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