Tag: lent

John 11:45-57

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            We are moving inexorably toward the cross and Good Friday.  The season of Lent marches on and within a few weeks we will be considering if we were there when they crucified my Lord.  Today’s Gospel lesson chronicles the forward progress to the ultimate suffering and death of Jesus.  Within the Apostle John’s account, two streams run parallel with one another.  There is a group of Jews who observed Jesus, listened to his teaching, saw his miraculous works, and believed in him.  Alongside them is another group of Jews who experienced all the same events and heard all of the same words of Jesus.  Yet, they respond in a very different manner by plotting how Jesus might be arrested and killed.
 
            Caiaphas, the high priest, spoke to his fellow Jewish leaders perhaps without even knowing the truth and deep import of his prophetic words:  “You know nothing at all.  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”  Indeed, not only did Jesus die for the nation of Israel, but on behalf of all nations, and all people. 
 
            Now is the time to begin in earnest a consideration of the cross of Christ.  The implications of his death are magnanimous.  The extent of his atonement for the people includes redemption from the slavery of sin; reconciliation between us and God; satisfaction of God’s wrath against the sin of the world; and, victory over Satan, death, and hell.  March Madness for the Christian is setting aside some significant time for prayer, confession of sin, repentance, contemplation, spiritual conversation with other believers, and fasting as we anticipate the holiest week of the year.
 

 

            Precious Jesus, you endured the machinations of people and the plots of others so that you might face the cross in all of its foulness and degradation.  Enable me to walk with you along the road of suffering.  In doing so, may I know you better and better and know the life that is truly life.  Amen.

2 Chronicles 20:1-22

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            Today’s Old Testament lesson is a wonderful account for the Christian season of Lent.  King Jehoshaphat and Judah were facing the terrible circumstance of war.  They were about to be attacked.  So, the king admitted his fear, sought the Lord for help, and proclaimed a national fast for everyone in Judah.  The king prayed, God answered, and Judah put together a praise team and a worship gathering to go before the army because they believed God was good for his word and would deliver them as he said.
 
            King Jehoshaphat’s prayer was deeply felt and sincere in its belief that God could and would answer.  The meat of the prayer was this:  “O our God we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  Now this is the kind of prayer that God delights to answer!  It was a prayer born of great need and desperation – a prayer upholding the name of God and discerning that unless he showed up, all would be lost.
 
            The foundational basis of all prayer to God is the recognition that we do not know what to do, other than look to the Lord.  We pray because we desperately need God to show up and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  We cry out to God in our affliction and believe that he will hear and save.  Afterwards, we are to stand firm, hold our position, and see the salvation from God on our behalf.  If we need some inspiration for prayer, and find ourselves in need of some faith to believe what God can do, then take the time to carefully and prayerfully read these verses.  Let prayer arise to the God of deliverance, and transform pressure into praise.
 

 

            God Almighty, you rule over all the nations of the earth.  In your hand are power and might, so that none are able to withstand you.  My eyes are fixed on looking for you to act on my behalf so that I might declare that your steadfast love endures forever, through Jesus Christ, my Savior.  Amen.

Psalm 27

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


We are in the Christian season of Lent, which is a time of repentance.  One of the greatest hindrances to repenting and believing is fear.  We reason in our heads that if I was to do the turn-around-thing that something bad or painful will occur.  We feel afraid in our hearts of what will happen if we take a repentant course of action, and we end up doing nothing but being stymied by fear.  
             The answer to fear is a robust faith in God.  The psalmist makes it plain that with attention and focus squarely on God, fear is tamed and exposed as a toothless beast.  “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?  The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?”  Even if embracing repentance leads to a change of life which others, especially family, do not appreciate and they heap abuse upon you, the Lord God Almighty will show you steadfast love and mercy.  “Even if my father and mother forsake me,” said the psalmist, “the LORD will take me in.”
             Getting to know God enables us to persevere with patience instead of scurrying about like scared rabbits.  When we practice repentance and hug faith in the Lord, a settled sense of peace and purpose begin to take hold so that we endure through suffering.  Difficult circumstances will not always be the norm.  “Wait for the LORD, take courage, be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD!”  Praying this psalm repeatedly through the trials of life can help us with faith and patience in those times when words fail us due to fear.
             Hear my voice, Lord God, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.  “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face;” your face, Lord, do I seek!  Do not hide your face from me; do not repel me in anger.  You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my Savior!  Amen.

Philippians 3:2-12

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            I am in the position, as a pastor, of interacting with a wide variety of people.  No matter the age, the station in life, the family background, or the socio/economic situation, the biggest thing I see most people struggle with is letting go of something.  We, as human beings, have this nasty tendency to hold onto things we really need to let go of, and I’m not just talking about hoarders.  We hold onto our anger and nurse it as a grudge; we hold onto our past, as if our pedigree, of lack of it, has to be constantly brought up; we hold onto our bad habits of poor sleep patterns, unhealthy eating, and no time with God to the point that our bodies and our souls break; and, we hold onto our church traditions and our theological thinking with such ferocity that no one can pry them from our cold dead hearts.
 
            If this New Testament lesson from the Apostle Paul tells us anything today it is this:  For God’s sake, let it go!  “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  Paul died to his anger, his past religious zeal, his former theological thinking, his Jewish pedigree, and, quite frankly, everything.  He did it so that he could gain Jesus because Jesus was the highest value for Paul – so valuable that he was willing to die to his former life in order to embrace Christ.
 
            In this season of Lent we are to not only give up chocolate, or fast once a week, or take a break from social media; we are to die.  There cannot be new life without a death.  The death we need is to let go of all the emotional baggage, spiritual crud, and materialistic strivings that have played a more prominent role in our lives than knowing Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  What am I giving up for Lent?  I am going to follow Paul’s example and give up my life.  Will you join me?
 

 

            Blessed Lord Jesus, you are the ultimate value in life.  Help me to beware of people who would seek to draw me away and deplete my soul from this highest priority of knowing you.  I want to know you, the power of your resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in your sufferings so that I can be more like you.  Amen.