Lenten Reflection: Good Friday

A Blessed Good Friday to you. But what exactly makes Good Friday "good"? True, it is a day of great sadness as it is the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified and died. But his death brought more than tears... it brought fulfillment to a promise that was made thousands of years ago. God made good on His word. And that rescue plan that was hatched in the Garden of Eden was acted out on Calvary's hill. And with that, redemption came to us all. And yes, it came at a great price... but it was willing paid in full by God's love and Jesus' ultimate act of sacrifice. It was on Good Friday that Christ bought our freedom from sin, death, and the power of the devil.... bought not with silver, gold or credit cards, but with his blood, the blood of the Lamb. And that is why Good Friday is "good".

So, "Glory to one, God's murdered Son, who paid for my resurrection."

Lenten Reflection: Second Sunday

Read and reflect on the following passage from Matthew 7:3-5...

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

It is during this season of Lent that we turn inwards to examine ourselves just as Jesus did during his forty days in the desert. When we take the time to look at ourselves and see our own flaws, we come to realize that often we notice others’ imperfections and mistakes but overlook our own. It is important to remember that we should not judge others for what they do because we... just like them and the rest of the world... are not without sin and in need of a Savior. In this passage, Jesus emphasized that in order to see clearly enough to remove the speck in our brother or sister’s eye we must first remove the plank from our own. And in doing so, our distorted and judgmental view becomes clearer, allowing us to see the forgiveness and grace that abounds through God’s love.

Do you typically judge others? If so, what criteria do you use? What is your judgment based on?

When you look inwardly at yourself, what “planks” need to be removed?

Jesus forgives our flaws with love and compassion. How can you, in your everyday life, follow his example?

Spend some quiet time with God in prayer.

Lenten Reflection: First Sunday

Read and reflect on the following passage from Psalm 139:23-24...

Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Far too often we attempt to take on the pressures of everyday life ourselves... and sooner or later, those pressures and anxieties get the best of us. In this passage we not only ask God to peek at what’s on our hearts and minds, but also to test us. And God does test us, everyday, but with His testing comes something great. We come out stronger and more prepared for what’s just down the road and anything else God has in store for us. When we put our full faith and trust in God, He will lead us to an everlasting way of life. Sometimes it just takes a leap of faith, knowing that His loving arms are there to catch you if you fall.

How often do you try to take on the pressures of everyday life yourself? How does it turn out?

Have you ever tried giving all your worries and thoughts to God? How did that turn out?

What is it that you are anxious about right now? How might turning those things over to God benefit you?

Spend some quiet time with God in prayer saying, “God you know me. You know what’s best for me. Do your work in me and lead me where I should go. Amen.”

Lenten Reflection: Ash Wednesday

Read and reflect on the following passage from Matthew 4:1-11...

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” Jesus told him, “Get away from me, Satan. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Lent is a 40 day season of preparation leading up to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. It begins today, Ash Wednesday... a day marked by confession of sin and commitment to repentance. We too are called out during these 40 days to own up to our mistakes and poor choices, to remove temptations, and to prepare our hearts for the journey ahead.

What sins do you need to confess?

What temptations do you need to run from?

What things can you remove from your life to allow more space for God?

Spend some quiet time with God in prayer.