2023 Holy Monday “

Matthew 21:18-22

JESUS CURSES A FIG TREE

¹⁸ Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. ²⁰ When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Building upon 40 Days of Devotion we begin Holy Week. After 40 days of sacrifice, and repentance we are now faced with the prospect of an even more difficult task. Some might say we come out of the frying pan and jumped right into the skillet. Yesterday we had a moment to exhale, to celebrate. Palm Sunday reminded us that every now and then people get it right. Jesus enters humbly into Jerusalem but he is welcomed like the King he is. The people greet him with shouts of save us and blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. For just a moment it seems like things are going to get better. Still Jesus did not get caught up in the hype. Instead of relying on the emotions of the people to dictate his future actions, Jesus continue his pursuit to the cross. Jesus chooses the Hope of eternity over the hype of humanity.

Our text begins the next morning. After the hoopla of yesterday Jesus is on his way back to the city and sees a fig tree. Upon seeing the tree there is the expectation there would be figs on the tree. Jesus is hungry and is anticipating a breakfast of figs and fellowship. What he finds is an empty tree. Looks good but producing nothing. How often are we like this fig tree. We look good on the outside, we have our bibles, and we have memorized some key verses. We know “church talk” and can be seen in some of the “right” places. But upon closer inspection, we are full of sound and fury signifying nothing. There is no substance to us. Far too often we focus on our shell and neglect our soul. Jesus expects fruit and finds fakery. He then utters what I sense to be a scary utterance. Jesus says “may you never bear fruit again”. Wow and owww. The first law GOD gave creation was be fruitful and multiple. For Jesus to say be no more fruitful is to take away its purpose. Immediately the tree withers. Life without purpose is death. When I read this I can imagine what it would be like if all hope were gone. Even further when I read this I sense Jesus challenging us on being true to fulfilling our purpose. We are called to do more than look good and talk the talk. When we are fig trees in a world that is hungry, we are intended to bear fruit. Not just leaves, but fruit.

Jesus challenges us on bearing fruit and also uses this experience as a teaching moment for the disciples. Jesus replied to the disciples amazement by saying, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” When we pray we are exposed to an unlimited supply of power. Jesus helps us to unlock a treasure of incalculable value. Faith without doubt. The power is not in the praise of people but in the presence of GOD.

Today I am encouraged to be intentional about bearing fruit. The hype of should should not dictate the life we live. Beyond the hype, the work for the kingdom must still be done. Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap a harvest i we faint not. #livebig

POint to Ponder: How will You choose hope over hype? Who have you hyped up only to find they disappointed you? Would you rather be loved for people pleasing  or respected for telling it like it is?

Lent 2023 Day 39 “Amazed or Afraid”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2031:9-16;%20Lamentations%203:55-66;%20Mark%2010:32-34

Mark 10:32-34  (NIV)

³² They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Amazed or Afraid

Walking into unknown territory can be overwhelming. There are some days and weeks when we have reasonable assurance that we will need the fullness of our awareness to successfully navigate the path. When the odds we face are unfavorable and there are no guarantees we live through it we must choose a response. Very much like soldiers going into a battle knowing the opponent has a larger army, more weapons, and maybe even more skilled warriors, the soldier has to choose. Will I walk in fear of a fatal outcome or active anticipation of deliverance. Will we be amazed and actively seek the presence of YHWH or will we be afraid?

Our text from Mark’s gospel is drawn from Jesus’ declaration to the disciples and others following him that the week ahead was going to be rough. Jesus is preparing the disciples for his betrayal, condemnation, and death. That is as you can imagine hard to hear. It’s hard to know that someone you love may have to suffer. It is troubling to hear someone who you have seen do miracles and a multitude of marvelous deeds say I am about to go through the crucible of the crucifixion and there’s nothing YOU can do. Even worse is this devastating outcome is going to be led by his own people. It will be the chief priests and teachers of the law. The people who should know better will not behave better. How disappointing. Yet this is not all that’s in the text. Jesus does not just prepare them for the disaster he also prepares them for the delight. Jesus says its gonna be rough and then its gonna be better. Jesus speaks of the third day. Jesus says I will be down but I will not be out. I will be betrayed but I will not betray. I will be hated on but I will not hate. I will be condemned but I will rise above it. Three days later I’ll rise. There is pain ahead but in the end, we win.

This is the last day of Lent and tomorrow begins Passion week. We have walked daily and I will write through Holy Week ahead. I realize there are challenging days ahead and I also remind you, they will not last forever. It may get rough and loved ones may die, still to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD. Be encouraged, Death could not hold Jesus down, he is the Risen King.

Point to Ponder: The days ahead may be filled with uncertainty. Will you be amazed and look for life in the midst of death or will you be afraid? Can YOU see YHWH in our midst? Be alert.

Lent 2023 Day 38 “Ride or Day”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2031:9-16;%20Job%2013:13-19;%20Philippians%201:21-30

Job 13:13-19  (NIV)

¹³ “Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.
¹⁴ Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?
¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely^[a] defend my ways to his face.
¹⁶ Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!
¹⁷ Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.
¹⁸ Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.
¹⁹ Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.

Ride or Die

“Life’s not fair”. These are the first spoken words in the classic film The Lion King. Scar seems to believe he has been wronged by the universe. Have YOU ever felt like Scar? Have YOU ever gone through a tough time and YOUR friends with good intentions found ways to get on your last borrowed nerve? Has life ever challenged you to the core of your very soul and caused you to reexamine your views on just about everything. Have YOU ever had to express the courage of your convictions despite visual evidence to the contrary? In short, have you ever had to determine what it is that you believe so strongly that you will ride with it even if it means you die from it?

Our text from Job comes at a critical point in Job’s journey. With his body racked in pain and his family all dead, his friends have been carrying on a dialog that ends in him being blamed for his troubles. Job seems to be fed up and responds, “Keep silent and let me speak”. Earlier he has said to his friends, “If only you would be altogether silent! That for you would be wisdom.” Now the challenges Job faced were real and his friends like many of us equate being blessed with having a reduction of struggle. We believe that good things happen to good people and when bad things happen we must have done something wrong. This is logical but not always true. To know the whole story of Job is to know Job was blameless and yet he was afflicted on every level. The response here is epic. Job says, ¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Job is saying in effect no matter what happens to me I’m ride or die with YHWH. Job says even if I die, I will not lose hope. Job would rather die with hope than live in despair. Friends, Job is confident that he has done no wrong and if he has he is willing to be accountable if only YHWH would tell him his offense. This text from Job speaks to an attitude we can approach the challenges we face. No matter the outcome, living with hope increases your chance for survival. Hope says it will be alright in this realm or the next. Hope says we will pick up the pieces when this is all over. Hope says we are going to make it, somehow, someway.

As Lent draws to an end, the season of struggle will remain. The hope is that times of reflection and consecration enhance our ability to walk by faith. The journey of Lent like the 40 days of Jesus in the wilderness will present temptations to overcome and grace to guide us. To be ride or die for YHWH is to be all in, and I am convinced trouble don’t last always.

Points to Ponder: How are YOU dealing with the your challenges? What are your fears? What inspires you to be ride or die?

Lent 2023 Day 37 “Deliver Me”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2031:9-16;%201%20Samuel%2016:11-13;%20Philippians%201:1-11

Psalm 31:9-16

⁹ Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief. ¹⁰ My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
¹¹ Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. ¹² I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. ¹³ For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life. ¹⁴ But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” ¹⁵ My times are in your hands;   deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. ¹⁶ Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

                                                                   Deliver Us

Have you ever been Under Attack? Have you ever lived life and Everything seemed “complicated”? Your best intentions and efforts are met with a snicker or a sneer. YOU smile and the response is a stare. YOU work overtime for underpay and everybody acts like that is what YOU were supposed to do. Life is filled with a constant barrage of Being under attack and that is frustrating. People are “going through” and looking for answers. We need a deliverer to deliver us from this turmoil we are in.

The writer in Psalm 31 is under attack. The whole Psalm is pointing to getting help from GOD. The writer speaks of rescue, refuge, and resilience. The writer, like us, is experiencing challenges and simply wants it to be over soon. feeling unjustly attacked,  the writer calls on GOD to come quickly and rescue him from the shenanigans of shame. The writer exclaims, ^{9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.}  The writer is in turmoil. The pain is evident and those who read this text can read and identify. With mass shootings, recovering from a pandemic, and increased mental health challenges, people are crying out, “LORD have mercy”. Like the Psalmist many of us are at wits end begging YHWH to cut us some slack and grant us relief. Whereas there are those who are playing the blame game I encourage you to know blame never fixed anything in the moment. Deal with the situation. Deal with YOUR feelings. As long as we can blame somebody else and ask GOD for help to defeat an enemy, we can easily overlook the enemy and the friend of me in the inner me.

Lent provides us an opportunity to be introspective and identify how we may be complicit in our own struggles and also take back our power by being honest with ourselves. YHWH already knows all there is to know about us so the only deception is of ourselves. Take the time today to look deep and ask GOD to deliver us from evil and shine down the light of endless love upon us. Friends we need mercy, grace, and and a whole lot of love.

Point to Ponder: How are you feeling. How are you dealing? What did you do today that you can celebrate?  What can we do to identify our traps and blind spots in our faith?

Lent 2023 Day 36 “Upgrade”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20146;%20Isaiah%2060:17-22;%20Matthew%209:27-34

Isaiah 60:15-22

¹⁵ “Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. ¹⁶ You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. ¹⁷ Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. ¹⁸ No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. ¹⁹ The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. ²⁰ Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. ²¹ Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. ²² The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

Upgrade

Your phone is slowing down and the battery is dying faster. Your car has a new muffler you call, a louder radio volume. Your shoes have holes where once there were soles. You are going through the motions Sunday after Sunday, day after day but no new revelation for elevation has come your way in longer than you can remember. In each of these scenarios, I contend you may be in need of an upgrade. The time has come to address the situation and let go of that favorite shirt that started black and has faded to grey. The old ways which served you well, have now stopped yielding any increase. It feels like you are running in mud on a merry go round. You feel let down, forgotten, and blah.

Isaiah 60 addresses this feeling. The Israelites have been through exile and have returned to a mess. They look at their situation and get depressed all over again. Everywhere they look they see remnants of what was and is no more. The prophet communicates from GOD a message of hope. This hope and vision is of an upgrade. GOD says in verse 17: “Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler.” When I read this I am challenged not to downsize my dreams to the depths of my dilemmas. I am challenged to believe that my opportunities can overwhelm my obstacles. Hope is a contagious thing. When we have hope it filters through our whole being. We see launch pads where once there were landing strips. We see gold where once we saw bronze. We see bronze where once we saw wood. This message is for every person who is feeling down, falling down,  or fearing disaster. Lift up your head, steady your spine and believe that the creator of the universe has no limits or boundaries. Just because you have fasted and prayed and you see no results, remember that words are like seeds, They grow down before they grow up. The deeper the root the better the fruit.

Lent is a season of an upgrade. As we are intentional about our spiritual journey we are able to see areas of our life that are in disrepair. We acknowledge our fragile moments have fractured our faith and we are accountable. This Lent, GOD is saying to each of us through Jesus, I am the light of the world. You may have been in darkness, unable to see, but if you follow you will never be in darkness again. Follow me and I will give you hope. Follow me and you can have inner peace. Follow me and you will be inundated with light.

Points to Ponder: You are the light of the world, how are you shining? In what areas of your life are you in need of an upgrade? What does it mean to be a child of GOD and what are your responsibilities?

Lent 2023 Day 35 “Before and After”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20143;%202%20Kings%204:18-37;%20Ephesians%202:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10 

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Before and After Grace

Scanning through social media I came across a picture labeled before and after. The picture showed the contrast between the persons size before and after their decision to embrace a more healthy lifestyle. As you can imagine the contrast was startling. The person had lost almost 60 pounds. Quite an achievement. The question that could be asked is what was the turning point? What made them stick to the plan and eat and exercise when sleep and slumber would have been easier. That same contrast can be observed in the life of a person who walks with Jesus. In the believers’ life there should be a before and after picture that shows the contrast between before and after grace.

The writer of Ephesians either Paul or his protege directs our attention to life before grace. Before grace, the writer say we were dead people walking in our transgressions and sins. In other words, we were caught up in an unproductive deathstyle. We were not alone. Living to satisfy our natural desires like misery loves company. When we walked that path we grew a crowd. Before grace, we were destined for wrath and destruction. We were self-consumed and selfish. We clung to a life of me first and fulfill every thirst. And then came grace. Grace, the writer says was initiated by the love of GOD and transforms us from a “deathstyle” to a lifestyle. We were once dead in sin and we became alive in Christ. Grace comes on the scene and is given to us before we started walking with GOD. Grace was the invitation to come alive. Grace sees the best in the midst of the mess in us. Grace is given not earned because if we thought we could earn it we might also think we could deserve it. There was nothing the reader could do to validate the opportunity to come alive and thrive. Grace was given without merit so that we could not boast but so that we could believe and be better for ourselves and others.

Nearing the end of the Lenten season the question is what will our before and after picture look like? Will there be any evidence of the residence of GOD in our life? Will we be more loving or patient or playful? Will our light shine brighter and our load be lighter? I encourage you today to walk with GOD and make sure we leave this experience with GOD refreshed, renewed, and restored.

Points to Ponder: How Will you be different after Lent? Will the contrast be visible to others? Are you excited to present the new you?

Lent 2023 Day 34 “Crying Out”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20143;%201%20Kings%2017:17-24;%20Acts%2020:7-12

Psalm 143

¹ Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. ² Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous before you. ³ The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. ⁴ So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. ⁵ I remember the days of long ago;
    I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. ⁶ I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.^{[a] 7} Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. ⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.¹⁰ Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. ¹¹ For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. ¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Crying Out

Moment by moment, day after day, life can start to wear us down. The constant barrage of obstacles and missed opportunities start to pile up. We realize we need help because we are experiencing more life than we think we can handle. Trapped in this vortex we cry out to the GOD of the Universe, “Hear my prayer oh LORD, and listen to my cry for mercy. This cry is not from our head but from a place deep within our heart. Listen LORD, Listen LORD, LISTEN LORD!!!! We cry like a child calling their parent when they want their way. We cry out ultimately because there is no other help we know.

This cry is the core of this Psalmist. The writer is going through. He is feeling chased, crushed and on the verge of passing out under the pressure. The situation is urgent and the writer pleads for mercy and asks not to be brought into judgment. In other words, “I know I have messed up, but please give me another chance.” I can relate to the Psalmist here and especially in vs 7 where it is written, Answer quickly LORD. When we are in a tumultuous situation we want immediate action. We desire the fastest way to pain-free stress-free living. It is frustrating to feel that YHWH must not be taking this seriously or else it would be dealt with by now. From the frustration, the writer asks for deliverance from enemies and guidance to life on level terrain.

Many people experience challenges and all they want is for things to go back to normal. What we may miss is the blessing that comes from stretching. In order to receive all that YHWH has for us, we have to make room. To do this we throw out junk and expand our space. Stretching can be unpleasant because it pushes us outside our comfort zone. The pandemic was such a scenario. It was unexpected and quite intrusive. It was scary, nightmarish, and most still can’t wait for normalcy to return. Even so, I encourage us to be honest about how we are feeling and be open to how we can experience growth despite the grind. As the season of Lent and consecration ends in 6 days, let us cry, confess, and commit our lives to serve YHWH with our total being.

Points to Ponder: In what ways do you feel YHWH has been eerily silent? What is your most urgent prayer? Are you blocking your blessing? Who will you lift as you climb?

Lent 2023 Day 33 “Back From The Dead”

Daily Scripture: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=28

Ezekiel 37:1-14
37:1 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 37:2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 37:3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 37:4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 37:5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 37:6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 37:7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 37:8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 37:9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon this slain, that they may live.” 37:10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 37:11 Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 37:14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,” says the LORD.

Back From The Dead

Have YOU ever been in a place of YOUR life where everything around you seemed dry and desolate? Have you ever downsized your dreams until they fit neatly into your back pocket as a mere memory? A dream that once gave you a sense of life and hope and purpose is now like a dusty, crusty, exfoliated skin cell. You are essentially walking in the graveyard of your hopes and destiny. While in this dry desolate place, you suddenly wonder, Is there any hope?

Our text in Ezekiel is set in a valley of dry bones. The prophet Ezekiel is led into this valley and it is there that he hears a word from the LORD. This word is “Can these bones live?” In other words is there any hope. The Israelites have been exiled and have been brought so low that their dreams and aspirations are decaying matter. It is a very odd question to ask because it seems rhetorical, Can these bones live? Bones are a representation that life has been lived not that life will be lived. And Yet the prophet answers, Oh LORD GOD YOU know. What follows as GODS response is for the Israelites and we can draw some hope from it as well. The LORD responds by giving instructions that ultimately lead to a resuscitation of the dormant life forms. The LORD says Yes there is hope for Israel. Its been a long time coming and yes there are dry bones but they will be reanimated. The dream will be rekindled and the land will be restored. Today I draw hope from this text as the world is bombarded by disasters natural and man made. There is the question, is there any hope? Can we survive and thrive and this time? I say yes.

As we draw close to the end of the Lenten season we come face to face with our strengths and growing edges. We must allow GOD to direct our paths, because with GOD all things are possible. Be honest with your feelings, commit to remaining hopeful, and LIVE BIG here in the present moment.

Points to Ponder:  What dreams have become dry bones in your life? What have you given up hope of ever seeing? Who can you observe in your life that needs a little more hope? Will you purpose to give it to them?

Lent 2023 Day 32 “Coming Home”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20130;%20Ezekiel%2036:8-15;%20Luke%2024:44-53

Ezekiel 36:8-15  (NIV)

⁸ “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. ⁹ I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, ¹⁰ and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. ¹¹ I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹² I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.

¹³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because some say to you, “You devour people and deprive your nation of its children,” ¹⁴ therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁵ No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Coming Home

Have you ever just wanted to go back home? Have YOU ever endured a struggle that seemed to never end and the only thing YOU had to look forward to was being back in your comfort zone?  Think back over your high school days of grueling studies, ok maybe not grueling but at least it may have felt that way and every day YOU looked forward to homecoming or the prom? We often look forward to the big day when troubles will be over and wondering and wandering will end. What we may not always recognize is YHWH is a step ahead of us and has been making preparations in the midst of our perspiration.

Our text from Ezekiel is set as the Israelite community is in exile. Their disobedience has led to a hedge of protection being lifted and the Babylonians taking the land and exiling the people. After years of yearning to go back home YHWH responds to their cry by getting the land ready. The text says,“‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.” YHWH is doing the homecoming preparations even while the people are still in exile. Just as Noah built the ark before there was ever any rain, YHWH is preparing the land even before the people return home. This dynamic is helpful for us today as we go through unknown situations with countless possible outcomes. Many are worried and stretched and stressed. It may seem like everything is in turmoil. This thought can be so overwhelming that we may not recognize our situation is not a condition and  YHWH may be preparing the land for us.

The season of Lent can be very challenging for those who choose to sacrifice during the season. There may be some days where we don’t think we can take it and it would be easier to quit. I encourage YOU to stick with it. There is a blessing on the other side of what we are going through. YHWH is commanding the land to be ready to produce fruit for those who are returning home. This fruit will be able to sustain the growth and reestablishment of the nation. Friends keep the faith through this season of Lent. YHWH has not forgotten about us.

Points to Ponder: What are YOU most hopeful today? Are YOU able to keep the faith when all YOU feel is fear? How do YOU define home?

Lent 2023 Day 31 “Turning Around”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20130;%20Ezekiel%2033:10-16;%20Revelation%2011:15-19

Ezekiel 33:10-16

⁰ “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of^[a] them. How then can we live?”’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ ¹³ If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. ¹⁴ And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— ¹⁵ if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

Turning Around

Have YOU ever been weighed down by the things going on in your life? Have you ever faced an obstacle so large that you were intimidated and felt there was nothing you could do? Have YOU ever missed the mark so bad that YOU saw no way to fix it and that thought made you feel like YOU were wasting away? I’m sure most of us have. This is the sin effect. We mess up and know we’ve messed up. We aimed right but went left. We knew better but we missed the mark anyway. We fear we may have fallen so far that not even YHWH can reach us. Our thoughts turn inward and we start getting distressed and depressed. This is followed by low energy and bad choices to make us feel better. We forget that we can turn around. Just because we have fallen does not mean we cannot get back up.

The text today from Ezekiel addresses the Israelite community who have started to recognize they have messed up. They are consumed by their thoughts of failure, feel weighed down, and wonder how can they live. The prophecy comes to them “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”  In essence the writer is saying, Why would you choose death when you can be alive? To choose to live is to choose to turn back from evil. This verb, “to turn” is used repeatedly in this passage as a reminder of the physical understanding of repentance. YHWH offers the opportunity to get it right from here on. No matter what we have done, we did it in the past. We do not have to be defined by who we were and what we’ve done. We can turn around.  YHWH recognizes where we have been and what we have done and offers the opportunity to move on. We can get on the right track and the choice is up to us.

The Lenten season is helping us to connect to the complexities of being a believer. On one hand we must be accountable for our actions and inactions and on the other we must embrace the fact that we can be forgiven. Our destination is not destroyed by our current situation. We can get it right, but we will need help. Jesus  and the Holy Spirit is that help. Whatever has caused you to miss the mark, Build a bridge and get over it. Live In Victory Every Day.

Point to Ponder: What action from your past are you allowing to crash into your present? What does repentance mean to YOU? How will YOU grow from here?