Lent 2019 Day 28 “Naughty By Nature”

Tue Apr 2

Psalm 94, 95, 97, 99, 100

Jeremiah 17:19-27

Romans 7:13-25

John 6:16-27

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+94%2C+Psalm+95%2C+Psalm+97%2C+Psalm+99%2C+Psalm+100%2C+Jeremiah+17%3A19-27%2C+Romans+7%3A13-25%2CJohn+6%3A16-27&version=NIV

^{Romans 7:15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Naughty By Nature

The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. This line written by John Steinbeck effectively captures how many feel when they start the day with good intentions and end the day in a self made hell. What comes over us? We have such good plans. We are going to love evrybody, lift as we climb, and ultimately make a positive impact on those around us. Then all of a sudden the good that we intend to do goes out of the window. Something rises up within us and we take a detour to devilment. We know better but the temptation overrides our best efforts. We sit at the end of the day with our head in our hands and futily have to acknowledge, we are “Naughty by nature”.

Paul, the writer of Romans is having a crisis. His crisis is familiar to most of us. We develop a case of the “can’t help its”. It is confusing on so many levels. Reading and relating to this text, my mind paused at the word want to do. Want is passive while work is active. All the things we want will remain wants unless or until we put in the work. The more time we spend wanting, the more time we lose working. My children will often say “I want this”, or “I want that”. My response is I want a million dollars but if I don’t work for it, it wont fall from a tree.

The Lenten season challenges us to do more than want to do good. We consecrate ourselves daily and put in the work to actually do good. Because we are wired for comfort we realize wanting without working leads to the paralysis of analysis. More than make resolutions and wishes we prepare to confront the “inner me” enemy. Yes may have a sin nature and we may fall daily, but that does not define us. Its not our falls that  make us who we are but our getting ups. We are not just naughty by nature we are also saved by grace.

Point to Ponder: How do you deal with transforming wants into works? In what ways are you naughty by nature? Can you forgive yourself and others for their best laid plans that go astray?

Lent Day 28: Shouting For Joy

PSALM 100

¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

When was the last time you just let it all hang out? How did it feel? Think about a moment in life when you forgot about all problems past or present. Reflect on this moment. Now as you read this, take a breath and slowly exhale. This practice of reflecting allows us to gain a perspective that keeps us positive and present. It is the power of this present moment that opens up authentic avenues of praise to our GOD.

Psalm 100 as I read it today reminds me to be open to shout for joy. Understanding the distinction between joy and happiness helps. Happiness is situational, joy is directional. Happiness can rise and fall, joy recognizes where I am headed and who I am headed there with makes everything already alright. Joy says I can be broke and still be blessed. Joy says I can stretched and stressed and still shout hallelujah. When we place our attention on worship and not worry we are able to find relief. When we worship the LORD with gladness we are saying, whatever I have, and wherever I am as long as GOD is with me I am not lost. Worshipping with gladness says, “I’m glad my life is in the hands of the creator of all things and anything I get to with GODS help I will get through.”

I like the verse where the Psalmist reminds us that it is GOD who has made us and we belong to GOD. The sense of belonging is able to calm fear and dry tears. Belonging to GOD means we are protected even when we feel dejected. We may go through seasons of turbulence but GOD has us strapped in with a Divine seat belt that will hold fast no matter what. With this in mind we are able to enter GODS gates with thanksgiving and enter GODS courts with praise. Knowing that GOD is everywhere all the time we are ever in the courtyard of GOD. We can shout now. I once heard a person say, I might not have it right now but I’m going to shout on credit. Usually credit is not a good thing but in this case I concur, Don’t wait till the battle is over we can shout now.

PRAYER: LORD you are good even when we are not. Thank you for your patience and unfailing love. Please continue to reveal yourself to us as we grow from a seedling into a forest for your glory.

Point To Ponder: What would happen if you celebrated each moment without judgement? How can you be more present and positive?