Lenten Reflection for Day 30
Date: Tuesday April 12, 2011
Author: Elaine Day
Bible Passage:
Ephesians 6:18 (NRSV)
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Reflection:
In the verses preceding 6:18, God’s people are told to be ready to stand against the wiles of the devil by putting on the “armor of God” which is truth, righteousness, a willingness to announce the Good News of peace, faith and salvation. In order to do this we must pray continually for God’s help.
One of my favorite hymns is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. It is such a comfort to have the privilege to take my burdens to God in prayer. I frequently find myself praying for my personal needs and the needs of loved ones and friends. Less frequently, do I find myself praying for the attributes described in Ephesians which would make me a more faithful disciple who is able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Yet Ephesians 6:18 says to do so not only for myself but for all God’s people and at all times.
It is not easy to “walk the walk” but by seeking help from God through prayer, I can strive to do better.
Prayer:
Lord, God, thank you for your precious Word. Help us to seek truth and righteousness. Help us to announce the Good News of Peace. Increase our faith and acceptance of our salvation. These things we pray for ourselves and for all God’s people. Amen
Lenten Reflection for Day 31
Date: Wednesday April 13, 2011
Author: Howard Shaffer
Bible Passage:
James 5:15–16 (NRSV)
15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
Reflection:
I've always liked the book of James, because of his directness and common sense. James saying we must have good works has caused difficulty in understanding. At first, some see it as meaning we are saved by works, not by faith. The opposite is true. We are saved by faith in God's grace alone. But James, Paul, Jesus and Martin Luther all mean the same thing. God and your fellow human beings know what you really believe; its what you do! Jesus said "They will know you are my disciples by how you love one another." Martin Luther said "You are saved by faith alone, but if faith is alone, it is not faith."
James reemphasizes Jesus command to pray in all things.
Prayer:
God help us to remember to pray about all things, at all times, in all places, having faith that you are always there for us.
Lenten Reflection for Day 32
Date: Thursday April 14, 2011
Author: Mike Michaels
Bible Passage:
1 Samuel 12:23 (NRSV)
23 Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
Reflection:
Although this passage was written way before Jesus came to us to teach us “to forgive and forgive and forgive yet again,” it seems that our Father in heaven, the Lord God Almighty, had been doing just this same thing for his chosen people, Israel, for a long, long time. When the people of Israel turned away from God, to join in worshiping golden calves or other false idols, the true God would always warn them by means of a prophet; then when they were sufficiently convinced of the error of their ways, and begged God’s forgiveness, He would do so, again and again.
At this point in their history, the people of Israel had once again gone soft in their faith in the Almighty God (who had delivered them countless times past) and had now asked for a human King to lead them. It was Samuel’s job to address them and to warn them, as he was stepping aside for their new King to take control, that they and their new king had better stay on the straight and narrow path of God’s law.
Samuel promised to continue to pray for them, but in the same breath he admonished them that if they strayed again, The True God would certainly punish both them and their new king with destruction.
As much as God wanted His people to live up to His expectations and His righteous laws for them, and as much as He continued to discipline them severely when they strayed, it remains clear throughout the history of Israel, that God would much rather forgive them over and over, than to forsake and destroy his people forever.
Maybe it was a foreshadowing of the love that His Son, Jesus, would show to us who follow Him…forgiving us over and over again, no matter how many times we seem to screw up and then beg His forgiveness once more. He always seems to be able to do this, and go forward with us, rather than forsake us to eternal destruction. What an incredible gift we have in this.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your unending forgiveness. We thank you for the provisions you have made for everything we have, ever have had, or ever will have. In Jesus’ name; Amen.
Lenten Reflection for Day 33
Date: Friday April 15, 2011
Author: Dan Affeldt
Bible Passage:
Romans 12:4–5 (NRSV)
4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
Reflection:
Bonhoeffer’s insight to this passage is powerful and at the same time daunting. He considers the physical body as;
“. . the appropriate metaphor for the Christian community. Every member serves the whole body, contributing either to its health or to its ruin, for we are members of one body not only when we want to be, but in our whole existence.”
Think about how we express the state our own bodies. We do not say my back is sick, nor do we say that only one isolated part of my body has the flu. We say “I am sick”, or “I do not feel well” or “I feel awful”. Conversely if we feel good, healthy, energized, and focused this is a statement about our whole being.
So it follows that if we, the community as the one body in Christ, have a member [a part of our “body”] who has shared freely the love of Christ so have we all in some regard since we are a part of the same Body in Christ. The same is true if any have sinned, are ailing spiritually or physically, are desperate or lonely, or are holding desperate and painful secrets that in some way this is shared by all of us.
Thus each of us with so many different “functions” as cited in Paul’s letter to the Romans, has the potential to be a part of healing and restoring our shared “Body” back to health through our individual acts of sharing, kindness and compassion. All of this is made possible through the freely given love of Christ and our willingness to act as His Disciple.
Prayer:
Lord, we look to the past with complete gratitude for the profound gift of your Grace, which allows us to look to the future with hope. The gift of our community is so evident, with friends all about us with so many special gifts to share.
We know nothing does itself, hunger doesn’t stop itself, healing treatments don’t administer themselves, projects for service don’t plan themselves, our forgiveness and compassion for others don’t offer themselves on their own. Someone has to do everything that is done, make everything that is made, and think everything that is thought.
We know the next move is always up to us.
Let us be fair and kind to those in our life’s path this and every day. Inspire us so that we may labor for things beyond ourselves, so that our lives may be dedicated to you. Make us unafraid of hopes and dreams; release us from cynicism and despair. Teach us to be realistic about our limitations but never to lose trust in our potential to transcend them.
Keep clear to us the blessings of the past and the promise of the future. Grant us courage for today and tomorrow.
Date: Saturday April 16, 2011
Author: John Harris
Bible Passage:
Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)
29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
Reflection:
The great wartime British prime minister, Winston Churchill, was a man of strong opinions and a great letter writer. When he was angry at fellow politicians, often times it was our own President Roosevelt, he would fire off an angry missive telling the offending leader just what he thought of him. Sir Winston would then proceed to throw that letter in the trash and write a more conciliatory and “diplomatic” letter.
Locally, in the past few days, we have seen some of our state representatives lash out at opponents in some “graceless” and ill advised Facebook comments that definitely did not “give grace to those who hear.” Later, if the newspapers are to be believed, these individuals have appeared to be apologetic for their harsh words. Of course, as Christians, Paul holds us to a higher standard. His advice is never ever talk or write about a fellow believer to another believer or a third party. If a Christian has an issue with a fellow Christian, you speak to them personally and in private. The Church is no place for secrecy and gossip. Rather, the Christian Community is a place were we build each other up, affirm one another, and when our sinful natures come into conflict, we listen to each other first, and then seek solutions.
Perhaps we all should emulate Sir Winston. Next time you find yourself in conflict with a member of the Christian Community, write down your feelings in a letter or an e-mail. Then, throw the letter in the trash or hit the delete button on the computer. Grab the phone, call the person up and invite them out for coffee. Most importantly, listen to what they have to say and be conscious of any “evil talk” emanating from our own mouths.
Prayer:
Lord, we live in a world that thrives on secrecy, rumor and gossip. Through your abundant grace, you have given us the means to listen and to respond to the needs of our neighbors, both within our Christian Community and in the greater world. Help us to be agents fro building up and affirming all our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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