Monthly Archives: March 2023

Day 14: Thursday, March 9, 2023

Forgiveness

Scripture: Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Devotion: During the season of Lent, we reflect on our relationship with God and examine our hearts. Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me?” Forgiveness can be a difficult act, especially when someone has hurt us deeply. However, Jesus teaches us that forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a way of life.

In our individualistic culture, we may be tempted to only attend church when it meets our personal needs and to leave if we are offended or hurt. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard of love and forgiveness. As we gather with other believers, we have a responsibility to forgive and uphold one another.

Forgiveness is a gift of God and a powerful sign of our spiritual maturity and life together as Christians. When we forgive, we gain strength and freedom to refocus our emotional energies and grow closer to God. It is important to remember that forgiveness does not mean we need to be a recipient of abuse or mistreatment. Instead, it means we choose to release our hurt and anger to God to work healing power in our lives.

So, as we journey through this Lenten season, let us ask ourselves: Whom do we need to forgive? Are we willing to extend the same forgiveness that God has shown us? Let us reflect on the heart of God, and allow God to work in us the power of grace.

Prayer: Merciful God, Help us to become more like you. Amen.

AW

Day 12: Tuesday, March 7, 2023

                                    Rules

Scripture: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject mebut showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:2-17 NRSV)

Devotional: Growing up, the Ten Commandments were the rule in our house. In fact, my parents added a lot more to the ten found in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus. I learned early on that following the rules from the Bible was critical as a Christian. Later, I learned that being a Christian is not just about rules but also about accepting the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. We rely on God’s power to guide us and accept God’s grace by keeping the commandments, not out of obligation but out of love. The Ten Commandments are a gift from God that guides us in our life together as God’s people. They are timeless ethical and moral principles and part of God’s covenant with us. The Ten Commandments give us a guideline for our responsibility toward God and one another.

As we journey in the season of Lent, may we examine our lives to see if we are living out God’s gift of the Ten Commandments. If not, what can we do differently to live more closely to this gift from God?

Prayer: Holy God, you have given us a gift of how to live rightly with you and others. Please help us to be faithful followers in both word and deed. Amen

AW

3.4.23

Do The Difficult

Scripture: “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:27-45 NRSV)

Devotion: You are wondering why I included so much of the biblical texts. Why did I not just reference it? The truth is, you would probably not take the time to look up the passage. Or, for some of you, you may skip through the pasted Scripture text, thinking you already know what it says. Whom are we kidding? We all do that. But studying and meditating requires that we re-read and re-read God’s words many times over. Our understanding of Scripture may differ today from a year ago. It is not that Scripture has changed; it is we who have hopefully changed as we grow in faith and knowledge of God.

This passage is significant. Jesus said to love our enemies and to do good things for those who dislike or hate us.
Essentially Jesus challenges us to be different, that is, to love like God. God is merciful and kind even to the wicked and ungrateful.
Anyone can love their friends. But how do you treat someone well who has hurt you? How do you give without expectation of return? That’s love as God loves.

Similarly, Jesus said not to judge others but to first examine ourselves and deal with our faults while not being critical of others.
We feel good about denigrating others. We talk about people behind their backs. We speak harsh words and expect the person to take it. The Bible instructs us to correct one another when necessary but in a spirit of gentleness. Criticism is not a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus cautions us about the attitudes of our hearts. It’s one thing to say, “That person stole money and needs to be appropriately punished.” It’s another to say, “That person stole money and ought to be strung up by his thumbs and horsewhipped.” Unfortunately, people who hurt us and arouse our moral outrage are difficult to love.

Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit” and “the good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good… for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks”. If we want a good gauge for our spiritual health, we need to listen to what we say, not only to other people but also in private about others. Our words reflect our relationship with God as well as with others.
During the season of Lent, may we all take the time to meditate on the word of God and study Scripture, have self-examination, sincerely repent, and be in prayer.

Prayer: Oh God, sometimes it is difficult to love those who have hurt us. May you help us to be merciful and gracious as you are.
Help us to forgive and love our enemies. Amen.