Lent 2020 Day 14

Scripture Reading 

Acts 3:17-25

As you think about this passage from Acts it helps to place it in proper context to fully understand what is taking place here. This is Peter talking to his fellow Jewish people after he and John healed the crippled beggar. Peter explains to the Jews that the healing power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who is the Father of Jesus, made the man walk again. Peter's purpose is to demonstrate the connection of the promised Messiah of the Old Testament with Jesus of Nazareth, a simple carpenter turned teacher. The underlying interpretation of Peter's statement is that God was always in control in spite of the circumstances and actions of the Jews, God's chosen people. Peter picks up his discussion of Jesus being the Messiah that Moses, Samuel, and all the other prophets had foretold. 

The other interesting thing about this passage is verse 19. Remember that repentance is about turning from our sin to God. It is in the act of turning from sin and to God that our sins are wiped away because God forgives us. Repentance does not precede our sins being paid for by Christ. Rather it is because Christ has endured the cross for us that we are able to repent from sin and claim God's forgiveness in our lives. 

Lent is a season when one focuses on the cross of Christ. It is also a time when we mourn over our sin and in repentance seek the Lord again. Why do we repent from sin and turn to God as Christians? So that "times of refreshing can come from the Lord." As you pray today ask the Lord to bring to mind sin that you need to confess and repent from so that you can seek God with renewed passion. 

Prayer: Lord, to turn from sin to you is a difficult thing because of the power sin has over me at times. Help me to rely on you for strength and grace to repent and turn to you. Bring times of refreshing to my life. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 13

Scripture Reading

Luke 16:19-31

Can you imagine anything worse than being tormented for eternity? The rich man in this story couldn't stand to see his loved ones experience the same thing. The rich man, now sorrowful for his life of selfishness, asks Abraham to go to his family and tell them the truth that he ignored during his life. How helpless he must have felt to know the truth but was unable to tell his brothers. Abraham told him that his family had the Hebrew scriptures (our Old Testament) that proclaim the truth. The rich man said no, that's not good enough, they must see someone come back from the dead. Abraham knew that if the scriptures do not change a person's heart and life--not even the greatest miracle would change a person's heart. What needs to happen for you to be convinced of the truth of God's word? 

In telling this story, Jesus is also demonstrating his own role in fulfilling the Old Testament. God used the Law of Mose and the teaching of the prophets to shape and guide his people in their covenant relationship with God. Now Jesus had come as the ultimate fulfillment of the Law. The Law shows us our need for a savior, just as in this story Abraham is Lazarus's savior. The Law and the Prophets make it clear to us that the only possible way for us to have a relationship with God is for a mediator to bridge the gulf between our sinful state as human beings and the holiness of God. Jesus is our mediator.

Prayer: Yahweh, you are still the same God who established your covenant with Abraham. Thank you for including me in the covenant of your love through Jesus' death on the cross. I pray that like Lazarus I will find my rest and reward in you alone. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 12

Scripture Reading

Romans 4:1-12

Paul covers a lot of theological ground in these twelve verses. If you have time before you read on, go back and read Romans 2 and 3 for a better understanding of Paul's theological argument. Essentially he is making the case that God doesn't show favoritism when it comes to our salvation. He points out that being a Jew (one of God's chosen people and descendants of Abraham) doesn't matter at all when it comes to a relationship with God. Romans 3 really emphasizes the level ground that every person stands on...we are ALL sinners. 

Romans 3:21-24 

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The good new for us is that we do not have to keep the Law or do anything else to be saved, because salvation is about faith in what God has done through his son. Abraham could not earn salvation, it was not about being circumcised or keeping the Law but about belief in the promises of God. Just like Abraham, when we are saved it's by faith NOT good works NOT morality NOT walking the aisle not being baptized. Abraham's faith is the lynchpin of salvation for humanity. It was through Abraham that God chose to bless all the peoples of the world: Jew, Gentile, male, female American international, Baptist, Catholic. God has provided the free gift of salvation for all who will believe in him. 

Remember that the redemption of fallen humanity was not something that began roughly 2000 years ago but has been God's purpose since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. 

Prayer: God, how blessed I am that you have forgiven my transgressions and covered my sin. Thank you for the faith to believe in your promise of a relationship with you for all eternity. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 11

Scripture Reading

John 8:51-58

For a few days we have looked at how the blessing of Abraham was the coming of Christ to all people for salvation. We are called to have faith like Abraham, to believe that God had a redemptive plan for us since the fall of Adam and Eve. God's plan for our salvation is woven through scripture from the very beginning. John recounts a conversation between Christ and the people who were following him and listening to his teaching. Like many times before, many of the Jews did not believe Christ. They accused him of being demon-possessed, crazy, and a liar. They could not see that the man who stood before them was the fulfillment of the promises made to their father, Abraham. They were unwilling to hear Jesus says, "Before Abraham was born, I AM." You can imagine the horror on their faces as they remembered God's words to Moses when he called him to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt or the words he used when he gave the Ten Commandments, "Tell the people, I AM." This man that stood before them claimed to be God. They rejected him and began to throw stones at him. These people did not accept Christ for who he was--God in the flesh. 

Have we rejected Christ? Have we been unable to make him Lord or our life? The season of Lent allows us to remember that Christ was fully human, one who can feel our pain, understand our sorrow and empathize with all the good and bad of the daily grind of life. The incredible thing is that he was also fully God, the great I AM. Are we throwing stones at Christ or are we claiming him as our savior and allowing him to be the master of our life? 

Prayer: God, help me to fully comprehend the mystery of the Incarnation, that you took on human flesh in order to redeem me. You and you alone are I AM. Give me strength to boldly proclaim his truth in a world that denies the possibility of absolute truth. May I be found as faithful as Moses, your humble servant. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 10

Scripture Reading

Galatians 3:6-9

During the Christmas season it has become popular to display the word believe. You can find decorative and trendy pillows that say it, wooden letters that grace the top of your mantle, and even doormats that greet you as you enter the home-BELIEVE. For some it is believing in Santa, for some the spirit of the holiday season, for those who follow Christ, it means the coming of a Messiah. To believe means that your mind and heart have made a decision on what the truth is and your actions enforce this attitude. 

Paul in this passage is asking the Galatians, "What do you believe?" Do you believe God the way Abraham did? Do you believe that your good works and your own effort are earning your righteousness or do you believe that your eternal salvation and inheritance is because of Christ's blood shed for you. The Galatians were foolish in believing that by observing the law, they were attaining righteousness (being made right before God). Paul looks at the life of Abraham as an example of a person who was righteous before God. He was promised that through him, God would bless his people and through this blessing all people-Jews and Gentiles would receive salvation. 

Was Abraham righteous because of what he did, NO! His faith and belief in God made him righteous in God's sight. If we believe in God and his Son then we are children of Abraham. We inherited the blessing of God's love and redemption through Christ not by works, but by believing in God's plan. 

In response to Paul's admonition to the Galatians to believe in God, to have faith in him, rather than our own merit, my heart is moved to shout I Believe! I am eternally grateful that I can stand before God and know that my sins and failures are not seen because he only sees the blood of Christ covering me. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your free gift of salvation that is based on Christ's work and not my own. You are a faithful God, fulfilling all of your promises to Abraham and his descendants. Thank you that through Christ I am able to call myself a descendant of Abraham. Most of all, I thank you that you have called me by name as your child. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 9

Scripture Reading

Hebrews 11:8-10

I am convinced that the best way to understand our relationship with God is the image of a journey. This journey begins at different places and times for each of us but ends at the throne of God in heaven. 

Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter in which the writer of Hebrews begins with a definition of faith and gives countless Old Testament examples of true faith in action. Today's scripture reminds us agin of the faith of Abraham to begin his journey with God. Abraham was obedient to God's call on his life even though Abraham did not know how things were going to turn out. Abraham had faith. He knew that regardless of the Promised Land or God making a great nation out of his descendants that he was called to something bigger and better...a journey with God!

Is God calling you to do something for him today? It may be simply being an example to someone or God may be calling you to encourage someone you know who is having a difficult time. God could be calling some of you into full-time Christian service fo some kind. The challenge for each one of us is to be obedient to God's calling, whatever it may be and wherever it is. Answer his call and join him on your faith journey. Your journey will take many twists and turns but if we keep our eyes set on the celestial city ahead of us we will one day arrive safely. 

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You are the God of Faith because without faith it is impossible to please you. Give me the boldness to step out on my journey with you even if I don't know where that journey will take me. Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 8

Scripture Reading

Genesis 12:1-4

The call of Abraham is an important and interesting passage in the Bible. It is interesting because it is the beginning of the Jewish people, a people that God called into a special covenant relationship with himself. Abraham is the father of faith for the Hebrew people of the Bible and the Jewish people of today. A particular man, that for no real apparent reason God chose to show favor to and bless. The blessing of Abraham has often wrongly been interpreted as a material or wealth based blessing. In fact, some popular preachers today teach this false doctrine. 

The true blessing of Abraham is not a great nation in terms of a geo-political structure, it is not great wealth and material gain but it is the realization of a people that God has said to "You will be my people and I will be your God." This began of course with Abraham and his descendants, but it saw its ultimate fulfillment through the coming of Jesus of Nazareth. It is through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that many were blessed with the opportunity to have a relationship with God. Abraham never lived to see the fulfillment of God's eternal covenant, but God's promise to Abraham laid the foundation for Jews, Gentiles, black, white, rich, poor, male, female, educated, and uneducated to have an eternal relationship with God. God called Abraham to follow him, much like Jesus called the disciples to follow him on an exciting journey of the unknown. Aren't you thankful that Abraham was obedient to God? Today think about how you can be a blessing to people because God has blessed you with his love. Maybe today you need to finally speak to someone you know about the grace of God and how they can know God as Lord and Savior. 

Prayer: Thank you for establishing your covenant with Abraham. Thank you for calling him to journey with you. Thank you that he was obedient to you. Help me to be obedient when you call me to follow you. Help me to be a blessing to someone today so that they might experience your love through me. Amen.