Lent 2020 Day 4

Scripture Reading

Psalm 130

"I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help, my throat is parched" (Psalm 69:2-3). Have you ever been in the "depths?" Are you there now? There are moments in our lives as believers that we feel lost, far away from the One that saved us. We are fearful to approach the throne of our Almighty God. The question of why we must pass through these seasons is no mystery. We are sinners in a sinful world. Therefore our lives can become overwhelmed with our own sinfulness, the circumstances of life, and the influence of the world around us. We find ourselves focused on ourselves and our own misery and misfortune. We seem to forget the promises of the One who loves us most. It is then that we plead for mercy, for God to hear us from our "depths." The encouragement for us is that because of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, He hears us. He keeps no record of our sin. We are forgiven. He knows that we are waiting and wanting. He knows the agony we experience of the unknown. His love for us is unfailing and we have assurance that despite our lack of trust he is there. His grace covers us. He desires to hear us cry out to Him, whether in praises or pain. Martin Luther, the great Protestant Reformer, after reading Psalm 130 penned the words to this hymn:

From the depths of woe I raise to Thee the voice of lamentation;

Lord turn a gracious ear to me and hear my supplication; 

If Thou iniquities dost mark, our secret sins and misdeeds dark, 

O who should stand before Thee? 

Therefore my trust is in the Lord, and not in mine own merit;

On Him my soul shall rest, His word upholds my fainting spirit; 

His promised mercy is my fort, my comfort and my sweet support; 

I wait for it with patience.

Though great our sins and sore our woes, 

His grace much more aboundeth;

His helping love no limit knows, Our upmost need it soundeth. 

Our shepherd good and true is He, 

Who will at last His Israel free from all their sin and sorrow. 

Prayer: Father, I confess any sin that I have that is causing me to feel separated from you. I praise you for your forgiveness, attentive ear, and mercy. May I cling to you in times of rejoicing as well as in times of despair. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 3

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 2:1-10

This wonderful passage reminds us of the grace of God at work in our lives. It is God's grace that saves us. Saves us from what? "The ways of this world" (vs. 2). This passage not only reminds us of the grace of God that has brought us from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to salvation, but it is an encouraging passage for evangelism. Our witness for the Lord can be strengthened by these verses because in them we see the hopelessness of a life without Christ, a life that we used to live. Even if you came to know Christ at an early age you can identify with what Paul is stating in this passage because we are included in Adam's sin and the despair that surrounds those without Christ. We can see the lives of people all around us and see how meaningless it is to live entrapped by sin because they don't have a relationship with God. We can also look back and remember what our lives use to be and how God in his infinite grace changed our hearts and lives.  God's work in our lives should motivate us to share with others the story of God's love for them through the cross of Christ. 

Notice also that we are God's workmanship. We are God's masterpiece...in progress. Many of the great paintings, sculptures, and architectural designs were not created overnight. They were crafted with much thought, preparation, and hard work. The same is true in our own lives. God is not finished with you once you get saved and join the church. His work with you will not be complete until we are perfected in heaven. Let that thought encourage you on this journey to the cross and the empty tomb. The world thought that the cross mean Jesus was finished, but God had other plans.

Prayer: Infinitely gracious Lord, I acknowledge that you alone are the source of my salvation because you are full of grace and mercy. Thank you for your gift of grace that has changed me from being dead to fully alive in you. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 2

Scripture Reading

Romans 5:12-19

This is an important passage for us to study during Lent because it explains The Fall of humanity through Adam's sin and the redemption of humanity through the new Adam, Jesus Christ. In verses 12-14, Paul points out the Biblical doctrine of Original Sin, which means that we are like Adam in that we have rebelled against God and the result of our rebellion was death, both physical and spiritual. In addition to being like Adam in our rebellion towards God, we are implicated in Adam and Eve's sin because we are all part of the human race. So we are sinners based on the fact that as humans we are descendants of the first humans, Adam and Eve. We are also sinners because we have chosen to rebel against God. That is the bad news, but the good news is that there is a gift from God to us. The gift of salvation (or as Paul calls it justification) surpasses the disobedience of all humanity. The gift of Jesus Christ is the gift of a new life that begins the moment we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Through Jesus' obedience to God's law, he lived a sinless life that he might through his death bring us life. God chose to use the death of Christ to break the curse of Adam so that we might receive God's grace. The end result is that in God's eyes it is just as if you and I had never sinned!

Prayer: Let the words of this hymn by Charles Wesley be your prayer today. "And can it be that I should gain an interest in my Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God should die for me?" Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 1

Scripture Readings 

Genesis 2:7, Psalm 103:1-14

Some of you may have Bibles that give you a footnote about Genesis 2:7. It points out that in Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament, the word for man is adam. So the first man, Adam, was named as a representative of all human beings that would follow him. The Hebrew word for ground is adamah. Notice how similar adam and adamah are spelled. Also notice how when you pronounce them out loud, they sound similar. This shows our close connection as human beings to the dust that we shall one day become when we die. 

The Bible says that God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life. This is a picture of how close and intimate God desires his relationship with each of us to be. The image of God breathing into Adam's nostrils resembles a kiss in a figurative sense. Think about a time when you have seen CPR done on a person and how closely the nose and mouth are connected in order to revive that person and bring that person back to life. This is because of how God first created humanity. 

Can you imagine a kiss from God, our Creator and Lord? That is how much he loves us. He created us for an intimate relationship with himself. Let the closeness of God in Adam's life remind you that he desires to be just that close with you. 

Prayer: God, thank you for breathing life into me. I want to experience the intimacy of a relationship with you just like Adam did when he walked with you in the Garden of Eden. Amen. 

Lent 2020

I'm sure you have seen various posts on Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Mardi Gras in your social media news feeds and timelines this week. Well, here's one more.

Several years ago when Cyd and I were in seminary at Beeson Divinity School, we wrote some devotions to use with the youth group at our church, Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Clanton, AL. When we came to Statesboro, we revised them a little bit and used them with the youth group at First Baptist Statesboro.  I decided I was going to read back through these devotions for my own journey through Lent this year. Since I was spending time with them again, I wanted to post them here to share with you. Perhaps the Lord will use these thoughts to help encourage you in your journey to the cross this year.

Thoughts on Being a Leader Who Invests in Others

Today, my friend, my colleague in ministry, and a mentor in life, faith, and ministry celebrates a birthday. Dr. Larry Guido is someone who knows the importance and value of investing in the next generation of ministry leaders. He has always made time for a phone call or an office visit from me. He never fails to challenge me in my thinking and in my faith.

I'm sure there are many who can identify with having someone like Larry Guido invest in them through the years. I am humbled by the opportunities to serve in ministry that Larry has afforded me. I am grateful that even when I have stumbled and made a mess of those opportunities he has demonstrated the patience of Job, not easy for an Italian. Larry knows that ultimately God is bigger than our valiant attempts, successes, or failures.

I pray daily to be the kind of leader who invests in others. A leader who pours into them the hope of Jesus and his gospel, then steps back and let's them find their own voice to proclaim the Good News! I pray that as a husband and father I give my wife and kids the support and encouragement they need to do as William Carey once did, "Attempt great things for God." What made Carey a success was not his attempts at greatness for God, but his realization that it was a great God he served. May we as leaders (read husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, businessmen, farmers, truck drivers, and yes even ministers) always keep in mind that it is the Great God working in and through us that makes all the difference in the world.

What kind of leader are you? Are you investing in others? Do you keep your passion for God and insight into life bottled up for yourself or do you pour it out into the people around you?