TRUST

Hebrews 2:11-18

At times I wonder why God created humans. After all, He knew that He was going to chuck us out of the Garden of Eden. He knew He had to hand us over to sin. He did not stop any bit of our pride to do things our way.

He could, I think, have just shrugged off the whole thing and call it the death of an experiment. But He did not. He loved us, and gave Himself for us. He entrusted His Son and the Salvation Plan to us.

God trusts us. He calls us His children. Instead of harping about our wretched state, Jesus – the Holy One – makes us holy. He is not ashamed to call us His brothers.

Are we willing to trust Him? Why do we hesitate when Jesus knows us – even how we feel? Can we, like Isaiah, choose to say, “I will put my trust in him”? And will we proclaim His name and sing His praises in every circumstance, in spite of the taunts and jeers of other people?

Action:

Look for a Christian whom you respect, and ask them to share an episode of their life where they learnt the hard lesson of Trust – especially “Trust in God”.

Mark 2:18-22

LORD, HAVE MERCY

Titus 3:1-15

St Paul writes that God “saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (v. 5).

In The Message version of the Bible, part of verse 7 is translated thus: “God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives.” Interesting way of translating the idea of ‘justification by grace’ (as translated in the New International Version). Beyond all the talk of sins and forgiveness and debt settlement (as if God is the cosmic loan shark), perhaps the truth about God’s mercy is that it is the means by which we finally find ourselves.

Earlier we discussed how we are defined by our deeds. But there is some point where even all the best and most meaningful deeds cannot fully define us. St Augustine wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” It is about God; about running to the edge of the beach and finding that a whole new world awaits in the ocean and daring to take the plunge and jumping into the unknown.

And entrusting yourself to God’s mercy. Entrusting yourself into the hands of the Almighty. And trusting that He won’t let you drown.

Reflection:

Read Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 23:35-43. What do these passages tell us about God’s mercy? Why did the centurion say, “I too am a man under authority”?

Action:

Think of how you can trust God more, and work towards it.

FOR THE HONOUR OF THE KING

Titus 2:1-15

Titus 2:11-14 is an echo of John 3:16-17, and it gives us an idea of what the ‘eternal’ or ‘everlasting’ life of John 3:16 is all about. And this everlasting life is simply ‘life to the fullest’—a life beyond corruption and condemnation and decay; a GREAT life. How is this life characterised on this side of heaven’s door? Simply by our act of denying ungodliness and worldly desires, and living sensibly, righteously and godly, always eager to do good (vv. 12, 14). Much, much easier said than done.

In yesterday’s reading, we saw that good deeds define a person’s character; the latter is expressed as the former, for a person’s character and actions are inseparable. Here, today, in chapter 2, we are faced with the staggering reality that our actions and character actually reveal how much of God’s everlasting life we are truly enjoying.

And something else is at stake: the word of God (v. 5). Our submission to authority and graciousness of character, as pictured in this chapter, leads to one end: the continual honouring of God’s word. And His word is His truth, and while we meditate on Jesus’ final 40 days (this season of Lent), it would be good to remember than He is the Word of God—the embodiment and incarnation of all that God is (John 1:1).

Reflection:

Do our deeds honour Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?

Action:

Let us make an extra effort this Lent to live as people who are redeemed to do good, who want to please their God. Think of an attitude you want to change, and list ways in which you can work towards that change. Perhaps you could do this with a friend (or in a group), and keep track of each other’s progress this Lent.

40 Ideas For Lent

Here's an additional resource which I thought was helpful. Go here for more information and details..

Here's a quick overview:
> Day 1 – Wed 21 Feb: Go on a media diet
> Day 2 – Thur 22 Feb: Find Lent readings
> Day 3 – Fri 23 Feb: Recycle, freecycle
> Day 4 – Sat 24 Feb: Upload a poem

> Day 5 – Mon 26 Feb: Walk and watch
> Day 6 – Tues 27 Feb: Your chore is my chore
> Day 7 – Wed 28 Feb: Bake a cake
> Day 8 – Thur 1 Mar: Out your doubts
> Day 9 – Fri 2 Mar: Someone else's preference
> Day 10 – Sat 3 Mar: Send a message

> Day 11 – Mon 5 Mar: Give blood
> Day 12 – Tues 6 Mar: Phone a friend
> Day 13 – Wed 7 Mar: Go walking
> Day 14 – Thur 8 Mar: The boss
> Day 15 – Fri 9 Mar: Worship elsewhere
> Day 16 – Sat 10 Mar: Pray the paper

> Day 17 – Mon 12 Mar: Look out the window
> Day 18 – Tues 13 Mar: Read a Gospel
> Day 19 – Wed 14 Mar: Pay some compliments
> Day 20 – Thur 15 Mar: Research Lent
> Day 21 – Fri 16 Mar: Slim down your wardrobe
> Day 22 – Sat 17 Mar: Make a joy jar

> Day 23 – Mon 19 Mar: Don't Moan Day
> Day 24 – Tues 20 Mar: Christmas in Lent
> Day 25 – Wed 21 Mar: Almighty email
> Day 26 – Thur 22 Mar: Help a child in school
> Day 27 – Fri 23 Mar: Widen your prayers
> Day 28 – Sat 24 Mar: A week of giving

> Day 29 – Mon 26 Mar: Who's next door?
> Day 30 – Tues 27 Mar: Think small
> Day 31 – Wed 28 Mar: Random acts of kindness
> Day 32 – Thur 29 Mar: Stop shopping
> Day 33 – Fri 30 Mar: A note of thanks
> Day 34 – Sat 31 Mar: Your carbon footprint

> Day 35 – Mon 2 Apr: Don't inerrupt!
> Day 36 – Tues 3 Apr: Instead of money
> Day 37 – Wed 4 Apr: Write your own obituary
> Day 38 – Thur 5 Apr: Empty your wallet
> Day 39 – Fri 6 Apr: Light a virtual candle
> Day 40 – Sat 7 Apr: A clean sweep

DEFINED BY OUR DEEDS

Titus 1:1-16

What strikes me about the first chapter of Titus is that it paints a portrait of the ideal ‘pastor’, which is everything I am not. Paul sums up the character of the rebellious up in verse 16; “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him.”

When I think of that, I recall a line from the movie Batman Begins—something the character Rachel Dawes says to Bruce Wayne; “It’s not who you are inside, but what you do that defines you.” We are defined by our deeds. Bruce had many dreams and intentions to stem the corruption in Gotham, and he harboured a passionate hatred for the evildoers in the city. But until he donned the mask and cape of his alter ego, he was merely building castles in the air.

A good person (vv. 6-9) is defined and characterised by his or her deeds, and by our deeds we are either ‘above reproach as God’s steward’ (v. 7) or else ‘worthless for any good deed’ (v. 16). Every moment is a moment either of action or inaction, and the choice to do good or evil is ours.

Reflection:

Jesus said that those who live by the truth are not afraid of the light, because their deeds are good and have been done through God (John 3:21). Is this true of us?

Action:

List, at random, ten deeds you have done over the past week. What kind of picture does it paint of you? If a complete stranger were to look at that list, what kind of person would he/she think you are?

PDF Download

Many thanks to TRAC Methodist Website for making the whole Lent Meditations available in pdf format (download away!)