Devotional Reading: John 7: 1-13. Morning Psalm -43; evening Psalm 31

Text: “While some were saying, ‘He is a good man,’ others were saying, ‘No, he is deceiving the crowd.’ Yet no one would speak openly about him…” (vss. 12b & 13)

Jesus once told his disciples, “Blessed/Happy are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me…for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”  And again, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.”  

“Some men see things as they are and say, why; I dream things that never were and say, why not.”*  If you are going to take Jesus seriously you are going to love those people whom Jesus loved and you will see the brokenness of this world through His eyes. You will not try to “fix” other people but work on “fixing” yourself. You will do the work of God’s Kingdom here on earth, as best as your understanding will lead you. You will acknowledge that even your best intentions have a darker side and unintended consequences. You will be humble in heart. You will accept the fact that some people will praise you while others will condemn you. But as a Jesus follower, you will neither be encouraged by the praise nor intimidated by the condemnation. Followers of Jesus do not seek the accolades of this world. They live their lives simply and courageously. Their goal in life is not to be famous or remembered but to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”**

In this season of Lent explore your motivation for doing “good” things in this world. Also explore how dependent you are to the applause of “the crowd.”

Lord, lead me in a moral inventory. Give me a heart that loves you above all else. Purge from me the quest for fame, glory or money. Let me not have the false humility that lets me think that I am doing good and noble things when I am merely “playing to the crowd” in a more clever way. Amen.

*Senator Edward M. Kennedy quoted these words in his eulogy of Robert F. Kennedy. President John F. Kennedy spoke similar words in his address to the Irish Parliament, Dublin, Ireland on June 28, 1963. George Bernard Shaw is the original author.

**The response to the first question of the Westminster Catechism of faith.

Devotional Reading: John 5: 19-29. Morning Psalm–27; Evening Psalm 126

Text: I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. (Jesus, John 5:24)

A frustrated supervisor came into my office and sat down. After talking to one of his direct reports he said, “He doesn’t listen. He simply doesn’t listen.” An exasperated partent asks their child, “Aren’t you listening?”   Implicit in “listening” is “understanding” and “doing”. In our text for today Jesus said that those who do His work of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and dying, and visiting the imprisoned are forgiven of their “sin”–of their inherent brokenness and the they cause because we cannot escape the fact that we are less than perfect. Jesus also said that by listening we pass from death to life. What a curious phrase.

At various points in the gospels Jesus told his disciples that if they wish to save their life, they will lost it, but conversely, if they lose their life for His sake and the gospel’s they will find their life. And in the so-called parable of the prodigal son, the son “comes to his senses” when he remembered not only who he is, but whose he is. When the father saw his “lost” son returning home, he told the servants to celebrate for his son who was lost is found and who was dead and is now alive. It strikes me that we can be spiritually dead throughout life. We are only truly alive when we are engaged in the Risen Lord’s work.

Today, listen for the voice of Jesus. Commit yourself to discipleship. To the glory of God.

Lord God, thank you for your forgiveness that is given even before I know my need. Give me the ears to hear your call and the will to do your work. Amen.

Devotional Reading: John 4:43-54. Morning Psalm–34; Evening Psalm–25

Text: The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way (vs. 50b)

I am drawn to the father in today’s reading. I am a father and grandfather. I have been scared for my children and grandchildren. I know the kind of fear that drove him to Jesus. What I am most struck with, though, is his faith. He believed and went home to whatever awaited him. Fortunately, by the time he returned home, his child was well. Things do not always work out this way, though.

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 RSV)

     When a new follower of Jesus comes to me and wants to know what he or she should do, I suggest that they devotionally read the letter to James. I call it “Christianity 101”. It talks about the practical application of faith in every day life. It tells someone how to “walk home” holding on the “word” that Jesus “spoke.” James foundational statement for me is found in the very first chapter. “If any of you lack wisdom, ask God who gives generously. But ask without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wind tossed sea. Do not be double-minded.” (vss. 5 & 6) While he talks about wisdom, I believe that it applies to every aspect of our faith journey.

We do not always get the answer that we want. Bad things happen. That is a part of the Lenten season–it leads to the Cross. But we must never doubt that God is faithful.

Lord, give me the faith of the father. Let me ask boldly and live with confidence, sure of your presence whether I be on one of life’s mountaintops on in the valley of shadows. Amen.

Devotional Reading for the Day: John 1: 43-51

Text: (Jesus) found Philip …(John 1:43)

I find it interesting that the gospel writer in John made a point of having Jesus find Philip.

When I was a young man there was an evangelism push that swept  America called, “I Found It.” There were billboards, bulletin inserts and even campaign-like buttons. A lot of churches bought into the movement. There was something about it, though, that made me uneasy. Then someone pointed out to me that “It” wasn’t lost. I was. We are lost. It is God who finds us not us who finds God.  This is true from Adam and Eve in Garden onward. “I once was lost but now am found” the old hymn* says.

Philip, like Andrew before him, told other about how Jesus came into his life and changed it. Suddenly, he was on a great journey discovering what it means to be really alive. During this season of Lent, this time of reflection in preparation for the celebration of Easter, we would do well to think about how Christ came into our lives and made a difference. We’d do better by sharing this “good news”–this “gospel”–with someone else.

Prayer: Lord, do not allow me to keep private how you touched my life and opened my eyes to the true reality of life. Give me the wisdom, the words and the courage to share how you changed me with a “Nathaniel”.  Amen.

Reading for the Day*: John 1: 35-42

The grace seen at the baptismal font, a grace that claims us before we even know that we belong to God, is a lifelong call.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said to two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The two left John, and immediately followed Jesus, not yet as disciples, but at a distance. At this point they were just curious and cautious. “Is this what the Lamb of God looked like? He wasn’t all that different from John, or themselves, for that matter.”

Jesus turned to them and asked what they were looking for. “Where are you staying,” they replied. “Come and see,” Jesus said. Walk with me. Live with me. Learn for yourself Who I am. The walk of Christian discipleship is not about “head” knowledge. It is not about the accumulation of facts or verifiable proofs. It is about experience. It is about a willing commitment that leads to ultimate trust.

One of the disciples, Andrew by name, had a brother named Simon Peter. Filled with insight and excitement he hurried to Simon Peter and said, “We have found the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord.” The discovery of who Jesus is, is found in community though it may appear to be individual revelation.

Jesus’ invitation still echoes. Come and see. Go and serve, to the glory of God.

“Our hearts are restless until they come in rest in you, O Lord.”** Remove our restless hearts, O God. Take away anxious thoughts. Give us wisdom throughout all of the events of today; great and small. Amen.

*These readings are from The Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). To read the assigned lesson of the day in a devotional manner simply means that you read it not to finish the reading itself but with the attitude that God is speaking to you in the reading. You may not finish the whole reading. A particular word or phrase may give you pause. If that happens, pause and reflect upon it. You need not finish the rest of the reading. Such a pause will not necessarily happen every day but when it does, enjoy the moment.)

**From St. Augustine’s Confessions.

Devotional Reading: John 4:  43-54. Morning Psalm–34; Evening Psalm–25

Text: The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. (vs. 50b)

I think that the hardest thing about faith is believing that our prayers are heard and acting upon that belief. The father’s faith in Jesus is what stood out to me in today’s devotional reading. He returned home to find his son well. Curious, he asked his servants when his son turned the corner to wellness. When told, he realized that it was at the same hour that Jesus told him to go home. Sometimes that has happened to me. More often than not, though, that it not how faith works–or at least my experience of faith. God is not some short of cosmic vending machine or celestial Santa Claus. Faith is not a financial or spiritual exchange. It’s just not.

The verse that has helped me most in my faith journey is found in the letter of James. I tell new followers of Christ–or those taking their first furtive steps in discipleship–that James is Christianity 101. “When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (1:6) While this text speaks specifically about wisdom, I believe that it applies to all of our prayers. Ask and then step out in faith. Like the father, walk “home”. Things may turn out as we wish, but ultimately God is faithful. In the words of the Psalmist, “Tears may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (30:5)  In God’s world, there is always a morning.

Lord, give me the faith of that father who came to Jesus in John’s gospel today. Let me walk home to my fears and troubles confident that somehow you are at work. Wipe my tears away and let me see the light of morning’s joy. Amen.