the writings of men is to strip God completely away from him.

As Christians, we already believe fantastic things in order to be saved. Why do we then struggle to believe that the Bible is God’s word and that God has said in those writings can be dismissed or ignored? It defies any reason to do so.

Let us trust in God and let us trust in his word. Let us give thanks to God and let us give thanks for his word. Let us live for God and let us live out his word.

Commentary

Verse 165: To walk in alignment with God’s word is to have a confidence and peace not available to others. The reason is not smugness or self-assurance. To walk in God’s word is to walk in God’s wisdom. Knowing this brings peace. There no reason to fear what may come our way because we can call upon God for wisdom and aid.

Verse 166: There is no tension or contradiction between trusting in God to save and walking in obedience to God. As a matter of fact, the Psalmist seems to imply that this is the exact relationship between these two realities. To have hope in God to redeem is not antithetical to living our lives in submission to God’s commands. When we learn this we will be free to enjoy the wonder of God’s love and the reward of sincere obedience.

Verse 167: God’s word is spiritual. It is something we do not always remember. But it is something we should strive to remind ourselves of. While what God says may be enacted through physical activity, the true purpose is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. This transformation is one of the primary goals of our redemption. Also, because the word of God is of a spiritual nature, we can appreciate its worth by how it draws us deeper affection to them. As our love for God’s word grows so will our love for God. For the point to him and reveal him to us.

Verse 168: Nothing we do escapes God’s gaze. Therefore, we are better off to live our lives keeping God’s “precepts and testimonies.” To do any less is to deny the place of God’s word in our lives, and by extension God himself.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 35 | Psalm 119:161-164

Psalm 119:161-164

¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without cause,
    but my heart stands in awe of your words*.
¹⁶²I rejoice at your word
    like one who finds great spoil.
¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood,
    but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous rules.

Reflection

As we begin what is commonly called Holy Week, we enter one of the most important times of celebration in the Christian faith. What makes this week important is it affords us an intentional opportunity to remember the gift of salvation we have been given.

In the busyness of life we can become quite distracted. The number of things that draw our attention can be overwhelming. Not that all of them are evil or sinful. The problem we have is that we find it hard to refocus back on what God is calling us to.

This is why I appreciate the season of Lent. It is a time of preparation. But it also affords me the space to consider what takes up too much time in my life.

The discipline of taking stock of our lives is one we should not take for granted. In fact, we should take advantage of these times in the year when we can look at what we are doing and make important decisions. Decisions about what we want to change or adjust to maintain our focus on Jesus and our spiritual growth.

Commentary

Verse 161: The source of persecution may take the form of officials in high places, but even then the admonition is to stay true to God’s word. Here we see the Psalmist describe this commitment as “awe.” There is something inspiring about God’s word. It is simple enough for a child to read and yet profound enough to keep our attention for years. The depth of God’s word is miraculous.

Verse 162: To see the word of God as a treasure is one of the best ways of thinking about. The imagery here is that of discovery. The writing is minding their own business and come upon the “great spoil” of God’s word. One option is to ignore what you have found. But, when you know the value what you now have before you, it is difficult not to rejoice.

Verse 163: The law of God is juxtaposed with falsehood. This means that the word of God is the measure of all claims. If what we are being told is not consistent or congruent with God’s word, then we have to be cautious in entertaining it. We cannot live in accord with God’s purposes if we are adopting falsehoods as a part of our lives.

Verse 164: Thankfulness for God’s gracious gift of his word is an everyday event. Or at least it should be. The phrase “seven times a day” is a poetic way of saying continually. There ought not be an end to our appreciation for all God has revealed to us.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series