Lessons of Lent

AngelAmidala · #1 13th February 2002, 07:06 PM

I used to do this at the King's Tavern, and I hope that it will be well-received here.

My church hands out a Lenten Devotional, and I would like to share with you the daily readings. Each day I will add a new post to this thread with the day's readings. Fridays I will make a post with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday's readings so if you aren't able to get here on the weekends, you get a chance to do the reading. I hope that you all enjoy this and that the time is very meaningful for you.

Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Repentance - Turn, Turn, Turn

"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." -Joel 2:12

One of the first lessons we learn in Lent is the lesson of repentance. Repentance means turning away from our sins and turning toward our God. Turning away from our sins can be the most difficult task we ever have to face. Sinning is so enticing, so tempting, so exciting, so fun. But sinning is also so deadly. "The wages of sin is death," the Bible says (Romans 6:23). When we
fail to turn away from our sins, the only sure thing we have to look foward to is death. On the flip side, turning toward God and sincerely confessing our sins to him allows us to look forward to a much different future. Forgiveness, grace, hope and everlasting life await those who turn to God. Lent makes us realize that by his dying on the cross for us Christ has made possible this relationship with God and this future of bliss.

Prayer: This Lenten season, help us, O God, to turn to you in faith confessing our sins and receiving your forgiveness, for the sake of Jesus. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #2 14th February 2002, 05:31 PM

Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Repentance - Spiritual Healing

"I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance."
-Luke 5:32

Many of us fail to go to the doctor, even when we know we should. Something inside us (like fear, pride or denial, for instance) stops us from making that appointment and getting the help we need.

The same thing takes place between us and God. We know we should go to Him to repent of our sins, but for some reason (fear, pride or denial, perhaps) we don't. In Luke 5 we read that God's Son, Jesus, came to earth to call all sinners to repentance. He came close so that we would recognize how important it is for us to lay aside our hesitations and lay before our Father all that we have done to disobey His will. The health of our souls depends on it.

Prayer: Oh God, our Great Physician, we come to you as sinners, ready to repent. [Pause for a moment of silent reflection.] Grant us your spiritual healing, made possible to us through the death of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #3 15th February 2002, 07:17 PM

This post will include today's readings plus the ones for Saturday and Sunday.

Friday

Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Repentance - A Life-Saver

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to cmoe to repentance." -2 Peter 3:9

"Patience is a virtue" we often hear. But when it comes to God, patience is much more than a virtue; it is a life-saver. God gives us plenty of time to repent and be saved. God waits and waits for us to repent because he wants us to live with him.

It has been nearly 2,000 years since Jesus died for our sins on the cross. Since that time, people on this earth have had chance after chance to repent. Each day provides us with an opportunity to repent, to change our ways, and live according to the will of God. We are welcomed by our God to take advantage of the times He has granted us to come to Him and be renewed and
restored in our life of faith.

Prayer: You have been so patient with us, O God. Help us this season to waste no time in coming to you to repent and receive the eternal blessings given to us through the blood of your Son. Amen.

Saturday

Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Repentance - Joy In Lent

"Jesus said, 'I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righeous person who need no repentance.'" -Luke 15:7

Lent is a somber and solemn time becaus we are remembering the death of our Savior. But it is a time of great joy as well because of what Christ's death means to each one of us. Like the angels above, we should be rejoicing each time a person recognizes the need to be forgiven by God and then goes to God
for that forgiveness.

For each time this occurs, we can see the power of the cross at work. We can see people's lives being transformed in a positive way because of the salvation Christ won for us. We can see faith being strengthened because Christ has released us from the burden of sin. And we can see the power of the devil, the world and our flesh being diminished with each confession and each commitment to follow Christ.

Prayer: Each time we repent, O Lord, give us joy in the transformation that takes place in us. Amen.

Sunday

Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - Like Sheep Without A Shepherd

"As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." -Mark 6:34

"He had compassion on them." What a comforting sentence for us to hear this Lent. For we also are "like sheep without a shepherd." We often seem to have no direction in our lives, or we are heading in the wrong direction. We find ourselves vulnerable to attacks from our predators. We can be easily confused and frightened.

But our Good Shepherd has come to us with His compassion. He revealed that compassion most strinkingly on the cross. It was there that He poured out His love for us by dying for us so that we might have forgiveness. Because of His cross of compassion, we can look at the many places where He takes us, not as scary places, but as places where we are fed and nourished by our Savior, places where we are loved and cared for, and places where we can share the Good News with the many who are still out there wandering aimlessly, "like sheep without a shepherd."

Prayer: Help us, O Lord, to see how desperately we need your compassion, and help us to look upon others more and more through your eyes of compassion. Keep teaching us many things. Amen.

ZooMom · #4 15th February 2002, 07:20 PM

These are wonderful! Thanks!

AngelAmidala · #5 18th February 2002, 09:27 PM

From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - Reaching Out

"Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched the man. Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured." -Mark 1:41-42

Throughout His time on earth, Jesus did not just feel compassion, he showed compassion. He did not just say to the man with leprosy "My heart goes out to you" and continue on His way. He "reached out and touched the man," the Bible says. He demonstrated his compassion by healing the man of leprosy.

Jesus teaches us that compassion that is merely felt cannot make a difference in other people's lives. But compassion that is shown makes a great deal of difference in the lives of people. This season is a time for us to reach out and not pull back. This is a time for us not to turn inward, but to stretch ourselves outward to others, just as Christ did.

Prayer: O Lord, may our compassion for others not remain bottled up inside, but flow out from us in acts of Christian love. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #6 19th February 2002, 07:06 PM

From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - Just A Little Love

"'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" -Luke 13:7-9

In the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas television special, Linus tells Lucy that a tin, withered tree "just needs a little love." The caretaker in Jesus' parable wants to give his tree just a little love, too, to help it along. Much like that scrawny Charlie Brown Christmas tree and that fig tree in Jesus' parable, we are not producing fruit of the Spirit the way that we should. We are not growing as much as God would want us to. We deserve to be cut down.

Yet Jesus, in his compassion, gives us what we need to be productive plantings of the Lord. He provides us with His Word, which nourishes and strengthens us. He works the soil of our souls to make us more receptive to the presence of God. And he allows himself to be killed so that w might never have to be cut
down because of our sins.

Prayer: O Jesus, our Compassionate Caretaker, we thank you for giving us a fighting chance and for making it possible for us to flourish in our faith. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #7 21st February 2002, 08:29 PM

Um...apparantly I didn't post yesterday when I thought I had. My apologies. This post will have yesterday's reading and today's.

From: Lessons in Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - The Hug Of Love

"So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." -Luke 15:20

Many fathers would have wanted to run up to the Prodigal Son and say, "You idiot!" But the father in this parable didn't. He ran up to his son and gave him a hug. The compassion the father felt for his son was so strong that no wrongdoing could take it away. The compassion that Christ has for us is just as strong. Though we take advantage of his love, though we run away from him time and time again, though we squander what he has given us, he sill loves us and wants to be near us.

He went down the road to Calvary to make his compassion known to us. All we need to do is accept that love and let that love become a part of who we are as sons and daughters of our God.

Prayer: Thank you for never letting our sins diminish your love for us, O Lord. Embrace us with your compassion day by day. Amen.

From: Lessons in Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - Moved By Loss

"When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit." -John 11:33

A close friend dies. The family gathers. Friends and neighbors stop by to give their condolences. We have all been a part of this series of events in one way or another. Imagine if Jesus himself came to pay his respects as well. In the case of the death of Lazarus, he did. When Christ came to visit the grieving in Bethany, his compassion was clearly evident. He felt the pain for
the loss Lazarus' sisters were experiencing. He was so moved by their loss that he did something to reverse what had happened. He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Christ's compassion moved him to reverse what was happening in our lives as well. He saw how sin was destroying our lives, so he sacrificed himself to destroy the power of sin in each one of us. Not only that, but because of what Jesus did, death no longer has the sting it once did. Christ has converted the pain of losing someone into the joy of knowing that our loved ones are safe in heaven with our God.

Prayer: Comfort us in our sorrows, O Lord, with the assurance that eternal life with you awaits. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #8 22nd February 2002, 08:27 PM

The readings for today, tomorrow, and Sunday.

Today
From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - Loving Your Enemies

"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" -Luke 23:34

One of the hardest lessons Jesus spoke to his disciples was this: "Love your enemies." (Matthew 5:44) In our limited way of thinking, we wonder how anyone could actually follow through on that command. Yet we see this command carried out in remarkable fashion by our Savior. While on the cross, he looked upon the people who had put him there and said, "Father, forgive them." His enemies had tried and convicted him, even though he was innocent. Yet he still loved them. His enemies had put a crown of thorns on his head and whipped his back. Yet he still loved them. His enemies had mocked him and spat upon him. Yet he still loved them. His enemies had nailed his hands and feet to two planks of wood. Yet he still loved them.

He still loved them because he knew that they, too, were created by God, and they, too, could be saved through the events that were unfolding on this tiny hill called Calvary.

Prayer: Enlarge our hearts to love even our enemies, O Lord, just as you did. Amen.

Saturday
From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Compassion - Talking To Bandits

"'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" -Luke 23:43-43

On the cross Jesus was engaged in a conversation with a common criminal, a "bandit," according to one Bible translation. Here was someone most people would not really want to get to know. Here was someone who had truly committed a crime and was being punished for it fairly according to the law. Here was
someone we would think Jesus would have nothing to do with. But here was someone who received the greatest measure of Christ's compassion. This bandit would be with him in paradise, Jesus said. It was Christ's compassion that saved this repentant bandit from the fires of hell.

We may not consider ourselves bandits, but in light of God's Law, we are. We have broken commandment after commandment. We have been found guilty of sinning. And we do deserve to die. But Christ remembers us anyway. From the cross he says to each one of us, "You will be with me in paradise." Our conviction under the Law has been overturned by our Savior.

Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, for remembering us even in the midst of our sinfulness, and for making room for us in paradise. Amen.

Sunday
From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Humility - A Lowly Donkey

"See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
-Zechariah 9:9

Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a lowly donkey. That our Savior chose to be carried into Jerusalem by a donkey shows how humble he is. He did not draw attention to himself. It was the people who drew attention to him, laying their garments in his path, waving palm branches, and shouting, "Hosanna!" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Can we follow the example of both Jesus and the crowds as we encounter other people in our lives? Like Jesus, can we enter into situations with less pride in ourselves? And like the crowds, can we start any endeavor by singing praises to the One "who comes in the name of the Lord" - before singing the praises of anyone else?

Prayer: Blessed are you, O Lord. Your entrance into Jerusalem has given us great insights into what it means to be humble. May we give you all the glory for whatever we have been able to accomplish. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #9 25th February 2002, 05:53 PM

From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Humility - Humble Duties

"Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to The Place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)." -John 19:17

Jesus bore the burden of the cross on his shoulders. Carrying the cross was demeaning, painful and hard work, but it was a job that Jesus did anyway. Life presents us with an abundance of jobs we would rather not do, work we often feel is beneath us, not worth our time or effort or energy. The pride inside us says, "Can't someone else do it?" But it is very often the voice of God inside us that says, "You do it!"

That is when we need to set our pride aside and grab hold of whatever task it is that God has asked us to do. Remembering that Jesus humbly carried the cross on our behalf will give us the strength to complete our humble duties for the Lord.

Prayer: O Lord of the cross, inspire us by your humility to do those things that we find difficult. Amen.

AngelAmidala · #10 26th February 2002, 07:51 PM

From: Lessons of Lent
By: Mark Zimmermann
Humility - A Humble Demeanor

"Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." -Matthew 11:29

We learn from Christ how to be gentle and humble. Humble people are those who put the needs of others first. Humble people seek to lift the burdens of others before lifting their own. Humble people provide rest for others before finding rest for themselves.

Learning to be gentle and humble in heart allows us to sharpen our ability to be care-givers as well as care-receivers. Christ has helped us to see that life can become richer when our concern for others supersedes our concern for ourselves.

Prayer: Your gentleness and humility, O Lord, teach us so much about how we should act toward one another. Help us to be just as gentle and humble toward others as you have been to us. Amen.