Lent - Jeremiah's Vow

Lent Day #32 | Retreat

I am serving on a Christian retreat for youth this weekend. I have done this for the past several years and each time I see God do something I didn’t expect. There is something about meeting with fellow believers in places dedicated to serving God. I can’t explain it, but I have this feeling that God has places he likes to visit. Places where his people can experience his presence in ways that can almost be described as tangible.

One of the curiosities of Jesus’ ministry was how he often would retreat from the disciples and the crowds to spend time with his Father. He would disappear and get away from it all so he could focus and hear more clearly. There is a lesson for in Jesus’ example. We too need time of retreat. Time of stepping out of what we are doing so God has our concentrated attention.

Can I say I do this like I should? No! Part of it is I am not as disciplined as I need to be. I find my mind wandering. But, I also think part of my problem is I may not be in a place where God likes to visit. I have thought about this before, but this could be part of the reason I love sitting in the sanctuary of my church. I feel close to God there. There is a marked difference in the space.

One of the gifts we get during Lent is the opportunity to get alone with God. It would be wise for us to take some time in the days we have left of this Lenten season to step out of our typical routines and spend some time with God. Go to a place where you have felt close to God and give Him your undivided attention. Put it on your calendar and keep the appointment.

I am excited about this weekend. Both because of what He will do in and for these young people. But, also for what he will do in and for me. I am glad to be in a place where God’s presence abides.

Lent Day #31 | Weakness

Yesterday we looked at power. Today we will look at weakness.

One of the difficulties we face when we engage in the study of the bible is the use of juxtaposition. A juxtaposition is the comparison two ideas or concepts that are not related under normal circumstances, but whose connection makes the contrast more striking. The bible is full of these. A prime example of this is found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church. This is what he says.

¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV, emphasis added)

I may be the only one who thinks Paul is crazy, but how could he say this? What did he know that I do not? What had he seen or heard that could have lead him to this conclusion? Sure we can jump to the “Jesus knocked him of a horse” line, but I do not think this answers the question.

I think the problem we have in our modern time is the expectation of comfort and ease. This is particularly true in the United States. Privilege is not merely the luck of a few. It has become the right of all. We no longer understand one of the simple rules of life, we are not all promised prosperity. The fact that we enter into this world and will leave this world with nothing should stir us from the laziness we tend towards in our lives from time to time. We need to wake up to the fact that we are in no position to be demanding anything from anyone. We have to see that the only one who can make demands of this life is the one who has conquered death. There is only one person whom I know has done this!

Paul’s words are a stark and unyielding reminder that weakness, rather than robbing us, actually opens our eyes to what we truly have. When I understand my weakness I am freed from the pressures imposed on me from exterior agents because I have nothing that can be taken. Actually, when I have accepted weakness, especially the kind of weakness Paul is describing, we are saying that the result, the effect is NOT within my prerogative to address. And that’s a good thing.

I think what Paul offers us is a different path than the one offered by the systems and philosophies of this world. Paul is encouraging us to cease from striving for the pleasures and amenities of this world; to stop trying to lift ourselves by our proverbial boot straps. The weakness Paul demonstrated was based in the certainty of another’s strength. This is the mystery and this is the secret Paul gives us access to.

Therefore, the questions we must ask ourselves are these: Why am so afraid of being seen as weak? What do I have to let go of (that I probably should let go of anyway) that is and has been keeping me from fully trusting God?

Weakness, within the Christian context ultimately is not about us. The reality is this, our weakness is an opportunity for God to show himself faithful to his word, his character and his people. When I am strong I have no need of him. Well, at least that is what I tell myself to continue in self-reliance and, at the root of it all, sin.

Lent Day #30 | Power

Power is something we must steward in much the same way we take care of our monetary resources, gifts and talents.

One of the many qualities coveted in this world is power. If you have ever been picked on because of what you wear, how you look or the way you say things, you understand the feeling of not having power. It has always amazed me how quickly fear, self-doubt and insecurities take root in our hearts and minds when we are made to feel powerless. I do not know how many of you have felt this way. I have and I know that who I have become and how I respond has been shaped by the these experiences.

So, what does power have to do with Lent? I have come to see that power is something we must steward in much the same way we take care of our monetary resources, gifts and talents. The amount of power we have may be determined by many factors, but in the end the issue is what will we do when we have it. However, there is a second issue connected with our possession of this influence. We also have to ask ourselves what will we not do when we have it.

Hand holding lightning bolt

One of my favorite examples of this is in the movie Bruce Almighty. In the movie, Bruce feels that God is picking on him and challenges God to show himself by “smiting” him. God takes up the challenge and gives Bruce his all of his powers. Bruce thinks this is all a joke, as well he should. What happens next, and what can only be illustrated in a movie, is Bruce indulges in his new found abilities. He gives himself everything he wants, and he still does not achieve the satisfaction and happiness he thought would come. Unfortunately for Bruce, his image of power was more like Zeus (lightning bolt in hand) than it was like the God of the bible.

By the end film, Bruce learns that having all-power does not guarantee joy. As a matter of fact having unhindered powers may actually get in the way unless and until there are controls and restraints on the exercise of the power. The irony in Bruce’s experience, and in life outside of the silver screen, is that true power comes through the exercise of restraint and not merely in the unfettered expression of power.

Do you have power? Or does your power have you? If it’s the second, you are not really as powerful as you have let yourself believe.

Lent Day #29 | Communion

When we gather together as God’s people to eat the bread and drink from the cup we are joining in a long and important tradition of the church.

I mentioned yesterday how much I have grown to appreciate the mystery of the Lord’s Supper. When we gather together as God’s people to eat the bread and drink from the cup we are joining in a long and important tradition of the church. We are saying to ourselves and to each other, “We believe in what Jesus has done for us, and is doing in us.”

Communion bread and cup

The power of this sacrament is experienced when we participate in faith. What this means is we are not coming to the table wishing God would interact with us. When we come and celebrate the Lord’s supper with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are are saying we know (as best as we can) that God is present with us.

Not everyone believes this. Some people think it is merely a memorial. I, however, find this to be a misunderstanding of God’s means of grace. A means of grace is when God takes something ordinary, in this case bread and juice, and uses it to communicate his grace and message of redemption. Therefore, Communion and baptism are the best known, but are not the only means God uses to proclaim his love to us.

It would be wise for us to take time and consider, and possibly even reconsider, what we believe about the sacraments. Our task is not a understand every single facet of what God is doing. Rather, we should trust and believe that when we come God is present with us. It is an invitation, where God invites us to dine with him.

Lent Day #28 | Friendship

Today I had the chance to celebrate with some friends from our church. They will be moving due to the army and in the middle of all that they will be trying to get married! I think that makes for some stress. In light of that, we grilled some food, enjoyed amazing company and I was reminded of the power of friendship in our lives.

I would like to say I am a good friend by keeping up with everybody’s home life, kids, jobs, interests and tragedies. I would love to say that, but I can’t. I don’t do enough calling and staying current. However, there is more to friendship than information. If the quality of our friendships could be evaluated by how much we know about each other, any social media user would truly have “friends forever,” as the song goes. I have come to see is not what I know, but how I came to know what I know about my friends that makes our friendships rich and memorable.

I have fond memories and can still feel the lasting effects because of the influence of my friends. They have touched me and in a very real way, they are with me because they have helped to shape the person I have become. I would not be who I am had it not been for the impact of their lives on mine. I am and will be eternally grateful for my friends, those who chose to walk together with me for as long as our life paths allowed.

Lent Day #25 | Mourning

When God leads in the dance called life, where we begin and where we end will seem like a dream that has come true.

In Psalm 30 we find one of the most raw and transparent reflections David ever penned. In it we see him praising God for his faithfulness in both discipline and in blessing. For David, the relationship he valued with God contained the possibility of both sides of the spectrum of love. God’s love includes both of these realities. As a matter of fact, I believe David would argue they are necessary if we are to claim fellowship with God as a father.

Let’s take just a moment and go through the Psalm.

¹ I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. ² O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. ³ O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. ⁴ Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. ⁵ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. ⁶ And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. ⁷ Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. ⁸ I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. ⁹ What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? ¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. ¹¹ Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; ¹² To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. (KJV)

What I find interesting is how David accepts as a given the reality of suffering in the human experience. It seems David was not thrown off by the fact of suffering and what it produces–mourning. Mourning is the sorrow we feel as we come to grips with the reality of our situation. As we process what has happened and we move into life with a different set of assumptions than we had before. Life after divorce, betrayal, death, depression. Life in the new normal.

Dancing into Morning, Psalm 30

As I read these words this morning I was struck by another assumption by the psalmist. This mourning we all must walk through is temporary. It is not supposed to last forever. Not because the pain has gone away, mind you. Rather, the reason it does not last is due to God’s ability to take what we have lost or has been taken from us and turn it for our good (Romans 8:28). Not all the events of our lives are good, but God can turn them toward good. He takes the tattered remains of our brokenness and reorganizes and reestablishes and recreates so we are no longer what we used to be.

David gives us insight into the nature of hope through our mourning not in spite of it. The shepherd-king is so sure of God’s transforming and redeeming promise he says, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.” It don’t know about you, but I desire for this to be how I live out my fellowship with God. When God leads in the dance called life, where we begin and where we end will seem like a dream that has come true.

Lent Day #24 | Laughter

I do not know if God laughs. I have heard some people say that if you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans, but I am not sure if that’s true or not. It is just one of things people say to make you think more deeply about what you do.

When I think about God laughing I don’t have a good answer. However, I think Jesus did laugh. I do not think Jesus could have garnered as much support if he had been a sourpuss. Even considering Jesus to a completely serious person seems both right and wrong. Right, because he was the Son of God and knew the task he had to accomplish. Wrong, because how can you live a full life and not see the humor in the world and in living.

Laughter is a healthy and necessary part of life. It helps to relieve stress and infuses difficult situations with needed relief. But, laughter is important for another reason. When we laugh we give ourselves permission to remember how brief life is. There are many responsibilities and tasks requiring our attention. However, our lives should not be marked by these. There is more to life than seriousness and obligation.

The picture above is interesting because there are not many depictions of Jesus laughing. I have often wondered why? I am not sure I have a good explanation, but I suspect, for some, it is inconsistent with what we expect from Jesus. I disagree with this point of view, even though I understand it.

In this season of preparation I hope we take time to laugh and enjoy the beauty within our lives.

Lent Day #23 | Wisdom

Solomon wrote these short and pithy statements as a way of remembering and training his children. When we consider this, we begin to see these wise words in a much more practical light.

There is an interesting verse in Solomon’s book of proverbs. We will get to it in a moment. What I find interesting about this book of sayings is this, it is considered “wisdom.” Solomon wrote these short and pithy statements as a way of remembering and training his children. When we consider this, we begin to see these wise words in a much more practical light. Their ultimate purpose was for those who learned these sayings to put them into practice somehow.

Wisdom spelled out on black background and scripture visible through letters

The verse that stands out to me is Proverbs 4:7. I have quoted it here in two of my favorite versions because it allows me to get a better sense of what Solomon was trying to say. Let’s look at them side by side.

ESV	NLT
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.	Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

In the first translation we are told that if we want to be wise we have to see what is wise. This is one of those “slap your head” moments. That does seem to make the most sense, if that was all Solomon said. We are supposed to get wisdom, but how do we know if what we are being given is wisdom of the kind Solomon is encouraging us to get? We find, almost as an afterthought the characteristic we need if wisdom is to have any value at all.

Solomon tells us that wisdom is useless if we are unable to put the wisdom we have acquired into practice through “insight” or “good judgement.” If you do not have the latter, the former is of no use to you.

Yes, we must pursue wisdom. Get as much as you can find, but the warning is to get wisdom in proportion to our ability to make the best use of it. It seems Solomon foresaw how we, as fallen and works-oriented beings, have a tendency to educate ourselves into ineptitude and ultimately idleness. We become satisfied in what we know rather than doing something with it.

Wisdom is good. But, wisdom plus good judgement is better.

Fourth Sunday in Lent | “Arise My Love” by Newsong

One of my favorite Easter songs.

Lent Day #22 | Peace

The bottom line is we will never fully understand who Jesus is in his fullness. We can experience his fullness, but wrapping our minds around it is not possible.

There are many names given to Jesus in the scriptures. Names that speak to what he provides. Names like savior, healer, teacher and friend. There are other names that speak to how he sustains us in our own journey. Names such as the bread of life, guide, living water and the true vine. These are all significant and good. As a matter of fact, we need all of these names so we can continue to expand our understanding and appreciation of who he is. There is no one name that fully encompasses the greatness, majesty and totality of Jesus. This is why those of us who have been redeemed are is such awe of him.

The bottom line is we will never fully understand who Jesus is in his fullness. We can experience his fullness, but wrapping our minds around it is not possible. It would be like a seahorse comprehending an ocean, thinking that in knowing the part it has seen the whole. However, the attempt is what gives rise to our joy and satisfaction in his ability to fulfill his promise to save us!

Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6

In the entirety of the bible there is one superlative that stands out to me. It rises to the surface because of the calamity and conflict that seems to emerge so frequently in our time. One of the signs of Jesus glorious return is the “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) around the world. As every nation develops strategies and weaponry to combat terrorism, civil unrest and outright conflict, Jesus stands at the apex of history as the only one capable of bringing true and lasting peace. The prophet Isaiah declared the coming of this peacemaker when he said,

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)

What is it about Jesus that allows the scripture to speak of Jesus as the prince of peace? How can Jesus accomplish this feat?

Will he disarm the armies of the world?

Will he broker peace agreements between warring factions and feuding neighbors?

How exactly is Jesus qualified to bring about the end of this animus that seemingly exists in every culture?

Paul made an interesting statement in his admonition to the Corinthian church. Listen to how he connects Jesus character and disposition toward the world and the method we, those who follow in his steps, wage war against the enemies of God’s kingdom.

¹ I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— ² I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:1-6, ESV)

Peace does not take place because the weapons of warfare are removed. Peace comes when the motivation to war is excised from the human heart. Only the Gospel can do that because only the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims the message of the Prince of Peace. The longer it takes the church to realize the power it wields as bearers of the Gospel of Jesus, the longer it will take for true peace on earth to come.