Daily Devotional

Did you know that the 2nd Friday in January has been dubbed National Quitters Day? It’s the day most people abandon their New Year’s Eve Resolutions.

=And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”

Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

As we approach Easter, we are reminded of God’s boundless love for us, demonstrated most profoundly in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross. It’s a time to reflect on God’s grace – grace that is unearned, undeserved, and yet freely given.

My first Sunday as the new organist of St. Luke’s was March 5, 1989. I remember it well. It snowed five inches that day. As a Texan, Oklahoma was one of those “Northern States,” and I was very excited for my first Oklahoma snowfall. However, my fondest memory of that Sunday was meeting and greeting the members of St. Luke’s. It was immediately evident that this was a warm and welcoming body of believers. I was 27, and it was my first job out of state, but I already felt I had made so many new friendships and “adopted” grandparents. Thus began the first of many years of building relationships.

I love the season of Lent. There is a beauty in the practice of self-reflection that helps us to become the people we are created to be. The season is a time to examine our lives in a way that directs us to a deeper understanding of the love that God has for us. It is one of the reasons that I appreciate the writings of Peter Abelard. Abelard lived from 1079 – 1142 and was a French philosopher and theologian. One of his most important contributions to Christianity was labeled as heresy – his views on the cross. In his time, the leading thought on why Christ died on the cross was that it was necessary for the forgiveness of sins.

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday when we traditionally have a worship service with the imposition of ashes in the sign of a cross. This begins a time of fasting and preparation for Easter. But today is the day before the season of Lent begins. It has many names, such as Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, and even Pancake Day!

The cross marks the most pivotal moment in history. It was a dark and solemn day when our Lord, Jesus hung on that cross. It was a cross that was meant for a rebellious murderer. Instead, Jesus willingly took the place of Barabbas so the world could witness the full extent of God’s great love. The sacrificial action of Christ changed the world.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

“Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”