Slow Down!

 

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:35-42 ESV).

 

As I have mentioned, Mary and I enjoyed our drive to Georgia where we spent some time with David and his family. The cabin was in the mountains, and it was both fun and restful to be with them. On the drive we noticed that many gas station names highlight how quickly we could fill up and get on our way: “On the Run,” “QuikTrip,” “QuikStop.” Of course, being “in a hurry” did not keep us from stopping at all three Buccees along the way. If you have ever been in one of these massive “gas stations” you know that “quick” is not a word that will describe your stop. However, the stop is always worth it. There are those times when speed is essential. Although I have come to realize that slowing down allows me to experience life in a much different way. Perhaps the sloth in our meme today does indeed have it right.

 

Our reading today indicates some of that. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to two of his own disciples, they followed Jesus and asked him, “Where are you staying?” When Jesus invited them to come and see, “they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him.”

 

For the disciples and Jesus, there was no other pressing responsibility. They simply stopped what they were doing to spend the time with Jesus. And what began with an awkward, sandal-shuffling question ended up as one of the richest days of their lives. Lent is a good time to slow down and spend some time with “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

 

Surprise!

 

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but sit shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:6-13 ESV).

 

I have heard people quote the eighth verse of our reading today when life takes a surprising twist. We say something like “Well, God’s ways certainly are not our ways.” That is true in that context; however, it is not the central message in this text. We must not overlook the context. Isaiah writes: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (v. 6-7). After those words, our verse for today begins with “For.” Our way is not to extend mercy and pardon to people who wrong us. We tend to nurse grudges, harbor bits of bitterness, and avoid offenders. We often seek the role of victim to gain an advantage.

 

But God’s way is totally unlike ours. In effect, God says, “When you sin, seek me out, and I will pardon you—freely, immediately. I know that’s not the way you think. You put your offenders on hold before you reluctantly forgive them, but that’s not my way. Come on, talk to me about it. You’ll be surprised at how quickly I will forgive you. And when we’re back together, you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.’”

 

What a new way of thinking! Who would have imagined that the holy Lord Almighty (cf. Isaiah 6:3) would think and act that way toward people like us! Lent is a good time to be surprised by God’s way of thinking about sin and forgiveness.

 

A Mug of Hot Chocolate

 

What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and scall on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. (Psalm 116:12-14 ESV).

 

Today, as I sit writing the weather has turned cold and dreary. It is actually February 29^th, the added day to account for the synchronization of our calendar with the solar path of Earth, has returned us to winter in Texas. With a drizzling rain and cold temperatures, I have succumbed to the temptation of writing with a mug of hot chocolate nearby. I have several preferred mugs. One is from Texas A&M, another is from the Donut Friar, and the third is a gift from some friends who brought it to me from their trip to Zion National Park. I choose these mugs because they are bigger than usual and heavily crafted. I like the feel of them; and I think that makes the chocolate taste even better. After all, taste is indisputable.

 

The taste of the Lord is also indisputable. The psalmist invites us to “taste and see that the LORD is good.” I have tasted, and I agree. The Lord is good. He is very good. He is superlatively good. He is unfailingly and eternally good. We don’t need preferred mugs to enhance the “taste of the Lord”. His character and grace toward us is more than enough to declare His goodness. The song is right: “God is good—all the time.”

 

Lent is a good time to “lift up the cup of salvation” and say, “The LORD is good.” Perhaps today would be a good day for you to take inventory of hoe God has shown you His goodness. Perhaps it is in unexpected blessing that He has given you. Or it may be that He has proven Himself to be your strength in a time of challenge. I am finding more as I age that His promises are the best expressions of His goodness toward me. Take the time to think about who He is in your life today as we move closer to the celebration of the greatest gift of all… eternal life!

 

Engraved on His Hands

 

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:13-16 ESV).

 

Our reading today is one of those favorites that is often memorized and quoted. However, the principal verse is often translated incorrectly “I have engraved your name on the palms of my hands.” Actually, the word picture in the Prophet Isaiah’s writing indicates that God has engraved not our names, but our very selves, on his hands. The point is to show that God loves us, cares for us, and will never forget us. We are always in the palm of His hand and thus in His mind.

 

Perhaps you have fallen into the habit of carrying notepaper with you to write reminders for later; or, you have mastered the technology at our fingertips with the “Notes” app on your phone. I have not been able to do either. I always seem to forget that my phone will do that, or worse, I will not have paper to write on. So, I have developed a habit of writing on my hands. It may be a phone number or address, or even a reminder that always seems to be important at that moment.

 

Life is a serious pursuit. The end is already determined for believers. It will end with Jesus’ victory and his hands still holding us securely. Those hands were scarred by the nails of the cross, but he promised that he would never let go of his loved ones. All who have been called to faith in him as Lord and Savior are safe and secure in the palms of his hands.

 

As Jesus promised, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). He will never forget us or forsake us. Lent is a good time to reflect on God’s powerful hands—and to see ourselves engraved there.

 

What's Next?

 

But you are a chosen race, aa royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you has sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9-12 ESV).

 

Yesterday I wrote about the need for repentance. The act of repentance has been described as “turning around.” While that’s true, there’s more than merely turning in a different direction of life. We must also take that path actively. It is then natural for us to ask, “What’s next?” The question is not limited to philosophers and theologians. And it’s not only “Why are we (humanity) here?” The question is more personal: “Why am I here?”

 

Through Isaiah and Peter, God gives the same answer. God says he formed his people for himself, that we may proclaim his praise, and we “are a chosen people … God’s special possession,” that we may “declare [his] praises.” The truth stands today for all God’s people. And each one who believes is a valued part of this people (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

 

We have been formed for God’s praise, informed about Christ for his praise, and conformed to Christ for his praise. We are also being transformed by Christ for his praise. Anything that falls short of his praise must be labeled deformed or, at best, unformed or uninformed. There are no exceptions. Every thought, every action and attitude, every glance, every memory and desire, every plan and hope—all are to be for his praise and only for his praise.

 

And here is an amazing truth. Though our sin brings sorrow and detracts from praising God, it is forgiven so that we may give God praise. “In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins … for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:7, 12). Lent is a good time to live up to why we are here—each one of us.

 

Beginning with the Gospel

 

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming ha baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:4-8 ESV).

 

The first six words of Mark’s gospel prompt the question “How does the good news begin?” John the Baptist comes “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” and many respond by “confessing their sins.”

 

We soon read of Jesus’ being baptized, receiving the Father’s blessing, and then being sent to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Jesus resists the devil so effectively that Satan leaves him (cf. Matthew 4:11). Then Jesus begins preaching that “the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

 

The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is that our Creator so loves us that he provides a way out of our miserable life of sin—through belief in Jesus. The first step in our sanctification is admitting we have been sinful. And when Jesus calls us to follow him, we should leave our old life of sin behind. So, he tells us, “Repent” (which means “turn around”), and “believe the good news” that God has made salvation possible. Then he says, “Come, follow me.”

 

Lent is a good time to go back to “the beginning of the good news,” recognizing that we are still capable of sin even though we believe in and follow Jesus. His Spirit is working in us, but (in this life) we are not yet made perfect. Use the remaining days of Lent to practice repentance and accept the Gospel. This is the path to which we are called so that we can follow Jesus more faithfully.

 

A Den of Robbers

 

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. (Mark 11:15-18 ESV).

 

Our reading today gives us another opportunity to learn from Jesus. This lesson comes from His actions as much as His teaching. God’s temple was a symbol of God’s presence among his people, and the religious leaders had allowed the courts of the Gentiles to be filled with vendors and money changers. They provided helpful services by selling animals for use in the temple sacrifices and by providing currency exchanges for travelers from all parts of the empire. But they were robbing people of a place to pray and offer worship to God with praise and offerings. And all this was in the part of the temple where God welcomed people from all nations.

 

So, Jesus drove the buyers and sellers and money changers out of there. Just imagine the scene! Can you see Jesus overturning tables, hear the changers and dove sellers yelling, their coins scattering and doves fluttering with feathers flying? Jesus wasn’t smiling as he banned this merchandise traffic. He was rightly angered by the exploitation of his Father’s house. And he was determined to make this a house of prayer for all nations, as God had intended it to be.

 

The church today should be a place of prayer and worship for God’s people from all nations as well. I’m afraid that so many of our places of worship have drifted away from that to become as bad as the Temple of Jesus’ day. We must make it a singular focus to use the time we spend gathered to pray and share the Gospel. It begins with each of us individually and spreads throughout our community of faith.