Lenten Devotion - April 4, 2019

Lenten Devotion – Thursday, April 04, 2019

“No man securely doth command, but he that learned readily to obey.”
Thomas a Kempis

Pondering today what humility and obedience truly require.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NRSV)

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

Jesus was obedient.  He was humble.  Jesus chose to set aside all that was rightfully His, all that He deserved, to be obedient to the plan formed for the salvation of humanity.  Without humility and obedience, there would have been no cross, no salvation, no reconciliation.

And I ask myself, what am I willing to relinquish in order to bring reconciliation to others?  Am I willing to be obedient and humble?  How far will I allow that obedience and humility to lead?  Do I limit how much discomfort and pain I am willing to experience?  I’m sure that I do. And while a big part of obedience is doing what God calls us to do, not what others tell us we must do (but that’s another subject), I must reflect on my willingness to go as far as God calls me to go, even when I don’t like it.

Jesus is our example of what Godly leadership looks like.  If I am a Christ follower I must recognize that I will follow Christ in obedience and humility.  And while I may not be nailed to a Roman cross, I may find myself in painful places, places that while difficult – even unfair – are working reconciliation for those around me.

Lord, You show us how to lead through obedience and humility.  Too often I don’t want to follow Your example.  It’s hard.  I want the glory that You give, but at times I’m unwilling to pick up the cross I must carry.  Thank you for the reminder that leadership demands obedience, that the glory You give enters through humility.  May I continue to learn the lessons You bring my way, that I may continue to be a messenger of reconciliation.

Lenten Devotion - April 3, 2019

“It is easier not to speak a word at all than not to speak more words than we should.”                 
Thomas a Kempis

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.”           
James 3:5a

Ouch!

“…not to speak more words than we should.”

I had the privilege of working with someone who seemed to have the perfect ability to know when to speak and when to be silent.  Her smile seemed to be an extension of her spirit, and grace and peace were given in full measure to those with whom she interacted.  She quickly became my hero – a person who I wanted to be like.  She reflected Jesus in how she lived and loved.  I wanted (and still desire) to do the same.

Her ability to manage her mouth greatly affected her ability to minister grace and peace.  She was often quiet, but willing to speak when she had something of value to say.  Had she had an unkind word to say about someone not present, those in the room would wonder if those same words might be said about them. But she didn’t.  We never feared she would speak unkindly about us, because she never spoke unkindly to or about others.

She spoke words of encouragement – not false compliments.  What a difference!  She seemed to be able to see what God was doing in us, and encouraged us lovingly to continue following His call.

If I sent this to her (and who knows, maybe she is receiving this) she would not recognize that it was written with her in mind.  Her humility was a part of her ability to speak when necessary that which was necessary.

May I follow her example as she followed the example of Jesus.

Lord, thank You for the reminder that often my opinions and ideas need not be spoken.  May my mouth be used by You to encourage and love others, to minister Your grace and peace.  May I honestly pray with the psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Lenten Devotion - March 28, 2019

“The more humble a man is in himself, and the more subject unto God; so much the more prudent shall he be in all his affairs, and enjoy greater peace and quiet of heart.”    Thomas a Kempis

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”                  
Micah 6:8

Humility:  The virtue that once you think you’ve got it, you’ve lost it.

Humility, when connected to relationship with God, opens one up to a life of peace and quiet of heart.  Humility, God’s way, is simply knowing who we are and being satisfied, giving space to others to be who they are without a need for competition or dominance.  We set aside the need to be first and best.

I love the grouping given to us in Micah 6:8: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.  When I walk in humility with God – in submission to Him – I follow His example and live out His priorities of acting justly and loving kindness (or mercy).  Humility – true humility – leads to acts of justice and mercy for others. 

But humility also leads us to a release of what we demand for ourselves. In humility, we become at peace with what God is doing in us, how He is providing for us.  As we release our need to run after things that we don’t need, as we begin to allow others to live without a need to instruct them, we have time and place for peace.  Our minds are no longer full of the fears and frustrations of striving; but instead we find the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guides our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

The elusiveness of humility might be the desire to instruct others in how to be humble – like we are.  Humility is accepting what we, whose we are, and remaining open to God’s work within us.  Humility is also accepting that God is at work in my neighbor and trusting that work.

Lord, I’m grateful for Your example of humility – You, who had every reason to be proud of who You are and what You were called to do, chose instead to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Your Father.  May I follow Your example.  May I be satisfied with who I am and the work You are doing in me.

Lenten Devotion - March 27, 2019

“It is great wisdom not to be rash in thy proceedings, nor to stand stiffly in thine own conceits.”    
Thomas a Kempis

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.”                     
James  (James 3:13)

I believe Thomas a Kempis may have been writing to me personally when he wrote the above statement.  I have too often been rash in what I do, too often stood stiffly in my own opinions.  I desire too often to be too sure of what I want to be truth rather than to take the time and listen to God’s Spirit speaking the truth.

In acting rashly, in standing too firmly in my own opinions, I have damaged myself, damaged others, and damaged the Kingdom of God.

James speaks what I need to hear this morning.  My wisdom is reflected by my good life – not a life lived violently and full of misplaced passion, but life lived with gentleness that is born of wisdom.  In other words, when my actions and reactions are not done gently, I need to examine myself and figure out from where they are coming.

We all know the story of Jesus turning over tables in the Temple.  We like to quote it when we react in righteous indignation against “those people.”  Perhaps we need to remember that Jesus did this once…one time in His ministry…one time in His life.  The actions of Jesus were most often gentle.  His words were powerful, but rarely yelled.  Almost always He spoke with compassion to the crowds and to individuals.  Jesus’ wisdom was most often demonstrated through gentle acts.

Is mine?

Lord, I repent of my tendency to react first and ponder later – if at all.  You have provided the best example of what a life of wisdom looks like.  May I be willing to confess and turn away from my own proceedings and conceits, and instead look to You for wisdom that I will live out gently. May I truly be a Christ Follower and learn to live out gently the wisdom that comes, not from my own ideas, but from You.

Lenten Devotion - March 26, 2019

“We must not give ear to every saying or suggestion, but ought warily and leisurely to ponder things according to the will of God.”    Thomas a Kempis

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”                     
John (I John 4:1)

So many voices speak into our lives.  People who desire the best for us, people who desire our resources, people who seek power, and people from whom we have something to learn, all have something to say. 

We need to decide which voices we want to hear, which voices bring a word we need to receive, and which voices bring words of distraction and destruction. Often the loudest voices, those that are the most tempting, are the ones we least need to hear.

Thomas a Kempis tells us we need to ponder things according to the will of God, taking our time and using caution.  John tells us that we are to “test the spirits.”  What is the spirit of the person speaking?  Do the words (and actions) come from God, or are they contrary to who God is?

Perhaps a reminder is needed that Jesus made clear, love was the defining characteristic of who God is and who we are called to be.  God’s will for us is to love Him and love our neighbors.  If the voices we hear call us to love God and love each other, they may be deserving of some pondering.  If the voices incite fear and hate, we should be wise and wary.

Lord, so many voices call for my attention. Too often I am distracted from that which I need to hear by those things that are destructive, those things that disrupt the peace that You bring.  Help me to be aware of that which I am hearing.  Help me to give my ear – and my mind – to those who lead me to love You and to love my neighbor.

Lenten Devotion - Monday, March 25, 2019

“He is truly great that is great in charity.”      Thomas a Kempis

“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”                    
Paul (I Corinthians 13:1-3)

For what do I strive?  Do I strive to do what is right, to do what is just?  Do I strive to be “spiritual” – to be in a place of divine understanding?  Do I strive to become a faithful communicator of the Word of God?  Do I want others to be able to understand Spiritual things through the words I speak?  Do I want to use the gifts God has given me effectively that the body of Christ may be encouraged and that others may hear and understand?

All of these things are good things.  All of these things are worth seeking.

But none of these things has any value if I do not love.

In fact, my work in these areas is less than without value – my work becomes detrimental – when I am motivated by anything other than love.

John reminds us that “God is love” (I John 4:8), and that our “knowing” God is directly related to our love for others.  Without love I am without God.  Without God, all the good things I do FOR God are worth nothing.

Yet a great truth can be found when I examine this from another side.  With love, even my less than stellar talents have great value.  I may not have the gifts and graces of my sister next door, but I can love, and she can love, and together as we love each other and love God, that love flows to a hurting world that needs love and is hard pressed to find it. (Do you notice that love removes the competition and allows us to work together in collaboration?)

The world has many talented and gifted beings.  Many intelligent men and women have taken advantage of others and called it “business.”  “Great” ventures have brought great wealth to a few and immense poverty to many. 

But when we stand before our God of love, we find that He doesn’t see greatness in any of this.  God is love and He desires above all that we love:  love Him first, love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Lord, too often I am tempted to focus on what needs to be done rather than asking “What would love do? What does love look like in this situation?  Thank you for the reminder that You are love, that what You do, You do because of love.  May I live my life following Your example.  Fill me with Your love that I may truly love You with all that I am, and truly love my neighbor as I love myself.

Lenten Devotion - Tuesday, March 12, 2019

“It is a great folly to neglect the things that are profitable and necessary, and give our minds to that which is curious and hurtful:  we have eyes and see not.”           Thomas a Kempis

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me…For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?”                   Jesus (Matthew 16:24, 26)

Many voices call out to me, trying to gain my attention.  My time and energy seem to be in high demand.  Even above my time and physical exertion, I find many trying to evoke my emotions, trying to create within me a passion for the good (or not so good).

Often this leads me to mental, physical, and spiritual exhaustion.  Instead of having the ability to labor for that which is necessary, I have wasted all that I am on that which is “curious” – that catches my interest – and too often “hurtful.”

In my life I have found God to be faithful in providing the strength that I need to answer the call He has given.  He provides all that I need to accomplish what He has placed before me: my employment, my family, ministry, etc.  Too often I have taken the strength God has provided and used it for things that are not profitable and necessary.  Too often I have tried to “gain the whole world” rather than following Jesus.

And then I find myself exhausted.  I no longer have the strength I need to accomplish what God has placed before me.

I find for myself that I am often distracted, not by the “seven deadly sins” but instead by things that are good and important – things God has called others to invest in, and given them a passion to see His kingdom in these areas.  Instead of encouraging someone in the work God has given them, I jump in, ready to do the work that I have not been given to do with energy that should be spent somewhere else.  It isn’t that the work isn’t important.  I’m not saying that it doesn’t matter. Simply, I can’t do it all.  No one can.  I can do what I’m called to do with the energy God has given me.

Of course, there are times I give myself to the curious and the hurtful.  Often, I am vulnerable to that temptation when I have spent my energy and am exhausted.

Lord, may I remember that You have called me to follow You.  You have given me strength for the work You set before me. Help me to see the difference between supporting someone in the call You have given them and jumping in where I am not called to be.  May I use wisely the strength that You give.  May I turn from either seeking to gain the whole world, or from trying to numb my exhaustion with that which is curious and hurtful.

Lenten Devotion - March 11, 2019

“Whoso knoweth himself well, growth more mean [humble] in his own conceit, and delighteth not in the praises of men.                Thomas a Kempis

“Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.”                         John 12:42-43

Understanding who I am provides a basis for my beliefs and behavior.  If I see myself as a single entity – a “Lone Ranger” – I must find within myself validation, or (more often) I desire to receive from others validation of my worth. I must always be at least as good as the next person, but more often I need to be better.  When I look in the mirror and realize that I am as flawed as anyone else, I lose my value and I look for ways to hide my failure from those who think highly of me.

If I see myself as a child of God, I find my validation in Him.  As I child of God I know that I am loved, not because I am the best, but because I am.  He made me.  He delights in me.  I recognize the areas that God is working in me.  I see where I am weak, and allow the power of God to be my strength.  I am not dependent upon others to confirm my value, for my worth is based upon my position as a child of God – just as theirs is. 

Knowing myself, as Thomas a Kempis reminds us, is a humbling experience.  But self-knowledge should lead me to the truth that I am a loved child of God.  Knowing that I am a loved child of God removes the fear that I will be slandered and rejected for doing the right thing.  I no longer need to strive for the approval of others; I know that I am God’s, and He is pleased with me.

Lord, I am grateful for the reminder that I am Your child, and that You love me.  I am humbled when I realize how often I fall short of all that You call me to be; yet You do not reject me.  Rather than living for the praise of others, may I be more than satisfied that I am Your child, You love me, and with me You are well-pleased.

March 7, 2019 - Lenten Devotion

“Vanity it is to wish to live long, and to be careless to live well.”
Thomas a Kempis

“…give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.”
King David – Psalm 86:11b

Every once in a while we are given the opportunity to meet someone who understands and puts into practice living life well.  If you are reading this, you are living life; yet often it feels that we are merely caught in the whirlwind of life, having no control of the quality of the life we are living.  Making decisions about how we will live takes second place to dealing with the immediate need in front of us.  We desire to live long so that “someday” we will be able to live well.

Does a connection exist between a life lived well and an undivided heart? 

We need to recognize the signs that we are existing rather than living well.  Whether the personal distractions faced are children we love (at least MOST of the time!), a demanding career, or too many favorite shows to binge watch, most of us are tempted to set aside living well in the moment.  We want to live long so that “someday” we can live right.  We divide our heart, using the things that distract us as reasons to keep us from living well rather than opportunities to practice living well. 

Part of the problem with this is our mis-definition of what it means to live well.  Living well is not the same as worldly success.  It isn’t finding the time to accomplish important goals.  Living well isn’t being the best – or even finding yourself in the top ten. Living well is simply loving God first, and living a life that reflects that love for God.  Whether cleaning up a spill in the kitchen or cleaning up an error in judgement, all that we do can be – should be – a reflection of our love for God and a gratefulness for His Presence in our lives. A life well lived always includes a life full of love for God – an undivided heart.

Lord, too often I find my heart is divided.  At times I am unaware of the distractions I have allowed to divide my heart.  I love you, but I don’t have the time to think about that today – I’ll think about it tomorrow.  Forgive me.  Give me eyes to see where my love for You is one of many things rather than that one thing that guides me in all I do.  Amen.

Ash Wednesday - Lenten Devotion

March 6, 2019

“I had rather feel compunction than understand the definition thereof.”
Thomas a Kempis

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”
King David – Psalm 51:3

 Facing my failures is tough; many of us find it much easier to face the failures of someone else.  To understand – to be willing to understand – my own sin often causes fear.  If I am guilty, how can I stand before God?  If I am guilty, how can I receive the acceptance and respect I need?  God knows my sin, and He has forgiven me.  Why dwell on it?

How do I learn?  I must be aware in order to learn.  I must see the relationship between what I do and the results that follow.  I need to understand – to feel – that the choices I make matter so that I am compelled to make better choices.

When dealing with areas of sin in my life, I need to understand two things:

The choices I make matter to God.

The choices I make affect other people.

But if I allow myself to look at my life – to see the bad and the ugly – won’t I be rejected?  Won’t others shun me? (Perhaps they will treat me upon seeing my failures as I would treat them.) People often respond in a variety of ways – but God always responds with forgiveness and cleansing.  God does not show us our failings for condemnation but for redemption.  His desire is our Salvation, not just in eternity, but today – right now.

Lord, as I begin this Lenten journey, may I not be afraid to see myself as You see me.  May my joy at receiving Your forgiveness and cleansing far exceed my fear of the reaction I may receive from others.  Even in this walk to the cross, may I begin to see Your salvation at work in me. Amen.