Third Wednesday of Lent: Lent 2014

Lenten Devotional

March 4-5

We come again to some of the great parables we read in Matthew.  We see some of the similarities between the gospels, but soon after a few teachings, we get a glimpse into Jesus' humanity.  After spending time teaching and healing people of different ailments, Jesus and the disciples take off over the sea to a different location.  Jesus is exhausted.  He falls asleep in the back of the boat.  Anyone who has spent time on a boat could understand how this would happen.  The gentle waves would lull someone sleepy into a great sleep.  This is what happens to Jesus.  Yet, it does not stay like this for long.

The waters turn rough and the waves come over the top of the boat.  The disciples become scared and worried for the own safety.  But Jesus is still asleep in the back of the boat and attempts to rest.  The disciples wake him and explain the situation.  The whole world changes around them.

Jesus cries out to the wind and waves to calm down.  Everything goes back to normal on the water, but not in the hearts of the disciples.  This was another moment when they are surprised at his power and command of the world.  This was a teaching moment to their faith.  They got to see that the teacher, Jesus, has great power.  He does not just heal and teach.  He protects people and calm nature around them.

This is a  teaching for us.  Jesus wants His ministry and work to continue.  If we are following Jesus' call and passions, there will be many obstacles to our service.  Can they be over come in miraculous ways?  I believe this passage teaches us yes.  IF it is too turbulent, God can and will calm the storms.  He does listen to our concerns and worries.  We just need to be faithful. 

First Monday in Lent: Lent Devotional 2014

Lenten Devotional

Matthew 13-14

Today's readings has come of the most powerful information about the Kingdom of Heaven and the power of Jesus over the nature and power.  It opens with a list of parables on what the Kingdom of heaven looks like.  Each of these focus on agricultural picture to help people to understand the images.

There are many images in this reading, but I find the best I find is the parable of the mustered seed.  This parable demonstrates that the kingdom of heaven will start very small, it grows to the a large and very powerful tree.  This image is used else where to describe the faith need to make large acts.  We get to see here that the Kingdom will grow much like a mustered seed.  The other parables are much the same.

The end of chapter fourteen in a fantastic picture of Jesus and the natural world.  Jesus sends the twelve disciples ahead of him on a boat.  During the night he rejoins the disciples on the water by walking towards them.  This scares the disciples.  They believe they are seeing a ghost.  For proof, Peter the bold one tells Jesus that the proof would be if Peter can walk in water.  Jesus has Peter get out of the boat.  Peter takes a few steps but realizes that he is on the water.  Peter falls in.  Jesus pulls him into the boat.  It was a lack of faith on Peter's behalf.

I think we learn quickly that faith is the foundation of following Christ.  It does not require much faith as we learn from other passages of scripture.  The Kingdom of Heaven is already growing and moving, we need to maintain the faith to follow and know that Jesus will keep us upon the water.  

First Thursday of Lent: Lent Devotional 2014

Lenten Devotional

Matthew 5-7

The reading for today is the bulk of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  These passages are some of the most most difficult and blessed passages in the New Testament.  For these passages ring of great hope of the lowly and hopeless.  But they also speak of great demands on the life of one who follows after what God desires. 

the first chapter we read is the great list of blessings.  We can probably find our self in at least one if not more of the blessings listed by Jesus.  Who has not mourned a loved one or fells meek.  We gain a connection quickly and acknowledge in one way or another a blessing will be coming for us in the life to come.  

Jesus soon turns from a great blessing to mighty teachings.  We are left in trouble and frustration.  For what is to come seems gravely hard to follow.  Jesus is not just asking the hearers to follow the current laws of Judaism, they are being asked to go even farther.  

Jesus tells people to cut out and off body parts if they even think or look in ways that are contrary to law.  What I think is that Jesus is coming to a point on what the foundation these very specific rules demand.  By the end of chapter five, Jesus makes a statement on oaths, "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."  Then he teaches on giving more than required.  When demand the cloak give them your tunic.  There is something greater to come by following.  The life of a follower of Jesus will be profoundly different. This is what what the foundation of the Old Testament Law in ancient times. The follower of Jesus is called to stand out for following in fantastic ways.  

We finish our reading today with the parable of the wise and foolish builders.  For one had built on the sand while the other built on the rock.  The one who listens and follows the teachings is like the one who builds on the rock.  When the rains, winds and storms come through, the house will stand.  Everything Jesus just presented was hard and difficult.  Some was even radical to the people listening.  Some is radical for us today.  But when the storms of life and society come through, the person built on the rock will withstand.  May this be our building foundation.