FOURTH SUNDAY

As you read this, I am away for the weekend.  I left on Friday to go camping with some Christian friends.  Tonight I will be coming back to church to preach at the 6PM service.  Let’s hope by the time this post publishes I know what I am going to say. :-)

One of the things I like about the campsite where we are going (already are when you read this) is the fact that it is so quiet.  We are miles from anywhere, and it is just so peaceful.  In the past I have gotten a lot of writing done there, and this year I hope to get some journaling done. 

GOD speaks to us in the silences I think.  But only if we open our ears.  He has so much to say to us, and Lent is an ideal time to open ourselves up to hear it, yet we often spend the whole time making noise. 

So be still, and know that he is GOD.

And let him talk to you today.

Day 22 - Integrity

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
(Romans 12:17)

There’s a lot to this one.

 

Be careful….

It’s not just going to happen.  We need to take care, and make it our purpose to do what is right.

Do what is right…

Simple, but not easy.  Not right-ish.  Not right appearing.  Not almost right.  Do what IS RIGHT!

 

In the eyes…

1. Don’t just do what you think is right.  Do what everyone thinks is right. 

2. Let others see.  I know we are told to do our good works in secret, so that we can be rewarded.  But if we are going to let people see us do anything, let it rather be good works than bad.  Let them judge us all by these actions, not just us.

 

… of everybody.

They are all watching you.  Don’t be afraid to stand by your belief, and do what is right – even if it isn’t popular.

Day 21 - Confidence

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Really?

So what are we worried about?

 

What are we saying “I can’t do that.” about today?

 

Because it’s time to stop leaning on our own strength and understanding, and JUST DO IT. 

Day 20 : Denial

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

So much for prosperity Gospel.

Jesus never promised us Heaven on Earth – why would he?  We have the real thing waiting for us.  Instead he warned us that life would be hard.

Today we are on day 20 of our 40 days of lent – assuming you are counting the same way I am – and are half-way through.  20 down, 20 to go. 

We have spent the last three weeks focused on denying ourselves, so I thought today would be a good time to remind ourselves why. 

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily.  He didn’t say we need to seek out crosses, but the world will provide us with more than enough.  During lent particularly, we deny ourselves, not for our own sake or glory, but so that we can follow in his way.  The way of the cross.

Day 19 - Revelation

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” (Ephesians 1:17-18)

 

Open the eyes of our heart Lord!

Day 18 - Reliability

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Can I be trusted?  Completely?

It is a hard spirit to develop, because we cannot develop it until we are faced with the temptation not to be faithful.  And we see every day how people fail when tested.  The news is full of it.

But it all starts with the little things.

It’s easier to avoid the temptation to cheat on your taxes, or your spouse, if you make sure you never cheat at cards.

It’s easier to never steal money from your work if you make sure you never steal paperclips.

It’s easier to always obey the law if you’ve never gone through a red robot.

 

So today, I will start at the bottom, and work my way up.

Day 17 – Holiness

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Probably one of the simplest ideas we will be looking at this month, but also one of the hardest.  To have a spirit of Holiness, to become Christ-like.

“Be holy, because I am holy.”

How??????

Does He really know how HARD that is?  I mean, really?

Of course.  HE knows exactly how hard it is.  And He also knows we can do it.

It tells us not to conform any longer to our old ways, so I guess it also means we need to be finding new ways to conform to.  If we want to be holy, we need to look at our behaviour, and try to make it more Christ-like. 

What Would Jesus Do?

A useful sentiment, but I think a way to apply it today would be to stop every so often, and ask: “What would I be doing if Jesus were here with me?”

Would I be watching this movie?  Would I be having this conversation?  Would I be watching TV while my wife washed up?

We might not know what Jesus would do, but I think we can guess what he would want us to do.