Gospel of Mark
Lent (Ash Wednesday): Entering the Desert–A Time to Reset
February 13, 2013 | 
Author Lent 2013
Ash Wednesday: Entering the Desert–A Time to Reset
Readings: Psalm 95 ◊ Genesis 3:19 ◊ Deuteronomy 5:1—8:20 ◊ Mark 1:15
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we,
worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Today marks the beginning of the Lenten Season, Ash Wednesday, an acknowledgement of our individual and collective brokenness—a time to realize and to confess how far we have veered from the radiant image of the God who created us.
While Lent is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, there are multiple illustrations and seasons where the call to repentance, both individual and corporate, went out to people. The actual practice of Lent has origins dating back as early as 200AD with mentions of corporate fasting by the church father St. Irenaeus. The Fast of Lent was later formalized between the years of 313 – 325 in the disciplinary canons of the Nicean Council. This call beckoned people to turn from their selfish desires and return to the path of righteousness, which is God. Lent is about turning…repentance, and transformation. I like that Lent can serve as a reset point for me. I also like that I am not alone, and this on several levels. As corporate observance, I know the Church universal (at least many, though not all) will be observing this season and I find support in the fact that I am not alone in this period of reset, turning, and transformation. I also find support in knowing that during this season of Lent, these 40-days, I enter into the desert wilderness of my soul following Jesus and the example he left us in the gospels when he was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested and tempted by Satan.
Lent is traditionally the season of focused, concentrated transformation of self, from old man to new. Lent is the time when new patterns of living are forged to last a year and when new attitudes of heart are developed… I have been made brand new in Christ, but there is lots of change to make. 40 days of transformation. Neil Robbie
I enter into the wilderness with Jesus…facing my weaknesses, to learn what He learned and to be taught by the same Spirit that taught Him. I like how Emilie Griffith points out that Lent is “a time when we deepen our faith in a journey not of grand gestures but of small surrenders.” These small surrenders are the baby steps that lead to total surrender and whole-life transformation into the image and reflection of Christ Jesus. Henri Nouwen says these little surrenders are choices we make along our way. He writes; “The choice for your way has to be made every moment of our life.” I am learning there are no times or places where there are not choices… everyday is full of choices always before me to choose my way or the way of Jesus. Lord, I pray, help me always to choose you.
Take care you do not forget the LORD… (Deut. 6:12)
My Bible reading this morning reminded me of the dilemma faced by us all. It can be so easy to have our eyes and hearts distracted from the Way of our Lord. The world we live in is noisy and paced it seems at light speed. Survival takes effort and energy…hazards of all types exist around every corner and in every shadow. We get tired, sick, disheartened…distracted. We look for escape and begin to daydream about anything and everything except the present moment. Many people begin the path of self-medication, fulfilling those daydream fantasies, choosing alcohol, prescription drugs, and a myriad of other escape vehicles. All of this makes it easy to be distracted from the focus on our God even to the point that we forget the LORD.
I think this can be the case even for many of us who remain in groups that attend church services, even those of us who “do stuff” that Christians do like serving other people and reading our Bibles or other devotional material. We still “forget the LORD.” We can end up going through the motions, dried up, burnt out, worn to just a shell of a person from the hectic, noisy, distracted lives we lead. This is why Lent and participation in these 40-days is good for us. We are provided an earnest time of focus and dedication to our Lord… returning to the roots of our faith, if you will.
We are not converted only once in our lives but many times, and this endless series of large and small conversion, inner revolutions, leads to our transformation in Christ. -Thomas Merton
Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19)
“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:15)
And so, we enter the desert, to a time of fasting, repentance, and remembrance of our frailty. We answer the call of our Lord to be converted and be reconciled. We turn to Him with hopeful anticipation of the work He will wrought in us as we surrender ourselves to His molding and shaping. Make me, O Lord, like unto You. Have Your way in me…always today and forever. Amen
Posted in Gospel of Mark, Lent, Lent 2013, Liturgical Year, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation, The Christian Walk, The Liturgical Year | 
Tags: Ash Wednesday, disciple, Jesus, Lent, Lent 2013, The Liturgical Year | 
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Jesus for President? Probably not…
Jesus for President? Probably not…
Political Post Warning…
I’m feeling frisky, so I thought I’d share some musings on this day, our presidential election, in our United States of America. Since I am unashamedly a follower of Messiah Jesus, I thought I’d post a few thoughts from a Christian perspective.
I’ve seen quite a few thoughts around the web that invoke the idea of “vote for Jesus” or “Jesus for president” and other similar inferences like making the most “informed Christian” vote (that is assuming your or my vote would be most closely aligned with who Jesus would vote for. And this assumes He would vote at all—but that is another conversation).
First, let me say that I voted and I believe in the process, even as flawed as it might be; I’m glad I get to vote on the leadership in this nation.
Now, onto the idea of Jesus for president…
Really? I wonder how long Jesus would last if he were really voted in. Let’s hypothetically assume the United States is a Christian nation, and let’s take it one step further and assume that every United States citizen professes themselves aligned with Christianity as their faith affiliation.
First, it is my opinion that Jesus would not be voted in at all if the things he taught and the things he did were reported through the media as are most other presidential candidates.
If good communication skills are a prerequisite and being able to clearly dictate a position are necessary to win over voters, I don’t think Jesus would have scored very high even though we call him a great orator. He said that he chose to deliberately speak in parables so some people would hear him clearly and others would not (see Luke 8).
According to the gospels, Jesus doesn’t seem to be very keen on capitalism, free market systems, amassing fortunes, or retirement plans. In fact, he once told a story about a man who had raised a bumper crop of wheat. The man figured he’d done well and could retire on his efforts and earnings only to be called a “fool” and have his life taken by God that very night (Luke 12:13-21). Additionally, the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and elsewhere in the gospels seem to favor Socialism over the Free Market system that fuels most of the American Dream.
Many people like to believe that Jesus is “fair” and universal in his approach toward helping humanity, but the gospels teach differently about this perception as well. Jesus was often in the midst of great crowds, but we’re only told of two accounts where he fed the masses. I’m reasonably sure there were more than three people that he was aware of who died in the places he traveled, but we’re only told of three that he raised from the dead. In the early pages of Mark’s Gospel we read that Jesus healed all that were brought to him in one day, yet on the morning of the next day, he left people who wanted and needed healing with their disease and sickness telling his disciples he had to go to the next city… “this is not the reason I have come” (Mark 1:29-39). Then there was the scene at the pool of Bethseda; where John recounts there were “many invalids there,” yet Jesus chose to heal only one… (John 5:1-13) and this does not even take into account that Jesus broke the law of the land to heal this man by healing him on the Sabbath.
Certainly my words sound somewhat facetious; it is a literary tool to help us consider our own motives and political positions, but in reality Jesus was a radical that not too many people would be happy with as a president. What if he came to you and demanded you sell all your possessions to give to the poor? What if he advised you the only way you could be part of his country/kingdom was to give up all your status and become a servant to all? What if he announced the only way you could keep your life was to sacrifice it for someone who despised you? I think most people would say; “Jesus, you’re out of your flipping mind…” kinda the same way people thought when he told them his body and blood were real food and drink (John 6:22-59).
He tells us if someone asks for our tunic, give it to them and your shirt too. He says if someone asks you to carry their load a mile, carry it two. If someone cracks you on the jaw, turn your cheek and offer it to them so your bruising will be symmetrical. People say Jesus never wants anyone to be a doormat for others, but this is exactly what he made of himself….and still does today. He is the gate and the doormat to the kingdom of God and He invites us to follow Him.
I think it sounds nice and spiritually self-righteous to say “Jesus for President!” I don’t think it is very heartfelt or realistic, unless of course it is some other Jesus that we are talking about that isn’t the Jesus mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.
Oh, and don’t think for a minute, that I’m not talking about myself here too. I’m as guilty as the next person who wants their proverbial “cake and to eat it too.” I want to follow the Jesus in the Scriptures, and I call myself trying, but I also see the enormous chasm between his teachings and my reality. If Jesus were on the ballot, I’m not sure I would be prepared to vote for him…especially after reading his campaign promises in the gospels.
Jesus for president? Let me think on that awhile.
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Becoming the Word, Bible Speak, Disciple, Gospel of John, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Jesus, Shaping Me | Tags: Believer, Christianity, disciple, Election, Jesus, Jesus for President, President, United States | No Comments »
[28APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[28APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Renewal: Week 3 | Day 7
Scripture Reading: Mark 6:30-32; Matthew 6:6; Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35
Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
There is no substitute for “alone time” with God. I think most Christians might agree with this statement, although how we interpret that “time alone” with God might be up for discussion. It might be argued that time alone with God could look very different from person to person, but I’m not convinced that argument is true.
It used to be that I considered my devotion to God as time that I spent doing things for Him. My participation in and with ministry activities accounted for the majority of my time spent with God. Considering there are only so many hours in a day, I wasn’t left with much time remaining after I devoted time to ministry “doing,” employment, daily chores, family time, eating, and sleeping. It was easy for me to justify my acts of ministry, church attendance, and small group as my time with God. If I am honest with myself though, I realize as profitable and God-glorifying as those activities may be, they are still not a substitute for time spent alone with God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes; “We are so afraid of silence that we chase ourselves from one event to the next in order not to have to spend a moment alone with ourselves, in order not to have to look at ourselves in the mirror.” There simply is no substitute for devoted, intentional, silent time, alone with God. It is in this space, alone with Him, where we learn to hear the intimately personal Voice of God. Oh yeah, and as much as I wanted for it to count…my daily commute to work didn’t really qualify as the alone quiet time my soul needed with God; not that I couldn’t pray and/or worship on a work commute or long drive alone, but the distraction of attentive driving precluded devoted attentive listening to God.
Following a number of years of this faithful devotion, I realized the passion and fire of my faith was lacking. I was pretty much on autopilot and going through the motions of religion without much of a relationship with the God of my religion. Oh, I was a good person who was doing good things and I was surrounded by other good people who were doing good things. I’m relatively certain my salvation was secure during this season of life, but there really wasn’t much life in this season, at least not the abundant life that Jesus promises us. I was busy all the time, tired most of the time, and always feeling as if the rest and peace of God were always just out of reach. It pains me to admit this, but I would often claim to be living and experiencing the peace and joy of God, but more often than not, my words were empty faith claims. Around the year 2005-06 I started making silence and solitude with God a top priority in my life. As this has become a faithfully practiced discipline over my past six plus years, I now realize and live in the place of God’s rest, peace, and joy. The times when I fall short in my devotion of solitude with God, I quickly begin to unravel and resort to my old practices of hurried and harried living.
Reflect on and examine the schedule of your life; do you have margin for spending extended quiet time alone with God? When was the last time you spent extended and regular time alone in His presence?
Our Prayer: Father God, I miss You. I know that I could be more devoted in the time I set aside to sit at Your feet and enjoy Your presence. I’m sorry for making excuses and justifying my busy-ness as a reason for not getting alone with You. I pray that You would guide me and help me to reevaluate and reorganize my schedule, so I can make “alone time” with You my most valuable priority. Amen.
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Becoming the Word, Bible Speak, Eastertide, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Discipleship, Eastertide, Jesus, Spiritual Formation, The Gospels, The Liturgical Year | No Comments »
[21APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[21APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 7
Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-35 (see also: Matthew 10:16-40, Luke 9:57-62, John 15:18-25)
“If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple…But don’t begin until you count the cost”
I included a few bonus passages of Scripture this morning because I think that sometimes we overlook a critical aspect of the process that is repentance. I know I did and Jesus’ words to us reveal a seemingly inarguable position that he also believed this point was critical… so much so that he told would-be followers, “don’t begin until you count the cost.” The very idea of what may be implied in these words puts a lump in my throat.
As we have examined some of the elements rolled into this word “repentance,” we’ve realized that it doesn’t just mean “feeling bad about the things I do.” Repentance means to change your mind about your life’s direction, making a turn toward that new and better destination, and then moving continually along the path always moving closer to the ultimate destination with eyes, heart, and hope fixed on arriving at the goal. But Jesus also says; “Don’t begin until you count the cost.” Why does he say this?
The reason Jesus makes this point is that staying the course of repentance and remaining a faithful disciple of Jesus is not easy. The path of repentance will take us on a journey through trials and temptations, desolations and consolations of the soul, extreme mountain-top experiences with the presence of God and tearfully lonely times when it seems as though God is far from us… We will lose things and people we love, ideas and beliefs will be broken, and our false idols crushed… And, this might just be the beginning of what lies along the road of repentance. Yes, there are glorious days that await us and we will experience some of them along the way, but the point is this: “Don’t begin until you count the cost.” Jesus desires disciples that are all in and willing to complete the journey.
The result of a disciple who has fully counted the cost and then decided to trust and follow Jesus is this: confidence in the face of adversity, joy even in seasons of grief, gentle calmness of soul even when chaos surrounds, discernment, knowledge, and wisdom…yes, the very mind of Christ in a world that reeks of uncertainty. He has given us everything we need to live a godly life; even to sharing in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4). How do we do this; what is our part? Our part is to trust, obey, die to self and follow. It isn’t easy, but it is simple…and it will always, always begins with a repentant heart.
Have you ever really counted the cost of your journey with Jesus? Do you have unrealized expectations about your Christian journey? Are your expectations unrealistic? Are your expectations consistent with the teachings of Jesus? Have you considered giving up on your faith because it was harder than you realized? How do you feel or what do you think about the current state of your relationship with God?
Our Prayer: O Holy and Eternal Father, I admit that I might have unreal expectations sometimes with the dailyness of my faith. While I know there will be trials, sometimes they seem harder than I can bear and other times they simply do not make sense to me what their purpose may be. I know You said, “Take comfort” and “rejoice in times of suffering…” but I find it hard to do this. I pray You to help me in my growing pains; help me to overcome as you overcome. Help me to confidently put on your cloak of righteousness and walk with the heart of a submissive servant, anxious to do Your will and grow in Your grace. May it be so in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
[15APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[15APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 1
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-15
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. ”The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Today we transition our focus to a new week and theme centered on the idea of repentance. I don’t know if everyone has had the same experience as I have, but for many years of my life I had an inaccurate understanding of what repentance meant. Because of my misunderstanding, not only did my faith flounder, but the overall experience of my Christian journey was rather miserable. Fortunately, a few years back I went through a series of studies that helped me get a more accurate view of what repentance involves. Now, my experience as a disciple of Jesus is much more life-giving.
In the circles I have traveled, the word “repent” has been one of those words used almost exclusively in the world of Christian faith. I don’t think I can recall a time or place I have heard it used otherwise. My previous understanding of repent or repentance was based on context clues of how the word was used. The resulting definition I came up with was that it meant for me to feel bad about the things I did that God didn’t like. The seemingly appropriate and accompanying action to this feeling was for me to tell God I was sorry and ask Him to forgive me. Most of the Christians I hung out with and went to church with pretty much believed or supported the same idea or so it seemed that way to me.
The problem I began to realize about this way of understanding repentance is that it didn’t change my life much, it just made me feel bad about my life most of the time. It seemed I was forever feeling bad about myself and always asking God to forgive me for doing things He didn’t like… until I realized my view of repentance was all wrong.
What I learned about repentance is this; it meant much more than feeling bad about the things I did. I found out the actual definition meant for me to “change my mind.” The resulting action of “changing my mind” would be to do things differently or to “turn” and live my life by “moving” in a new direction. Maybe this is a no-brainer, but it was like the light bulb turned on in my head. As I began making conscious decisions about the choices and direction of my life, choosing to follow the way of Jesus instead of the “way of me,” my Christian experience began to be a more positive experience. The perfect love of God began to cast out my fear… guilt and shame went with it.
Have you always had a “right” view of repentance? Do you struggle with choices and direction in your life that leave you with feelings of guilt, shame, and fear?
Our Prayer: Jesus, you told us to “repent” and “believe,” but at times I have struggled with both. I have failed to fully understand repentance and my ability to follow you whole-heartedly has suffered because of it. I pray You will help me to “change my mind” about the choices I make that do not take me in Your direction. It is my desire to learn to love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I know repentance is a big part of my ability to succeed in this desire. Amen.
Lent | Holy Week 2012: Day 42—Reflection
[03APRIL2012] Lent | Holy Week 2012: Day 42—Reflection and Meditation
“Lord hear me when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart say, “seek God’s face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.“
♦ Mark 12:10-11, 29-31
Early in the morning I cry out to you, for in your word is my trust.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
The glorious, divine exchange; what an incredible mystery this is. This event, the murderous crucifixion…the death of God Almighty, is the medicine that heals my soul…converting my mortal and separated-from-God self to reunited-with-God and transforming me to immortality forever to live with my gracious and eternal King Jesus. I have been healed! It is for this reason that I find what I offer back to my God is no less than all my love…with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Gospel of Mark, Lent, Lent 2012, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Shaping Me, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Holy Week, Isaiah, Jesus, Lent, Lent 2012, The Liturgical Year, Third Day | No Comments »
Lent 2012: Day 27—Reflection
[19MAR2012] Lent 2012: Day 27—Reflection and Meditation
“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.’”
I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground… Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
It is an amazing thing that God wants to do with us… be in relationship. Infinite God who knew no beginning and knows no end… Amazing Creator and Sustainer of all things. Who is man? What is man? We are born with the spark of God within us; each of us bearing the mark of his and her Creator and each of us being “whispered” to by this Creator to “come back to Me… allow Me to heal you and recover your image that is perfect in Me.” Yes, amazing it is. One wonders then, why we are so hard headed and hard hearted to appeal to this courtship of re-imaging. Why do we rebuff the advances of the most passionate and romantic of Lovers? How is it that we are so quick to “jump ship” from the most perfect of all Love cruises? I think Augustine sheds light on the why of our fickleness.
People love truth when it shines on them and hate it when it rebukes them. For, because they are not willing to be deceived but definitely want to practice the art of deception, they love truth when it reveals itself and hate it when it reveals them. -Augustine; Confessions
Perhaps this is why we don’t like to get too close to the Lover of our souls. The Light is Bright and the Light is True. If we approach it with regularity, we will be made known and we will be purged. This is not an easy path, but it is good and it is right. We can choose to be tested and made whole or we can resist testing and remain “scattered in the wilderness.”
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Disciple, Gospel of Mark, Lent, Lent 2012, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Jesus, Lent, Lent 2012, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | No Comments »
Lent 2012: Day 24—Reflection
[16MAR2012] Lent 2012: Day 24—Reflection and Meditation
The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
♦ Readings – Genesis 47:1-26 ♦ 1 Corinthians 9:19-21
♦ Gospel - Mark 12:28-34
“By the cross of Christ, sustain us in the struggle of continual conversion. With contrite hearts, we pray You lead us in hope to the Easter day of resurrection.“
What is freedom? Freedom is as freedom does…
Reading through the song of the psalmist in Psalms 136:10-26 we hear of the mighty delivering Hand of God. This is the God who brings freedom to the oppressed and who sets the captive free, but what is freedom? What does it mean to be free? What is it that we are “freed” to do?
I think the answer to what our freedom is about can be found in the refrain of the psalm; “His faithful love endures forever.” I think the oppression we are freed from is more than the relief given to immediate felt needs and extends to the great losses experienced as a result of the Fall… our ability to truly be loved by God and to truly love Him in return. I think this is freedom.
In the midst of this great and “freeing” gift of God to us, most especially found in the work of Jesus Christ, is our struggle with actually receiving and realizing the gift of freedom and love. Recalling the gift of freedom to the Israelites in their release from Egypt, they were called the chosen people, God’s very own. Even in the throes of this great love, they had trouble with receiving God’s pure love…they also had trouble returning it as well.
We can fast forward through the centuries and the millennia until we arrive upon our present-day doorsteps. We have not changed much from the struggling and floundering Israelites of old. The problem of realizing freedom and acting upon it is still our plight even though we have experienced the reconciling gift of Christ’s resurrection and Holy Spirit power. We say that we have received love and we say that we give love in return, but so many of us proclaiming to be “redeemed” live in a state of oppression living love in a half-hearted fashion…receiving and giving love tenuously.
Humanity is in a state of servitude. We frequently do not notice that we are slaves, and sometimes we love it. But humanity also aspires to be set free. It would be a mistake to think that the average person loves freedom. A still greater mistake would be to suppose that freedom is an easy thing. Freedom is a difficult thing. -Nicolas Berdyaev; Russian Orthodox Theologian
I’m sure there are few that would find agreement with me, but look closely at the structure of how we live out the span of our lives. So many people live with worry and regret. So many people live out their lives fearful that they are not getting their fair share… Relationships are shallow because people are afraid to be open and honest with one another, fearful about how they might be perceived. We are born into bondage and it is bondage that feels normal to us. Even when we are freed, the majority of people return to what feels normal because the alternative that is freedom is so foreign and daunting. Many would argue this point, but millions of people are working jobs they hate, in relationships they dread, spend their money on things they don’t want, and try to change themselves into something they are not because others tell them what they are supposed to be. Freedom? I think not. The word of God tells us “Perfect love cast out all fear.” Why then do we continue to live oppressed and not free if we profess to have received the gift that promises freedom?
“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Gospel of Mark, Lent, Lent 2012, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Psalms, Shaping Me, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Discipleship, Exodus, Freedom, Gospel, Jesus, Lent, Lent 2012, Love, The Liturgical Year | 1 Comment »
Lent 2012: Day 16—Reflection
[08MAR2012] Lent 2012: Day 16—Reflection and Meditation
“I am bound by my promises to you, O God; I will offer you my thanks. You deliver my soul from death, and my feet from failing, so that I may walk before you in the light of life.“
♦ Psalms 70:1, 4-5
♦ Readings – 1 Kings 8:51-53 ♦ James 4:7-8, 10
♦ Gospel - Mark 4:21-34
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”
23 ”Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 24 Then he added, ”Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4:23-25)
These words, spoken by Jesus, have been some of the most haunting words I have ever read. Maybe it’s just me or maybe others haven’t noticed the gravity of Jesus’ statements in this passage, but they still cause me to shudder when I read them. When I look around at the people who profess to be followers of Christ, but there is little difference in their attitudes or way of living that is different from people who profess no religious beliefs… I wonder about these words of Jesus. How are we listening? Are we receiving additional understanding from Jesus into the mysteries of the Kingdom of God… or has the little understanding we had been taken away?
Am I paying attention to how I listen? Am I obedient to what I hear?
1 Please, God, rescue me!
Come quickly, LORD, and help me.
4 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “God is great!”
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
please hurry to my aid, O God.
You are my helper and my savior;
O LORD, do not delay. (Psalm 70:1,, 4-5)
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Lent 2012: Day 5—Reflection
[26FEB2012] Lent 2012: Day 5—Reflection and Meditation
“Make me know your ways, O God; Lead me in your truth, and teach me.”
♦ Psalm 129:1-9
♦ Readings – Genesis 9:8-17 ♦ 1 Peter 3:18-21
♦ Gospel - Mark 1:9-15
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs to deep for words.”
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Here we read that Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist followed by the visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon him (Jesus). After the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus, we are told there is an audible affirmation as the voice of God from heaven spoke; “You are my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Next, we read the Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
I see the wilderness as a place of danger and loneliness, a place bereft of comfort. Although Mark doesn’t make mention of it, the other Gospel accounts inform us that Jesus was without food and water for those forty days of solitude in the wilderness. Here he was tempted to be drawn off his path, but it was also here that he meets with and is unified in purpose and mission with the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is here in the wilderness, face-to-face with Satan, full of the Holy Spirit, amongst wild animals, and cared for by angels that Jesus solidifies God’s path for his life.
Prayer and discernment for God’s path for our lives can be as treacherous as the wilderness experience as told of Jesus. I believe we are brought face-to-face with evil temptations that would destroy God’s best plans and purpose for our lives. In our wilderness excursions there will be no less stressful circumstances than what Jesus faced and there will always be at minimum two voices—the voice or voices of evil and the Voice of good which only comes from God. The wilderness can be a place of destruction or it can be a place of recentering and focus. I think it is important to be aware of these things because the wilderness experience in the journey of the Christian is not a single event, at least it has not been for me. I continue to have wilderness experiences. The lessons and wisdom gleaned from them differ from encounter to encounter… sometimes I am ministered to by angels and sometimes I am beaten up pretty good. I am thankful that I have learned enough from these experiences that my beatings have been less severe and the times I have been ministered to by angels more frequent. I think this has come from familiarity, surrender, humility, and obedience…and God-inspired self-awareness, that is understanding who I am “in Christ.”
I suppose the point of this thinking out loud is this; I believe wilderness experiences are most often orchestrated by God. While they may look “scary as the devil” the opportunity to grow closer with God and experience the ministry of angels is the divine payoff. Each of us who follows the person of Jesus Christ are invited to partake of the infilling-indwelling Holy Spirit who leads us and guides us in our God ordained destiny. Wilderness experiences are serious encounters—not to be feared, but certainly respected—shaping us and drawing us nearer to the persons God created us to be re-imaged and transformed into the image of the Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God. Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD. The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be—world without end. Amen.
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Daily Meds, Gospel of Mark, Lent, Lent 2012, Meditations, Prayer, Psalms, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Lent, Lent 2012, Prayer, Psalms, Temptation, Wilderness | No Comments »
