Monthly Archives: February 2013

First Sunday of Lent: Resisting the Devil

Readings

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

Romans 10:8b-13

Luke 4:1-13

Devotion

Peace be with you!

The day when the Devil is no longer in the world will be a day of never-ending rejoicing. From the beginning, the Devil has been doing everything in his power to drag us down with him into his doom. The Devil is the one who tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit; he tempted Eve with humanistic needs and with the desires of the world. While it might be easy to blame Eve, we must all admit that we all fall prey to the Devil’s temptation daily .

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Even Jesus could not escape the Devil’s temptation. The Devil visits Jesus after he has fasted for forty days. The Devil is probably thinking, “Ha, I’ve got him now!” However, the Devil does not realize Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1). The Devil tempts Jesus by asking him to turn a stone into bread (Luke 4:3). Jesus is hungry after forty days of fasting, and the Devil tries to use Jesus’ human desire for food to his advantage. The Devil did the same thing when he tempted Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit. He tempted Adam and Eve with the one thing God has forbidden them to eat. Yet Jesus understands that you do not need to eat bread alone to be filled and to have sustenance. Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit, who fulfills all of his needs. You can eat bread and be filled for a few hours, but the Holy Spirit will fill you forever and will sustain you always.

Not giving up, the Devil tempts Jesus again. This time the Devil tempts Jesus with the desire of power: “Fall and worship me; I will give you authority over all the world” (Luke 4:6-7). The human desire for power is strong. We climb the chain of command, hoping to one day to make it to the top. The Devil is appealing to the human desire to have authority and control over others, ideas, and space. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, “No, thank you; I only worship and serve the Lord as it is written in the Ten Commandments” (Luke 4:8). Jesus understands God is more powerful than any one person. God is above all of us, but he uses authority and control only with love, compassion, and grace.

The Devil is not giving up yet. He says, “Jesus, jump from the high mountain and have the angels will save you” (Luke 4:9-11). The Devil tempts Jesus with fame and riches by being infamous. Jesus would be worshipped for being the only man to survive a jump of this magnitude. It would be like a magic trick. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, “Nope, I will not test the Lord”  (Luke 4:12). Jesus understands there is no need to test the Lord; the Lord can always be trusted. Instead of fame and riches, Jesus makes the choice to serve God the Father and to go to the cross for the sake of our sins. Even when Jesus is taunted by onlookers to save himself while hanging on the cross, he still chooses the cross.

Jesus resists the Devil’s temptations of temporary pleasures so he can give us the lasting blessing of eternal life. The cross for our salvation is more important to Jesus than short-lived needs and desires and fame and riches.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for having Jesus resist the Devil’s temptations so that he might give us eternal life instead. Remind us to look towards the new “Promised Land” where we will live and rejoice with your angels. Thank you for the promise of eternal life through the cross and empty tomb. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. In what ways are you tempted to succumb to temporary sinful pleasures rather than holding out for what is eternal?

2. What do you learn from Jesus about resisting temptation?

Second Sunday of Lent: Forgiveness in the Cross

Readings

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Psalm 25

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Luke 13:31-35

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Two years and four months ago, my brother went into rehab for doing drugs. His habit had taken a toll on our family, especially Mom and me since we were the ones who fighting with him to stop. He had stolen hundreds of dollars from of both us and pawned our belongings to feed his addiction. We would kick him out when he went too far. Of course, my mom and I could never see my brother be homeless, so we would have him move in when his friends kicked him out. Each time when he moved back in, my brother would say he stopped doing drugs, but that was never the case. The vicious cycle repeated itself for years.

Two months before going into the rehab, the police caught my brother with drugs and he finally hit rock bottom. My brother made the tough decision to go into rehab, and we all prayed he would be able to break free of his addictions. Within a week of him being in rehab, I sent my brother a letter. I told him that I should hate him, but that I didn’t; I only wanted my brother back. My brother had a long road ahead of him, and I would see him through it.

Jesus is traveling a tough road – the road to the cross. He knows and understands what lies ahead in Jerusalem as he faces his pending beatings, crucifixion, and death at the hands of the Roman Empire. Despite the terrible road ahead, Jesus is prepared. , This is the mission God the Father sent him to complete.

Despite their motives – whether they met to be helpful or not, the Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him (Luke 13:31). This is not news to Jesus. He has known his whole life that Herod is going to have his hand in Jesus’ pending beatings, crucifixion, and death.

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Jesus simply states what he is doing in the moment: casting out demons and performing cures (Luke 13:32). God sent Jesus into the world to share his love and to invite people– even outsiders–to be in a relationship with him. Jesus will go on doing his work until the day he is on the cross, and then he will continue to call people to know God the Father.

Jesus also knows that many prophets have been killed in Jerusalem. Again it makes sense that Herod wants to kill Jesus who understands his pending beatings, crucifixion, and death are for our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. Nothing is more important to Jesus and to God the Father than his love, grace, and forgiveness—even at great cost.

As Christians, we forget the power of forgiveness. We become so accustomed to forgiveness as a free gift that we forget its power. Do you remember the first time someone forgave you? Forgiveness lifts up the weight that holds you down. It lifts away the weight of worrying about [whatever “it” is] that holds you back in life. It lifts the weight of feeling lost in the world of darkness. It lifts the weight of being on the defense when the world got the best of you. It lifts the weight of anger from your shoulders. It lifts the weight of everything that comes between you and the Triune God. Jesus came down to restore our relationship with God the Father by giving us his love, grace, and forgiveness.

My brother has been clean for two years and four months. Recovery is a battle he fights daily, but it helps that his family supports him and forgives him of his past. This helps him to move forward in life as well as giving us back the young man we loved and cared for.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of forgiveness, even when we do not deserve it. Help us to turn to you when the darkness seems to close in on us. Remind us of your light as we seek forgiveness from those who we have hurt. Thank you for your grace, love, and forgiveness. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Who do you need to forgive? Why?

2. What does forgiveness mean to you?

Ash Wednesday: Forgiveness in Dust

 Readings

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Psalm 51:1-17

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Each year during Lent we take six weeks to travel to the cross with Jesus. It seems redundant. Why must we go through the pain of watching Jesus be beaten, crucified, and left to die yet again? Isn’t one time enough?

We are sinners who fall and are raised daily; we sin, confess, and seek forgiveness and absolution daily. We are hypocrites, liars, deceivers, thieves, adulteresses, and transgressors. It is not enough to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem once in our lifetime. Lent gives us the opportunity to focus on our need for a Savior (lest we forget) and experience the full impact of the Good News when Easter arrives again.

Psalm 51 is a prayer King David wrote after he committed adultery and murder. One evening, King David spotted Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop and lust filled his heart(2 Samuel 11). He called his servant to go fetch Bathsheba, even though she was married to Uriah, a soldier in his army. King David took Bathsheba into his bed and got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, King David called Uriah home from the battlefield to see his wife, Bathsheba, hoping Uriah would think he had impregnated her himself. However, out of respect for his soldiers still on the battlefield with no opportunity to see their wives, Uriah slept in King David’s courtyard and did not see his wife before heading back to the battlefield.

Since Uriah did not sleep with Bathsheba, King David feared being discovered as the real father of Bathsheba’s baby. With no way to pretend the babe in her womb was Uriah’s, King David sent him to the frontline where he was killed in battle. After Bathsheba had grieved the loss of her husband, King David took her as his wife. The prophet Nathan confronted King David with his sins, and David repented before the Lord. Unfortunately, sin does have its consequences; the baby died soon after birth and the Lord promised a rebellion would happen within David’s household.

 

King David gives us an example of how we live in the darkness and need to continually confess our sins, so God may recreate us. We fall to Satan’s temptations every day, but if we confess and repent of our sins, God will cleanse us through Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Jesus’ work for us on the cross means grace and forgiveness for our daily lives. Like King David, we are sinners, but we are forgiven when we confess.

Lent gives us the opportunity to be cleansed by the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We are able to set time aside for reflection and confession as we look forward to the Good News of Easter.

You are dust and to dust you shall return.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for allowing us to confess our sins and to seek forgiveness. Help us to reflect on our daily lives. Open our hearts as we confess our sins– even the painful ones that we do not feel deserve forgiveness. Recreate new hearts within us, so we can go out into the world to share the Good News. Thank you for the promise of Easter. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Spend time in confession with a friend. What sins weigh on your heart? Hear God’s word of forgiveness through your friend.

2. What practices do you find helpful to your faith during Lent?

Transfiguration Sunday: Jesus Glows; We Glow

Readings

Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm 99

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Peter is excited beyond belief when he sees Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah – two of the greatest figures in the Torah. He is so excited that he wants to build three shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (Luke 9:33) to live in as a way to preserve the moment. Three of the greatest men who lived were all-together for a moment in time. Who would not want to preserve the moment?

At some point in our lives, we all have moments where after a long day we close our lives and relive the happiness. These are the moments where the thought of them puts a giant smile on our face, makes our hearts beat faster, and is noticed by everyone who sees us. We wish time could have stood still in that moment.

However, Jesus experiences the moment drastically different than Peter. The anguish of the conversation about his departure from the world (Luke 9:30) weighs Jesus down in the coming weeks, although Jesus’ appearance changed when he was with Moses and Elijah. The glory becomes apparent on Jesus’ face as well as his dazzling white clothes (Luke 9:29). Jesus understands the moment needs to pass and the scriptures need to be fulfilled. As Jesus is praying, Moses and Elijah come to Jesus to discuss his departure from the world (Luke 9:30-31). Jesus is praying for guidance from the ones who have gone before him as he begins the end of the beginning. It is a moment Jesus probably relives in his mind several times during his journey to Jerusalem, although it is not a pleasant conversation with Moses and Elijah by any standards.

Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah gives him the armor to go on the journey to Jerusalem. He glows, like Moses does after he sees the Lord (Luke 9:29). Unlike Moses, Jesus does not cover his face; he wants all who see him to witness the change in him as the Lord claims him as his son.

When Peter suggests build three huts for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, a voice from the clouds said, “No, this is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35). Peter has earthy ideas where he wants nothing more than to share this glorious moment with others. However, the Lord has other plans for Jesus, his son and chosen one. The Lord has an even larger glorious moment coming that the whole world will witness and take part in. Unfortunately, it will involve pain and anguish to get there, yet it will change our lives forever.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for letting us witness this glorious moment in Jesus’ ministry. Help us to come face-to-face with you to hear your plan for us. Allow us to glow in order to share your glory with others. Remind us to listen to Jesus and to follow his instructions. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to lead us to Jerusalem. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Discuss a memory that always causes you to smile.

2. How do you glow in the world?

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany: Welcoming All Those People

Readings

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Psalm 71:1-6

1 Corinthians 13:1-14

Luke 4:21-30

Devotion

Peace be with you!

There are certain days that are supposed to be all about you – your birthday, your wedding day, your graduation day, and so on. These are the days when people are supposed to celebrate what you have achieved and new beginnings. What happens when other individuals take over the spot light?

The Jews had their ideas of what the Messiah would do and how he would speak. The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would free them from the Roman Empire and would take them back to the Promise Land. The Jews thought Jesus would lead them into the “Promise Land” where they would be free of the Roman Empire.

Jesus is in his hometown, Nazareth, where he just taught in the synagogue from the book of Isaiah. We discussed last week how Jesus reads the job description of the Messiah: to release captives, to give the blind sight, and to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18b). The Jews do not agree with this job description.

Jesus goes on to explain how Elijah was not sent for everyone but a few chosen people. God sent Elijah to widow at Zarephath in Sidon and a leper named Naaman the Syrian who he helped through difficult times (Luke 4:26-27). There was a select few who Elijah was lead by God the Father to help and heal. This exclamation outraged the Jews who were listening, and they plotted against Jesus to kill him (Luke 4:28-29). How could Jesus speak out against Elijah? Elijah is our prophet who the Lord sent to us to save us.

Jesus escapes the angry crowd (Luke 4:30) by going on his way. However, Jesus chose to lift up the widow and the leper to tell the people God sent him into the world for the outsiders – the ones who are not welcomed in town and live on the outskirts. Jesus is not in the world who have faith in the Lord – he is but his ministry is for more people than God’s chosen people. Jesus comes into the world for the broken hearted – the ones left behind.

When Jesus preaches this message, the Jews, his neighbors, reject his teaching. His neighbors had high hopes for Jesus as a preacher, but this message goes against everything they believe. The Jews are God’s chosen people. In their mind, no way is God opening his arms to the non-Jews, the Gentiles, the Samaritans, and the other outsiders. The Lord would never want impure people mixed with his chosen ones. The Jews cannot accept Jesus’ teachings about welcoming the stranger.

Yet this does not stop Jesus from going into the world and preaching the good news: the stranger is welcome in the Kingdom of God. His hometown neighbors may not be able to accept the good news, but the world will hear it and the stranger will be invited. Jesus will go out into the world and have conversations with the Samaritan woman, the Gentiles, the blind, the lepers, the crippled, the hungry, the poor, the prostitutes,  and so on, because they are welcomed into the Kingdom of God.

The good news is for us today as much as it was for the people two thousand years ago. We, the Gentiles, are welcomed into the Kingdom of God. By “we”, I mean the sinners, the unbelievers, the poor, the lost, the blind, the crippled, the drug addicts, the strippers, the bullies, the confused, and so on. We are all welcomed into the Kingdom of God, not because we have earned it by any means but because God loves us so much that he wants to be in a relationship with each one of us.

At different times in my life, people have asked me, “How can you hang out with that person?”  The reason is simple: Jesus did and would hang with those people. I may not be the most comfortable around some people, but Jesus calls me to share the good news with all people, not just those like myself.

A few months ago I talked about my friend, Geoff, with tattoos covering his whole body. When I first met him, I did not want my mom to meet Geoff because of his colorful language and different views of the world. Given the chance now, I would be happy to introduce Geoff to my mom, because he is a child of God who Jesus would not ignore.  Why should I ignore him or hide him from my world? The world is filled with individuals who make us uncomfortable, but Jesus calls us to share the good news with anyone who is willing to listen because it is for everyone.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for exceeding the Jews’ expectations by inviting us, the Gentiles, into your kingdom. Help us to understand that the good news is not for a select few but for all people. Show us the way to continue to invite the stranger into a relationship with you and into your kingdom. Push us out of our comfort zone, so we can share the good news with all people.  Thank you for sharing the good news with us. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. What do you expect to be all about you?

2. What expectations do you have about the Messiah?

3. CHALLENGE: Talk to someone who makes you a little uncomfortable. What are your expectations of the conversation? What really happened?