Seeking the Life in Christ: April 2022

Friday, April 29, 2022

Everything Belongs to You

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 29, 2022

Everything Belongs to You

Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ,

and Christ belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 3:22b-23

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Paul made very bold claims in this brief passage. Returning to a theme he has addressed several times already, he cautions the church not to brag about being followers of Paul, or Apollos, or Peter. Paul said such behavior is following worldly wisdom of which he says, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.” (Psalm 94:11 quoted in v.20)

Paul then returns to the link I noted in yesterday’s Takeaway. Paul is saying that as God’s Temple, everything, the teachings of Paul, Apollos, Peter, (insert your pastor), belong to you. Let that sink in. God wants us to take personal ownership, and personal responsibility for the development of our Christian character.

My Takeaway: Why does Paul want us to grasp this concept that everything belongs to us? Because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. Let’s learn to relish in our belonging.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

You Are That Temple

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 28, 2022

You Are That Temple

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:12-17

As I read today’s passage, I immediately thought of Hebrews 12:28-29, “we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” Paul is making it abundantly clear that workers for God are held to a high standard: “But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.” (v.13) I am convinced that if we get the reverence and awe part right, we don’t need to fear the fire of judgement. Even so, let us take seriously our responsibility to be co-laborers with Christ and strive to produce valuable work for the Kingdom.

If you are still struggling with the imagery Paul is using, take time to meditate on verses sixteen and seventeen. Sixteen is quoted above. Seventeen reveals how passionately God loves His spirit that lives within us: “God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

My Takeaway: There is an important link between the very high standards and expectations God has for us, and that link is his love for us: “For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

We Are God’s Workers

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 27, 2022

We Are God’s Workers

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-11

There are two parts that caught my attention in today’s reading. First, the lack of pretentiousness. Paul simply sees himself and Apollos as co-laborers for Christ who were building for the Kingdom of God. Each had their responsibilities and to God be the glory for prospering their labors with abundant fruit. This seems so simple, but it is a model that is desperately needed in much of today’s church culture with celebrity pastors and multilayered staff competing for time and attention.

Secondly, Paul is asserting the principal that all the followers of Christ are co-laborers building for the Kingdom of God. There seems to me a consumer mentality in our churches. The congregation expects to be fed by the clergy staff. What if the congregation was more mindful of their role in edifying one another in love?

My Takeaway: One of the things I remember from my law enforcement career is that the suspect always brings something to the crime scene, and always takes something away. What if disciples of Jesus had this same mindset. What if we were continuously conscious of what blessing we were bringing to our church gatherings, and what we were taking with us?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Controlled By Your Sinful Nature

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 26, 2022

Controlled By Your Sinful Nature

Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

1 Corinthians 2:3b

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4

In today’s reading, I am reminded of Hebrews 6:1-3, “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding”.

Here, Paul is admonishing the Corinthians to put into practice what they already know, or as James put it, to be doers of the word and not hearers only. Can there be a more serious charge against those who claim to love Jesus, who claim to have been made right with God through faith in Jesus than, “Aren’t you living like people of the world?” (v. 3b)

My Takeaway: This morning, I wrote a eulogy for a friend whose service I cannot attend. In it I noted my friend took the prophet Micah very seriously and endeavored to always do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with his God. Notice the verbs in each of Micah’s declaratory statement: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. When this is our ambition, we are not living like people of the world!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, April 25, 2022

We Have Received God’s Spirit

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 25, 2022

We Have Received God’s Spirit

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Isaiah 64:4, quoted in 1 Corinthians 2:9

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-13

In today’s reading, Paul points out that the world cannot understand the deeper truths about God, because the world is still living in the past. For Paul, human history was divided into two periods: the present age and the age to come. The age to come is fully realized, the Kingdom of God will be fully established and evil, sin and death will be banished. Paul believed that Jesus the Messiah inaugurated the Age to Come. Therefore, life today is only understood in the light of the truth of God in Christ Jesus. To underscore this point, Paul points out that it was the most advanced and highest form of religion the world had known, that conspired with the best government the world had known, to execute Christ Jesus, the Lord of glory. The truth of God the Father Almighty was in their midst, and they rejected him.

When I think about today’s reading, I remember this statement of Miles Stanford in his book, The Principles of Spiritual Growth: “To taste the grace of God is one thing. To be established in it, and to manifest it in character, habit and regular life is another."

My Takeaway: God wants us to be established in His grace and to manifest His grace in our character, habits, and life. God wants us to have the mind of Christ. Paul affirmed that we have received God’s Spirit so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. (v.12)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, April 22, 2022

Paul’s Message of Jesus

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 22, 2022

Paul’s Message of Jesus

I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

As I noted a few days ago, when Paul came to Corinth, he determined not to try and compete with the sophists. Rather, he made it his purpose to “forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.” (v.2) And that was enough! As we saw yesterday, through Jesus, God made us to be in a right relationship with Him. He made us pure and holy. He freed us from sin.

Paul says he relied on a two-part foundation for his ministry in Corinth. First, he forgot everything except Jesus. He made his ministry all about Jesus. Secondly, he relied not on rhetoric or performance-related enhancements such as singers and musicians and lights and coffee bars and rock walls or other sorts of bells and whistles. He relied on the Holy Spirit.

My Takeaway: In today’s culture can it be that simple? Is all that is needed is a Christ-centered ministry “relying only on the power of the Holy Spirit”? (v. 5) I think so. I really do.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, April 21, 2022

United With Christ Jesus

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 21, 2022

United With Christ Jesus

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Paul compared the wisdom and strength of the world’s culture, to the wisdom and strength of God. God prevailed according to Paul, and it wasn’t a close contest. In today’s passage, we learn Jesus is the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

It wasn’t a close contest because where in the world’s culture can one be made right with God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? Where in the world’s culture can one be made pure and holy? Where, oh where, in the world’s culture can one be freed from sin?

Think of all that God has done. He made it possible for us to be in a right relationship with Him. He made us pure and holy. He freed us from sin. And He did all this through Jesus whom He made wisdom itself.

My Takeaway: God did all this though Jesus. And God united us with Jesus. What, pray tell, does the world’s culture offer that is better than being united with Jesus. Actually, all the world’s culture can offer is myriad of ways to be disconnected from Jesus.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

The Wisdom of God

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 20, 2022

The Wisdom of God

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

1 Corinthians 1:18,25

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The Greeks loved to debate. They fancied themselves as seekers of the truth, yet it was skill in debating that won, not truth. The Jews wanted signs and wonders. You may recall that the Gospel of John is written around seven signs that Jesus was the Messiah. However, with signs and wonders, there is always the need for another, then another. Looking ahead, in 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul writes that when he came to Corinth, he made up his mind not to engage in a debating competition. Although the Holy Spirit worked miracles through Paul’s ministry, he determined that his ministry in Corinth would not rest there. Instead, Paul “decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

Is that enough today? Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Lord, and Savior, is that enough today? All the church growth gurus say if we want to reach today’s generation, we need singers and musicians and lights and coffee bars and rock walls and all sorts of bells and whistles.

My Takeaway: I believe Jesus Christ, and him crucified, is all we need today because I know I am being saved by the very power of God.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Divisions in the Church

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 19, 2022

Divisions in the Church

Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:10b

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

It was commonplace in the time when Paul was writing this letter, for traveling philosophers to visit the cities. The most well-known, and highly regarded of these speakers would draw huge crowds who gathered to hear the imparted wisdom from the speakers, and thus they were known as sophists. Sophia in Greek means wisdom. This cultural phenomenon was influencing some of the local churches. The personality and style of the preacher became a drawing card for the congregation and often the Christians would be identified by which preacher they were following.

Fast forward two thousand years, and in the US, we have preachers such as: Franklin Graham, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Andy Stanley, John F. MacArthur, and many, many more. In Paul’s time, he was concerned about competition and division among the churches, and his concern is still relevant today.

Paul’s answer to his concern, “be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” is also the answer today. I am not so naive as to think all the many denominations, and non-denominational churches can all gather together and play nice. I do believe each and every Christian can take ownership of their faith and strive to ensure their core Christian values align with the historic creeds of the Christian faith.

My Takeaway: In just over twenty years, the world has been revolutionized by the digital age bringing personal computers, smart phones and TV’s. The world’s culture has also been revolutionized in this time frame; there have been more changes in mores and cultural values in the last twenty years, than the rest of my seventy-five years combined. As for me, I find my affirmation of the historic and traditional doctrines of the church comforting to my soul in these turbulent times.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, April 18, 2022

To You Who Have Been Called By God

Meditations in First Corinthians

April 18, 2022

To You Who Have Been Called By God

He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

1 Corinthians 1:8

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

The passion of the Apostle Paul’s life was Jesus. In this opening passage, Paul mentions Jesus eight times in nine verses. However, there is more going on than just Paul talking about the love of his life. At the time of this letter, being called a Corinthian was an insult to decent people. Corinth was the center of travel and sea trade. It was multicultural, and every sin imaginable was prevalent, especially sexual sins, as the god of the Corinthians was the love goddess Aphrodite. There was a great temptation in the Christian church to lower their moral standards to those of the community around them. In addition to the moral challenges, divisions were tearing at the fabric of the church, as their teachers were adopting the ways of the world and measuring their success by the size of their following.

Paul has many, many issues to deal with in his letters to the church in Corinth. He begins by building his foundation on Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone. He then affirms for the Corinthian church (and us) that God has given them “every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 7) With our foundation in Christ and God’s spiritual gifts, we have all we need to be faithful.

My Takeaway: Robin Mark, the Christian singer from Belfast, Northern Ireland, captures Paul’s passion for Jesus in his praise song, Jesus, All for Jesus. I keep these words close by and often incorporate them into my daily prayers.

Jesus, all for Jesus

All I am and have

And ever hope to be

All of my ambitions, hopes, and plans

I surrender these into your hands

For it’s only in Your will that I am free

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, April 15, 2022

Sinful Man Was Arresting God

Holy Week 2022

April 15, 2022

Good Friday

Sinful Man Was Arresting God

“Who are you looking for?” (Jesus) asked.

“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.

“I AM he,” Jesus said”

John 18:4-5

Read: John 18:1-10

There is a beautiful symmetry in the way the Biblical writers tell the story of God. There was the first exodus of God’s people, from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses. The Gospels tell of Jesus, God’s Messiah leading the second exodus, from slavery to sin and death. In the book of Genesis, we read of the Garden of Eden inhabited by Adam. In John 18, the setting is another garden, the Garden of Gethsemane. In the first Garden, God, in the cool of the evening, came looking for Adam. In the second Garden, in the cool of the evening, sinful man comes looking for Jesus, God’s second Adam. (The Apostle Paul writes much about the ‘first’ and ‘last’ Adam in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15) Yet a third Garden will be the setting for Jesus’ resurrection.

“Who are you looking for?” (Jesus) asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I AM he,” Jesus said” (John 18:4-5). The disciples, and perhaps even Judas who was with the soldiers, in the Garden that evening heard much more than a simple reply, “I am he.” They hear; “I AM.”

“I AM The Bread of Life.”

“I AM The Light 0f The World.”

“I AM The Gate.”

“I AM The Good Shepherd.”

“I AM The Resurrection and The Life.”

“I AM The Way, The Truth and The Life.”

‘I AM The Vine.”

With the memory of these seven ‘I AM” statements echoing through the Garden, the absurdness of the moment was overwhelming: sinful man was arresting God. The arresting force drew back and fell. Did they understand the absurdity of the moment? Perhaps it was the humility of Jesus and his lack of resistance that shocked them. I don’t know for sure why the arresting force drew back and fell to the ground, but as I meditate on that scene, falling on my knees seems an appropriate response for me.

I pray you will worship our Risen Savior on Easter Sunday with reverence and awe.

(On Monday, April 18, 2022, I will begin a series of meditations on the Apostle Paul’s Letter, First Corinthians.)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, April 14, 2022

One Of You Will Betray Me!

Holy Week 2022

April 14, 2022

Thursday of Holy Week

One Of You Will Betray Me!

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

John 13: 21

Read: John 13:18-30

Jesus had washed the feet of all twelve disciples. Now they were reclining at the dinner table partaking of their Passover meal. That they were reclining is a very important detail. The customs in Israel at that time provided that only those who were free reclined while eating; slaves and servants ate either standing or seated. Although the Israelites were living under Roman occupation and oppression, Passover celebrated God setting them free from slavery in Egypt, and every Jew would partake of the Passover meal while reclining at their table. Reclining people gathering around the table are actually touching one another; the Passover was a very intimate meal for Jesus and his disciples. The text includes the detail, “Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl” (John 12:26a). In first-century Israel, sharing a meal together was yet another indication of intimacy and right-standing relationships.

As Jesus looks around the table at his disciples, his friends, he knows one will betray him to the religious authorities, one will publicly deny even knowing him, and all but one of the remaining men will scatter into hiding after he is arrested. Even so, Jesus reclined at the Passover table with his disciples; even so, Jesus washed the feet of all twelve.

I noted in the previous passage that Jesus had laid down a pattern for his disciples to follow. As you ponder Jesus’ interaction with his disciples, what do you hear God saying to you? Do you have an attitude toward someone that God wants you to adjust?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

A Daunting Challenge

Holy Week 2022

April 13, 2022

Wednesday of Holy Week

A Daunting Challenge

And when (the Advocate) comes, he will convict the world of its sin,

and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

John 16:8

Read: John 16:1-15

God’s people have always longed for the day when God’s justice will prevail throughout the world. Jesus promised that with the coming of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, God is working to answer the longing of our heart.

Jesus has promised that our Advocate will guide and empower us. Jesus is not saying that the Holy Spirit will be working independently of us to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Jesus is saying that the Holy Spirit, working in and through his followers, will bring justice to the world. When the followers of Jesus lead lives of honesty and integrity, they will stand apart from the ways of the world. Their lifestyle will contrast sharply with the ways of people who follow after the world’s culture. When the followers of Jesus speak out against injustice in the world, their beliefs will contrast sharply with the ways of the world. When the followers of Jesus work diligently in ministries of mercy and justice, their ideals will contrast sharply with the ideals of the world. When the followers of Jesus live with the hope of God’s future in their heart, their sense of inner peace will contrast sharply with people living without hope. It will be through the lives of fully-devoted followers of Jesus that the Holy Spirit “will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” (John 16:8).

The challenge of Jesus to his followers is to open our hearts and our lives to the Holy Spirit so that Jesus can live his life through us. This challenge is daunting because the persecution that confronted Jesus awaits his followers as well. However, Jesus has promised us that he will always be with us; nothing can separate us from him. We can do everything through Christ, who gives us strength. (Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:39, Philippians 4:13)

The Good News is that Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to us. Are you up to the challenge that comes with receiving the Spirit?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Bringing Glory to God

Holy Week 2022

April 12, 2022

Tuesday of Holy Week

Bringing Glory to God

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.

This brings great glory to my Father”

John 15:8

Read: John 15:1-16

Imagine there will be a meeting at your church, Sunday afternoon at 3PM. Jesus’ Father, the Gardener, will meet with your congregation to cut off every branch that isn’t producing fruit. He will also prune the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. Ouch! I wonder how many people will show up to meet with the Gardener.

I believe our willingness to sit still for the Gardener is directly proportional to our ownership of Jesus’ expectation that we produce much fruit for him. Note that Jesus twice says that he expects much fruit from his disciples, not just some fruit. (John 15: 5 & 8) Our willingness to sit still for the Gardener is also directly related to our staying close to Jesus: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me” (John 15:4). Knowing I am in Christ, and he is in me emboldens me to allow the Gardener to cut and prune, even if I do cringe and cry ouch!

Our mission is to make disciples for Jesus for the transformation of the world. The fruit he is expecting us to produce is fruit that helps people know and love him. We are also called to produce much fruit in ministries of peace and justice that transform the world into the Kingdom of God. This passage should give us pause to examine our life for evidence that our focus, our priorities are aimed at producing much fruit for Jesus’ Kingdom. Do you have a personal expectation that you will produce much fruit for Jesus? If so, listen as Jesus says to you,

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father” (John 15:8).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, April 11, 2022

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life

Holy Week 2022

April 11, 2022

Monday of Holy Week

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

Read: John 14:1-14

In Jesus, the Glory of God has been revealed. In Jesus, we see the heart of God the Father. Jesus, as the revealed Glory of God, washed the feet of his disciples, loved his disciples, and was the Passover Lamb who took away the sins of the world. Jesus is the revealed Glory of God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus shows us the way home to paradise, the way home to God our Father. Jesus and God the Father are one.

Therefore, because of all that Jesus is, he can make the most comforting promise in the Bible: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1-3).

This one promise is the tipping point of our response to all the claims Jesus has made on our lives. Our fidelity to Jesus’ command for us to go and make disciples depends on our response to this promise. Our willingness to entrust our lives to God so that He can use everything in our life for His purpose of transforming us to become like Jesus depends on how deeply Jesus’ promise resonates within our soul. Is Jesus’ promise to you sufficient to earn your unconditional, unqualified obedience? If yes, hallelujah; rest in his assurance that you will always be with him.

If not, what else must he do to earn your loyalty?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, April 8, 2022

Closing Thoughts Part Two – Final Victory

Meditations in the Season of Lent

April 8, 2022

Closing Thoughts

Part Two – Final Victory

Today, I am closing my Meditations in the Season of Lent. On Monday, April 11, 2022, I will begin meditations for Holy Week, the week before Easter. Today’s meditation is my second takeaway from this Season of Lent.

Yesterday, I closed my meditation noting that the Kerygma is summarized in the Great Thanksgiving of the United Methodist communion liturgy: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. In this same Great Thanksgiving are the lines:

By your spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other,

and one in ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory

and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

In this Season of Lent, both James and Peter asserted that the followers of Jesus understood their lives within the context of looking forward to Jesus coming again in final victory. I believe it is this same truth that enables us to understand and make a difference in the world today. Even though Jesus has defeated the powers of sin and death, in our present time as we await Jesus’ return, we see the forces of evil are active in our world, as the war in Ukraine testifies. And we will experience persecution as we align ourselves with God’s Messiah, Christ Jesus.

As I consider these lessons from Lent, I am reminded of two portions of the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy. First,

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

I believe we are living is this time Paul predicted.

Secondly,

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Now I don’t think I am at death’s door, but I am feeling my age. My heart’s desire is to continue to fight the good fight, to finish the race the Lord has assigned to me, and above all, to remain faithful to Him who called me.

My Takeaway: My Jesus is coming again in Final Victory to make all things right. Keeping my eye on this, the ultimate truth of our faith, helps me stay on course even though so many around me reject the truth and chase after myths. Come Lord Jesus!

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, April 29, 2022

Everything Belongs to You

Thursday, April 28, 2022

You Are That Temple

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

We Are God’s Workers

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Controlled By Your Sinful Nature

Monday, April 25, 2022

We Have Received God’s Spirit

Friday, April 22, 2022

Paul’s Message of Jesus

Thursday, April 21, 2022

United With Christ Jesus

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

The Wisdom of God

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Divisions in the Church

Monday, April 18, 2022

To You Who Have Been Called By God

Friday, April 15, 2022

Sinful Man Was Arresting God

Thursday, April 14, 2022

One Of You Will Betray Me!

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

A Daunting Challenge

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Bringing Glory to God

Monday, April 11, 2022

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life

Friday, April 8, 2022

Closing Thoughts Part Two – Final Victory

Seeking the Life in Christ

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