Devotional 3-15-09

THE CALL TO LENT
II Corinthians 5:2-6:2

Prayer—Lord, at the beginning of this Lenten Season, I sense my need of you. Yet, I’m not quite sure how to reach. I heard someone say, “Read your Bible,” but too often the words are like bullets that ricochet off my mind. I heard someone say, “Pray”, but my prayers, hurled heavenward, fall back to earth like lifeless stones. I heard someone say, “Meditate,” but my wandering mind was lost in a desert of random thoughts. Lord, speak to us through your Word, and let it penetrate our minds, and our hearts. Lord, speak to us through our prayers, and turn the lifeless stones to bread. Lord, speak to us in the midst of meditation, that we may see, amid life’s wilderness, the way, the truth and the life. Take us, God, take our bodies. Take these sins, these things we do when we try to take charge of our own life, and burn them. Return them to ashes, that the wind will blow—let the wind of the Spirit blow through and cleanse us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story take hold of us, a time to let the events get up and walk around in us,
a time to intensify our living unto Christ,
a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,
a time of place our feet in the street of Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and listen to his word,
a time touch his robe and feel the healing surge though us,
a time to ponder and a time to wonder…
Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God’s spirit!

Lent is a time for the asking of hard questions and the facing of hard choices.

Lent is a time of bringing order out of our chaos.

Ash Wednesday and Lent are all about consecrating our lives anew to Christ. It is about taking that step that no one can take for us—the step of a deeper and more intense personal walk with Christ. Listen to these beautiful yet powerful word of St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians: “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who know no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
LET’S BEGIN BY CENTERING OUR THOUGHTS ON THE IMMEDIACY OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN CHRIST. Recently a pastor surveyed a hundred members of various churches about the significance of the cross. This is the question he asked: “Would it make any difference in your life if Christ had not died on the cross?” Remember now, he asked this question of church members. Here are the results: 45% said they didn’t think it would make any difference.

25% said they thought so, but when asked what the difference would be, they weren’t sure, 20% said it make all the difference in how they lived and believed, 10% said they didn’t know, because they didn’t understand what the cross was all about.

The cross is the symbol of our salvation. It is a constant reminder of what God has done in our behalf. That’s the first thing we need to see—the immediacy of what Christ had done. BUT WE NEED TO ALSO CONSIDER THE INTIMACY OF WHAT HE HAS DONE. Paul says, “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” AND FINALLY PAUL’S WORDS REMIND US OF THE URGENCYOFOUR RESPONSE. Now is the day of salvation. The Gospel confronts us with a decision that must be a declaration that must be voiced. Why? Because God has made an enormous investment in the outcome. Our response should be urgent. Now is the day of salvation. Now God is calling each of us to this Lenten Season. What will you do for God during the next 40 days? Jesus is going to speak to us during the Lenten Season. Those in darkness, He will be their light. Those in pain, He will be their healing. Those in sorrow, he will be a comforter. Those in anger, he will be love. Those is fear, he will calm. Those in hunger, he will be your bread. Those who thirst, he will give water. Those in need, he will fill. Those who are heavy laden, he will give you rest. God is calling us to the Lenten Season. Give someone some living water. Wash someone’s feet. Give someone in darkness a light. Give someone with no hope a vision. Be a witness for Jesus for someone in need to see and experience Jesus. Give someone having a bad day, an unexpected blessing. Give a former friend the gift of forgiveness. Give someone broken, shalom, real peace. Give someone fractured, your healing touch. Give someone sick, God’s anointing touch through your hands. Have and blessed Lenten season. Amen.

Rev. Jeremiah Jasper

Mission Prayer and Response Focus:
March 15: Pray for the ministry of Heart and Hand House
March 15-21: We celebrate Heart and Hand House in Philippi, Bob Wilkins, Director
They sponsor several programs that assist are a residents for maintain economic stability and independence. They support a farming ministry which emphasizes locally grown produce for the restaurant industry. They coordinate new home and home repair programs, They also provide after school care programs for children and youth. They provide items for new moms and babies. They have a giant food panty which constantly needs restocked.