Wednesday, Ezekiel 18:25b-32, Repent and Live!

Our text for today is Ezekiel 18:25b-32

God doesn't mince words in this text! God is direct and to the point, "get a new heart and a new spirit," "Repent and live!"

We need a heart transplant! When it comes to sin we don't need minor surgery, cosmetic surgery or anything superficial. To deal with the depth and depravity of sin we need radical treatment to overcome our terminal illness. We need a new heart. We need a heart transplant!

Do you know anyone who has performed heart surgery on their own heart? I don't think so. Just as we need surgeons to perform heart surgery we need Jesus the great Surgeon who dies for us, giving us his own heart, enabling us to live.

This gift of a new heart comes to us daily. As we have died and been raised with Christ in the waters of baptism we are daily given a new heart.

In response to the great love of Christ may we daily come before Jesus and admit our sin and seek a new heart.

Tuesday, Ezekiel 17:1-10,22-24, Two Eagles and Two Cedar Shoots

Our text for today is Ezekiel 17:1-10,22-24

I honestly don't recall having ever read this section of Scripture before...so it is really very new to me. I read the foot-notes in my Bible that explained many of the symbols that allude to kings and international politics in the time of Ezekiel.

The great eagle - Nebuchadnezzar - who took a city of merchants into exile, with the topmost shoot being one of the last kings - Jehoiachin. The seed, which becomes a vine, is Zedekiah, who was placed on the throne. God was warning the people that change was going to come - the time of exile was coming. The people's pride came before their fall.

Ezekiel speaks prophetically to the people of his day, and he also speaks to us. In verse 22 God promises new life - the continuation of the Davidic line - and new life and restoration in us. May our lives be like a cedar tree that is transplanted, nurtured and blessed by God. May our times of pain and pruning bring forth clippings for transplantation so that new life may flourish. May we be open to the pruning of God so that new life may spring forth.

Monday, Jeremiah 11:1-17, Judgment against the Olive Tree

Our text for today: Jeremiah 11:1-17

Jeremiah/God sure doesn't hold back! God's people are blasted and warned in no uncertain terms.

First, God reminds the people of God's actions:

• rescuing and saving them from Egypt
• gifting them with the covenant

God begins with a reminder of God's saving grace that rescued them. This is the because - the gracious action of God that God initiated. Then, and only then, does God call the people to be accountable to that covenant. This is God's therefore. God's therefore is always a call to live in response to the gracious actions of God.

However, God's people had chosen to ignore God's therefore. So, God reminds them of what the covenant agreement entailed:

• God calls them to listen
• God calls them to obey
• God calls them to give up the worship of their false gods

God calls us still today, to respond to God's because by listening, obeying and worshipping the one true God. May today be a day lived in the because of God as we live as therefore people.

Our texts for this week...

· Monday, Jeremiah 11:1-17, Judgment against the olive tree
· Tuesday, Ezekiel 17:1-10,22-24, Two eagles and two cedar shoots
· Wednesday, Ezekiel 18:25b-32, Repent and live!
· Thursday, Hosea 14:1-7, Return to the Lord
· Friday, John 3:1-9, The Fruit of repentance
· Saturday, Psalm 34:11-22, Turn from evil and do good
· Sunday, Luke 15:1-3,11b-32, Parable of the forgiving father

Friday: Hebrews 11:8-12, Abraham Acted by Faith

Text for Friday: Hebrews 11:8-12

"And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."

You have to chuckle at the writer to the Hebrews (whoever that might be) when he says that Abraham was, "as good as dead." Clearly the writer is emphasizing Abraham's age as Abraham and Sarah were well past their prime child-bearing and child-raising years. However, God takes the impossible and makes it possible. God takes the sarcastic laughing of Sarah and transforms it into a laugh of joy. God takes their laughter and gives them deep joy in Isaac (Isaac's name even means laughter, joy). God takes the "dead" and brings new life.

If God can give Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age, how much more can God do for?

As we trust in the Promise of God this day may we open our dead and dying lives up to our God and watch for God's miraculous gift of new life!

Thursday: Acts 6:15 – 7:8, God’s Call and Promise to Abraham

Our text for today: Acts 6:15-7:8

I wonder if Abraham ever had any, "Yeah, buts?" The Biblical account speaks so briefly of Abraham's immediate obedience and response to God's call that I sometimes wonder if Abraham had, "Yeah, buts" going on in his head/heart. Did Abraham ever question who was speaking to him and did he ever come back with a counter offer to God?

May we have the ears to hear God like Abraham.
May we have the heart of obedience to respond like Abraham.
May we boldly step out in faith as we cling to God.

Romans 4:1-12, The Faith of Abraham

Today's reading: Romans 4:1-12.

At times our faith may be like a solid rock, and at times faith is like water sliding off that rock. In the free-fall of life we know that God is with us, knowing from where we came and knowing to where we go. We cling together in community, supporting and encouraging one another on the journey.

We experience life's twists and turns - sometimes at such speed that we long for the quiet pool. Our life of faith is an amazing journey to be experienced, and, just as Abraham clung to God in faith we too cling to God.

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Tuesday: Ephesians 2:11-19, Fellow Citizens in Christ

Today's text is: Ephesians 2:11-19.

As I have lived in the US for years as a Resident Alien (that is my official residency status) I have always had a fondness for this text, especially for verse 19: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household..."

I am always delighted to hear God say, "Martin, you are no longer a foreigner or an alien...you are one of the family...welcome home!"

God has love for the outsiders...God welcomes all into the family!!

Texts for this week...

Monday: Zechariah 8:1-8,14-23, The Lord is jealous for Zion

Tuesday: Ephesians 2:11-19, Fellow citizens in Christ

Wednesday: Romans 4:1-12, The faith of Abraham

Thursday: Acts 6:15 – 7:8, God’s call and promise to Abraham

Friday: Hebrews 11:8-12, Abraham acted by faith

Saturday: Psalm 105:1-15, God remembers his covenant

Sunday: Luke 13:1-9, Parable of the fig tree

Monday Hebrews 2:9-18 Jesus was tempted as we are

If you don't have a Bible handy read Hebrews 2:9-18 online.

As I read this passage the phrase, "How can it be?" (from the song "Every move I Make") came to mind.

How can it be that God would do such a thing as to allow Jesus to suffer? How can it be that one can "make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering"? This is an amazing God!

I hate to suffer and what's more, I hate to see my kids suffer, but God allowed Jesus to suffer and die for us! And, by doing so God makes Jesus that much more real to us as Jesus can better to relate to the pain and suffering of humanity. Jesus can relate to my pain and suffering.

In this season of lent we can lay our sin on to our loving Jesus and we can lay our pain and suffering on Jesus. Jesus has "been there and done that" - he now offers heavenly strength and power for daily living in the trenches of our humanity.

Thank you Jesus for coming to us!

Texts for this Week

The texts for this week are:


Monday Hebrews 2:9-18 Jesus was tempted as we are

Tuesday 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Be careful that you don’t fall

Wednesday Luke 22:39-46 Jesus on the Mount of Olives

Thursday James 1:2-17 Trials and temptations

Friday Genesis 39 Joseph resists temptation

Saturday Psalm 119:1-16 The word of God

Sunday Luke 13:31-35 A hen gathering her brood

Feb. 24, Saturday: Psalm 51:1-17, Have mercy on me, O God

Take a moment to read Psalm 51:1-17

The famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Meninger, asked the best question when he said, "Whatever became of sin?" He wondered out loud, and even write a book with the same title, as he saw sin being labeled as "inappropriate behavior." In our culture it is politically incorrect to hold an absolute, and yet King David, after being confronted by the prophet Nathan, is convicted of his sin and returns to God with the beautiful words of Psalm 51:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. "

Our holy God takes the reality of sin very seriously, so seriously that Jesus lived, died and rose again to conquer sin.

May David's prayer be our prayer. May we daily come before our holy God asking to be re-created. God promises to restore us!

Feb. 23, Friday: Joel 2:1,2,12-17, A Call to Repentance

A call to repentance... return to our compassionate God of grace!

If you don't have a Bible handy you can read the text online: Joel 2:1,2,12-17.

The date of Joel's writing is undetermined. Maybe in the 9th or 6th centuries BC. Either way, the prophet Joel is God's mouthpiece calling for God's people to own up to their unfaithfulness and return to God. I suspect that today any pastor preaching Joel's message of gloom and doom would be ignored or ridiculed. However, Joel has a great message for us.

Joel/God is not subtle at all! He presents a very real sense of urgency to return to God. Joel envisions the coming of God at the end of time...so, we are urged to return to God in full - with our whole heart. Are there parts of our heart that we are withholding from God? Are there areas of our life that God longs to come and dwell but we hold God at a distance?

God invites us to open our lives wide to the indwelling presence and power of God, and this is something that we do not need to fear, but rather, this is a God who is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

God is not out to beat us up because of our sin, but rather, God is longing and waiting for us to return to God's loving arms. The grace of God invites us to return to God. Let us turn and run from our sin into the arms of our compassionate God of grace!

Feb. 22, Thursday: Zechariah 7:4-10, Justice, Mercy and Compassion

Don't have a Bible? Read Zechariah 7:4-10 online.

In this text God is really challenging us to give up some things for Lent (and for all time!). God first spoke these words through the prophet Zechariah, to a people who had refused to listen to God. God's people had neglected to be obedient to the covenant that God had made with the people at Mt. Sinai.

God says in Zechariah, "'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other."

In this Lenten season in what ways is God calling you to:

• Administer true justice;
• show mercy and compassion to one another.
• not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.
• not think evil of each other.

How is God calling you to repent, confess and return to the God who died for us? In what ways is God calling you to action rather than just words?

Feb. 21, Ash Wednesday: Matthew 6:1-6,16-21, Giving, praying and fasting

At our Bible study on Tuesday morning we were challenged to give up something for Lent or to take up a new habit for Lent. We challenged one another to use an action, or some time each day, to intentionally remind us of what Christ has done for us. I asked if we could begin next Tuesday morning's Bible study with an accountability check with the question, "What action or time have you committed to give up or take on in this Lenten season and how has this been for you?"

Matthew 6 presents three traditional disciplines of the faith: alms giving, prayer and fasting. These are good disciplines of faith, however, Jesus warns us to, "beware of practicing your piety" (Matthew 6:1). I needed to gain further insight into Jesus' words of Matthew 6:1 so I read Matthew 6:1 in The Message, "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won't be applauding."

It would appear that the attitude associated to the action (discipline of faith) is critical.

As we consider taking on new actions, attitudes and activities or giving up an action, attitude or activity, how do you hear Jesus' warning of "practicing your piety" ("trying to be good")?

Blessings on the journey!

Martin

Welcome to Daily Discipleship - Introduction

The Tuesday morning men's Bible study group at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, MN, has been challenged to give up something for Lent or to seek ways to take on a new habit that would nurture faith throughout Lent. As a result of that discussion this blog has been created.

I have chosen to use the daily texts as assigned in our "Taking Faith Home" inserts (a daily lectionary which relate to our three-year lectionary). This resource is available at www.immanuel.us

The texts for this first week are:

Feb. 21, Ash Wednesday: Matthew 6:1-6,16-21, Giving, praying and fasting
Feb. 22, Thursday: Zechariah 7:4-10, Justice, mercy and compassion
Feb. 23, Friday: Joel 2:1,2,12-17, A call to repentance
Feb. 24, Saturday: Psalm 51:1-17, Have mercy on me, O God
Feb. 25, Sunday: Luke 4:1-13, The temptation of Jesus

You may choose to add comments to this blog or author your own comments (for others to comment).

May the Spirit stir in you this season of Lent, leading you closer to the heart of Jesus and deeper in your walk with our Lord.

Martin Rathjen