Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed. " Luke 4:18 ESV
Whether you turn on the CBS Evening news, The Fox Report or CNN news, it is likely that the headlines are all bad news stories. As the old saying goes, “If it bleeds it leads.” With unimaginable cruelty, unending wars and merciless natural disasters pummeling our airwaves, it is easy to suppose that things have never been so bad. But with the slaughter of worshippers in the temple by Pilate, multitudes of blind, crippled and lepers begging in the streets and the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, in the days of Jesus, it seems that things weren’t really all that much different back then. So, you might think that in His first sermon, Jesus should have denounced the Roman atrocities, demanded fair treatment of slaves or condemned the religious charlatans who held power in Jerusalem. But instead, Jesus went to the ancient prophetic writings of Isaiah and announced to everyone longing for better things, that He had come to proclaim God’s Good News, and that this news was especially for the poor. Why the poor? Were they any more deserving of this message than anyone else? No! Rather this good news for them was like a home cooked meal to a starving man, a storm shelter in a tornado or a Spring thaw after many subzero weeks of Winter.
Sharing this message of Good News with the precious residents of Discovery Villages this past Sunday was a real blessing. I found that God’s word didn’t need to be hyped up, twisted into modern relevancy or updated, for it to bring hope to their hungry hearts. If you are also thirsty for that same good news of Jesus, then I pray that this little message will lift you up today.
“To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”Luke 4:19 ESV
When hearing this scripture which Jesus closed with in His earliest recorded sermon, his hearers must have questioned, “The Lord’s favor?” Nothing has been favorable around here for centuries! First, we were conquered by the Babylonians, then the Greeks and now the Romans. Not only has our land been divided and impoverished, but here in Nazareth we are some of the poorest of all!”
Though we might wonder why they didn’t understand that Jesus was talking about, we are often in the same boat. Seemingly unsolvable problems, health crises and broken relationships leave us wondering where the favor of Lord is in our life. But remember that Jesus began reading one verse earlier.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,” Luke 4:18
Our world, just like that first century world is filled with bad news. with many horrifying headlines. But Jesus came to announce the beginning of something better, especially to the poor. He offered riches that never grow old or lose value. He came to give peace, joy, and kindness, along with gentleness and goodness, just to mention a few priceless things. Then Jesus talked about liberty for captives and sight for the blind. The liberty and vision Jesus gives is a liberty, not from bars and chains, but from sin, and the crushing demands of the world. Next, He came to give a display of God’s love, that even a blind man could see when He died on the Cross. Last of all, Jesus said that He had come to set the oppressed free. Maybe they hoped, that meant the freedom from Roman oppressors, but Jesus meant the greatest liberation of all. That liberty is from the fear of death which lurks on every one of our horizons. By the cross, Jesus defeated death and founded an eternal Kingdom. This Kingdom which Jesus announced 2,000 years ago is here right now and Jesus is the doorway into it. If anyone will put their faith in Him and confess Him as Lord, they can step across the border into a brand-new world. In the Kingdom Jesus came to announce, no matter how things look, God is always in control. And not only is God in control but He also is constantly working everything for good for those who love Him and He is calling us to trust Him because He has called us according to His plan!
With next Wednesday being Ash Wednesday, I thought it might be a good time to talk about Lent. Some Christians observe Lent every year, while others simply look on with curiosity. But very few of us actually know where the whole idea came from. So, you might ask, “What exactly is Lent?” That is a great question with more than one answer! The observance of Lent began sometime in the fourth century and in general, is a period of time from Ash Wednesday till Easter. The concept of forty days is meant to mirror the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. However, if you counted the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, you would discover that there are actually forty-seven in all. The number of forty is arrived at by subtracting the Sundays and ending on the Wednesday of Holy week.
But, instead of getting lost in the math, think of Lent as a time to spiritually prepare for Easter. Some of us do this by abstaining from certain foods or activities others by committing to helping those in need. Though there is no requirement in the Bible for observing Lent, there is also nothing forbidding it. After all, it is never a bad idea to set aside time for seeking God’s will and purpose. The Bible calls times like these, “Waiting on the Lord.” This waiting is not about traditions but about hearts. When we wait God’s way, God promises to give us His strength and renewal. However, you choose to prepare for the Easter season, the most important thing is to focus on Jesus. For me personally Easter brings back the excitement of my coming to faith in Jesus on Easter Sunday! So, during Lent, I come to each morning, asking Jesus for a brand-new insight into His word and His will. Walking with Jesus will lead us along the path that He has chosen and following His path will lead us to the destination He has for our lives. My prayer is that together during Lent, we may remember again the miracles of Jesus, the Last Supper, His sacrifice of His life on the Cross, and most of all, meet with our Risen Lord as Mary did, right outside the empty tomb!
If you would like a devotional to help you along your own Lenten journey, you might consider a book which I wrote a few years ago, titled, “The Joy of Easter.” In this Lenten reader you will find meditations for the entire forty-seven-day period from Ash Wednesday till Easter Sunday. Each day includes a verse and short, simple devotional. The Joy of Easter is available both in an e-Book format as well as a large print paperback.
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