March 3, 2022

 

What Are You Giving Up?

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

– Galatians 5:22-23a

 

It is the season of Lent. We attended a beautiful Ash Wednesday service last night and it really got me thinking about what we give up for Lent. Or, perhaps, what we do for Lent.

 

Our church is reading the New Testament in its entirety during the 47 days leading up to Easter. The idea is that as we read and spend time in the Word, we’ll become more like the people of Easter. In other words, we’ll become more like Jesus and His early disciples.

 

Just before this passage on the fruit of the Spirit, Paul wrote about giving up the acts of the flesh. He included hatred, selfish ambition, jealousy, immorality and discord. He was telling us how not to live and then how to live.

 

So, I wondered what would happen if we gave up something that mattered to God?

 

What would happen if instead of trying to “fix” people who weren’t like us, we loved them like Jesus? How would our lives change if we sought joy rather than focusing on the negativity around us? Perhaps we could plant peace in our hearts rather than choose to lash out at others. Maybe we could be patient with those who don’t meet our expectations, just as God is patient with us. Maybe we could practice kindness to those we view as outcasts. Goodness could replace harsh words. Faithfulness could call us to worship God in truth and not just words. Gentleness might turn us toward compassion. And self-control could cause us to think about ourselves less and to actually listen to others before we judge.

 

I’m certainly not against giving up chocolate or soda, if that’s what you prefer. And we could all use less social media these days. But I wonder how highly God thinks of our “sacrifices” and our “discipline” when it does nothing to bring honor to Him or His Kingdom.

 

So, instead of going the easier route I challenge you to give up something that matters to God. Seek to truly live the fruits of the Spirit and, in so doing, shine His light for all to see.

April 12, 2018

Stop Gossip

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. – Proverbs 26:20-21

During Lent, a sweet friend gave up gossip. It drove her mom crazy. I witnessed her encouraging her daughter to do it anyway because “what else is there to talk about.” Indeed.

We are forever talking about people, aren’t we? Are we gossiping? There’s a huge difference in giving information and gossiping. Most of us cross the line on a regular basis.

Several years ago a church friend struggled to remain silent about something she knew. The pastor had lectured her on gossiping and she was determined not to tell. Except she needed to share. A friend and neighbor to us all had suffered a severe stroke that morning. We all needed to know. His wife and children needed support and prayer. Their livestock needed to be cared for. They needed immediate help and we could only provide that if we knew what had happened.

Another friend, also a pastor, tried to explain to her the difference between gossip and sharing news. Gossip would be talking about the marriage, the mistakes, the dirty secrets. We didn’t need to “know” any of that. But we did need to know the man had a bad stroke and the hospital he was in.

She was right to hold back some information. Prayer requests often masquerade as gossip sessions. Have you ever considered that? We need to pray for so and so who’s having marital troubles. And then we proceed to discuss them in detail. Or we need to pray for so and so who had a heart attack. And then we proceed to talk about his weight, his eating or drinking habits, or his work schedule.

What would happen if we stopped gossiping? What would happen if we simply walked away from the comments, refused to listen and refused to participate?

After hearing the conversation between my friend and her mom, I started paying attention to the words her mom said at other times. I was amazed at how often her conversation centered on other people. Gossip. Not news and information. She was critical, always with a smile of course. She “shared” things no one needed to know, imparting information that was likely inaccurate.

And I was shocked at my lack of response to it. The gossip had become “normal” and I didn’t even hear it anymore. It didn’t register as gossip. It didn’t register at all. I wonder if other people are the same. Is gossip now so prevalent in our world that we don’t even think about it?

Gossip hurts people. It spreads lies and distorts truth in a way that paints an unflattering picture of the people those word arrows are directed toward. And for what reason? So someone can feel important for sharing “news”? Or so that someone can feel good about themselves and somehow justify their own bad behavior?

Pay attention to the words others speak around you. Walk away when the gossip starts. Or, better yet, speak up. Be kind. The other person might now see their words as gossip. But don’t just do nothing. The only way to stop the fire is to put it out.

March 20, 2017

Faith Is A Lifetime Journey

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Are you one of those people who gave up something for Lent? Some people choose to give up something -- such as chocolate or soda -- so that by depriving themselves they enjoy they might “suffer” a bit and feel closer to Jesus. Of course, this is nothing like Jesus went through for us.

The practice is good for what it is. But I have a question for you: If you’re going to make a change for Jesus, shouldn’t it be a permanent change?

We act like we’ll do this wonderful thing for 40 days -- Sundays don’t count -- and somehow we’re honoring our Savior for what He did for us. But I’m not sure how giving up chocolate really honors Jesus. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good for our health. But does it further God’s kingdom? Does it help anyone know Jesus? Does it draw us closer to Him?

Our faith journey isn’t meant to be a short excursion with a finish date set by us. It is rather a life-long journey that only ends when God calls us home. We should constantly be moving toward Jesus, toward being more like Him, toward learning more about Him, toward living more like Him.

So what could you give up for Jesus? Maybe you could give up anger. Maybe you could give up jealousy. Maybe you could move past greed. Maybe you could give up that focus on things of the world.

What could you do for Jesus? A popular thing is to pay for the order behind you in the drive thru line. You could take a meal to a family going through a tough time. You could visit with an elderly person. You could drive a sick friend to the doctor. There are many, many ways to be Jesus in a hurting world.

Giving up something for Lent is fine. Nothing wrong with it at all, especially if it makes you feel closer to Jesus. But remember that our faith journey isn’t a short 40-day sprint. It’s a long journey with our eye on a eternal crown of life.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Marked With Mourning

"Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." -- Job 42:6

Today is Ash Wednesday. Some folks know it as the day after Fat Tuesday. Others know it as the beginning of Lent. It is a day when we remember that we are nothing without God, our Creator. We repent, giving an outward sign to all, that we are sinners worthy only of death.

This holy season begins a journey toward Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. We go forward remembering fully what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross. We embrace His sacrifice, His suffering and rejection, paying the penalty for our sins. My sins. Your sins. He, who was without sin, died so that you and I could live forever in the Presence of God Almighty.

Most of the time we can just sort of scoot through life, pretending that we're more than we are. Today we remember that God made us and without Him we don't exist. Today we acknowledge that we are sinners who fall short of the Glory of God. Today we admit that without Jesus we would be doomed to a horrible death and complete destruction.

Many churches will conduct services tonight. Christians will walk humbly to the altar and be marked with the ashes of mourning. We will spend the next 40 days on a journey toward a cross and one solitary man who gave Himself so that we might live.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Remember

"God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." -- Romans 3:25a

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. We have started the journey toward Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. We are blessed because we know the ending that comes after this time of sorrow and penitence.


We are all sinners. All of us. No one gets a bye because he views his sins as less than those of someone else. Sin is sin, whether it's a white lie or murder. Feel free to squirm or get huffy. It won't change anything but it might make you feel better.


Lent is the 40 days -- not counting Sundays -- that leads to Easter. We don't count Sundays because Jesus rose on a Sunday. Before Jesus began His ministry He spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. He prepared Himself for His journey. In Lent, we are called to prepare ourselves to draw closer to God.

Traditionally, Lent is a time of prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. We use this time to rededicate ourselves to God. We seek to grow as Christians and simplify a complicated life. It's sort of like spring cleaning our souls.

So what are you doing during this time of reflection? Are you devoting extra time to pray and study God's word? Are you making changes in your life and attitude so that your actions become more in line with God's plan? Are you actively helping others who are less fortunate?

God gave His only Son for us. During this time of reflection it is important to remember the price that Jesus paid when He redeemed us with His death.