Lenten Devotional...Easter

Colossians 3:1-4

One of the truly powerful moments of baptism is the symbolism that accompanies the candidate coming up from beneath the water. In going under the baptismal waters he or she is burying his or her sin, dying to the old self. Then, as the candidate comes out of the water, he or she is being raised to new life, sharing in the resurrection of Christ. Paul speaks of this new life when he writes in today's text, "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above....for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." My friends, this is the good news of Easter. Christ has taken our sins upon himself and they have been buried with him. As he has risen to new life, so too we rise to be like Christ, to seek the things that are above.

We so often think of resurrection as our hope for that moment some day when we breathe our last breath, but resurrection is more than eternal security...it is empowerment for daily living here and now. Through Christ, you have been raised to glorious, new life. So, today, seek the things that are above. That is the joy and hope of resurrection for this and every day!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to rise anew and live victoriously. Because Christ lives, we too shall live! Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Holy Saturday

I Peter 4:1-8

First century Christians believed the return of Christ would come at any moment. Indeed, Peter writes in our text today, "The end of all things is near."

Though we know little about what truly happened to the followers of Christ in those hours between the crucifixion and the resurrection, it would not be much of a stretch to surmise that they believed the end of all things was near, but for very different reasons. The One they had followed, leaving behind the familiar faces and places of their lives, had just been executed. Mark tells us the disciples were weeping and mourning when Mary came with the news of resurrection. John reveals that when Jesus first appeared to the disciples post-resurrection, they were behind locked doors, afraid of what might happen to them because of their association with Jesus. Perhaps the end of all things would come for them as it had for Jesus.

Fear paralyzes, causing us to withdraw...to detach ourselves from the world around us. The difference between the Christians Peter writes to and the disciples in the immediate aftermath of the crucifixion, is resurrection. Pre-resurrection, fear overwhelms, death defeats; post-resurrection, fear is overcome, life wins. Thus Peter encourages his brothers and sisters in Christ to arm themselves with the same intentions of Christ...living not by their own desires, but by the will of God.

Perhaps in these hours between our observances of crucifixion and resurrection, we would do well to heed Paul's words: ... live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God.

Prayer: Lord, help us overcome the fears that paralyze. May we live by your will, in the light of Sunday's resurrection hope. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Good Friday

John 18:1-19:42

What must it be like to be completely betrayed? For Jesus, betrayal had a name…actually, many names. Judas bears the burden of Jesus’ betrayal, but he didn’t act alone. Yes, he brought the soldiers to the garden, but when the rough hands of the temple guards bound Jesus and took him to Caiaphas, the other disciples joined this betrayal as they ran in fear. Peter followed at a distance, but his betrayal was compounded as he denied knowing this man he had earlier promised to die for. Condemned by the religious leaders whose heritage he shared, and reluctantly sent to the cross by a Roman governor, Jesus is thrust into the street, forced to carry his cross while the crowd who hailed him as king days before, now celebrates his condemnation. On the cross, there seems a final betrayal as God turns away. The work of betrayal is complete. “It is finished,” Jesus cries.

Yes, betrayal had many names; many more than the story reveals. Anyone else you recognize?

Prayer: Forgiveness is a gift of the cross, Lord. As one of your betrayers, I humbly ask for that gift, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Maundy Thursday

I Corinthians 11:23-26

Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room the night before his crucifixion, not as an act of secrecy, but a moment of initiation that would be celebrated for centuries to come. Within hours, his closest followers would betray him, the adoring crowds who welcomed him on Sunday would call for his crucifixion, and the religious establishment would coerce the government to kill him. The scriptures tell us that Jesus knew all of this before it happened, and yet, he sits down with these traitorous men for a final meal. What was this act of initiation that had to be observed?

Bread and wine...a simple meal, but here, in this upper room, it becomes so much more. The blessing is offered, the bread is broken, and Jesus says, “This is my body that is for you." Then he takes the cup and says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood." Bread and wine...body and blood; Jesus is establishing something new that will serve as a marker for generations to come. With both elements of this supper, he tells his disciples, "Do this in remembrance of me." This moment of initiation establishes an observance that calls all who follow him to eat the bread and drink the cup as an act of proclamation, a continuing witness to the sacrifice of God's Son for the world.

Perhaps this evening in a Maundy Thursday service, like that Thursday evening more than two thousand years ago, you will participate once more in the proclamation of salvation. As you do this, take note that millions before you have received and remembered that same loaf and cup. As you do this, take note that twelve sinful men shared that bread and wine as you will do. As you do this, take a quiet moment to note the words of Jesus..."For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

Prayer: Bread of life, Wine of the new covenant, help us remember and give thanks whenever we gather at your table. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Holy Wednesday

Hebrews 12:1-3

March Madness is a study in perseverance, The annual NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments close what has already been a long and grinding season with a three week tournament of games for the purpose of crowning a champion. Along the way there are upsets as lower seeded teams surprise their supposed superiors, while some teams prove the validity of their lofty rankings. I must say, on more than one occasion over the years, I have thought the team I was rooting for was too far behind, too worn out to win the game, only to be surprised that they found unexpected strength to finish well and advance to the next game.

The writer of Hebrews challenged his readers to persevere, even in the midst of what seemed to be hopeless circumstances. He offered the example of Jesus who would not be deterred by the obstacles of human sin. His purposeful march to the cross was accomplished because he kept his focus on the will of his heavenly Father who empowered his every step. But there is something else for us here, for in noting his example, we are encouraged to "not grow weary or lose heart."

On this Wednesday of Holy Week, we are nearing the cross. There are numerous obstacles that stand between us and the cross of Christ, but take heart, persevere, for as Christ joyfully embraced the cross, so too may we as we trust our heavenly Father to empower our every step.

Prayer: One more step, and then another, Lord. Give strength to complete the journey, to take up my cross and follow you. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Holy Tuesday

I Corinthians 1:18-25

The gospel story is one of paradox. From his earliest teachings Jesus turned conventional wisdom on its ear. He was constantly sharing the revelation of God's love that transformed minds, hearts, and the daily practice of faith. "You have heard it said," he proclaimed in Matthew 5, then countered, "but I tell you..." Nowhere is this more evident than the cross where humiliation, suffering, and death seemed to rule, yet at the right moment, when his work was complete, Jesus cried out from the cross that his mission was accomplished..."It is finished!"

The apostle Paul picks up this theme in our text today as he writes, "For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Foolishness/power; perishing/salvation...here is the message of hope that will not be defeated by human wisdom--"while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It makes little sense.

The cross is foolishness to those who will not believe, but for those who will, it is salvation. Therefore, with Paul, let us proclaim Christ crucified...the foolishness of the gospel!

Prayer: Eternal God, may our wisdom give way to the foolishness of the cross. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Holy Monday

Isaiah 42:5-9

And old friend used to talk about the five "P's" of success...Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. As a school administrator, he knew something about the significance of being prepared.

Throughout the Old Testament, the covenantal relationship between the Creator God and his chosen people is preparing the way for the fulfillment of promise. Along the way, God has reminded them again and again that they are a people of the promise whose hope is found in the faithfulness of God. In verse nine of our text, God speaks through the prophet, saying, "See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them." The fulfillment of promise came in the incarnate Christ. Even after he came to this earth, Jesus continued to tell of God's plan that ultimately led to the cross. Salvation was not a clandestine act, but one prepared from the creation event itself, spoken of over and over again in the words of scripture.

And so, God has been preparing God's human creation for this moment of salvation. Our final steps to the cross this week are but continuing reminders of preparation and promise.

Prayer: God of Promise, you have been faithful to your word. During this Holy Week, prepare our hearts and guide our steps as we make our way to the cross. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...Palm Sunday

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Circumstances often dictate movement. The anticipation of something exciting, something wonderful, quickens our steps...gravity is defied as we seem to walk on air. The anticipation of something difficult, something painful, slows our steps as if our feet and legs suddenly have great weights upon them. There are, however, those rare moments when summoning a courage beyond ourselves, we step forward, resolutely facing the challenge before us, recognizing what must be done is worth the struggle.

The prophet Isaiah seems to understand this rare moment when faith overcomes fear, purpose overcomes humiliation, and courage overcomes doubt. That which empowers his perseverance is the help he receives from almighty God. "It is the Lord God who helps me," he declares in verse 9. As a result, he does not fear human disgrace or false accusation.

The strength of the prophet is echoed in the actions of Jesus as he steps into the moment he has been telling his disciples about for some time. They have begged him not to go to Jerusalem, but like the prophet in verse seven, Jesus has set his face like flint toward the city, and the cross. He will willingly give himself, not as the conquering king the city calls him to be, but the Savior of the world God has called him to be. "...he who vindicates me is near," the prophet declares. So too, the Son of God takes heavy, but resolute steps toward the cross, for the One who vindicates him is near.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to follow in the resolute, purposeful steps of Christ throughout this Holy Week. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 23

Mark 10:32-34

Sometimes we find ourselves simply walking through the motions, distracted by other things that capture our attention. This lack of focus can create confusion, doubt, even fear.

There is a crowd following Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. Mark mentions the twelve, whom he describes as, "amazed," and an additional group of followers he describes as, "afraid." Jesus doesn't exactly allay their concerns as he reminds them that he is on his way to Jerusalem to die. This isn't the first time they heard him say this...perhaps that explains the fear and amazement. One tends to forget, particularly in light of the resurrection, the hardships and uncertainties these followers of Jesus endured. Theirs was a walk of faith that few were willing to make.

You and I struggle along this path to Jerusalem as well. We have seen and read the wonders of Jesus, yet are often uncomfortable with the direction he takes. Jesus stays focused on his calling, and asks his disciples to do the same. He reminds them that this trip to Jerusalem is one they would make together. Amid our amazement and fear, Jesus calls us to take that same journey.

Prayer: You go before us to Jerusalem, and the cross, Lord. May we follow you, every step of the way. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 22

I Corinthians 13:3

We live in perhaps the most actively entrepreneurial time in history. Individual and corporate generosity are evident in every arena of life, including our high schools and colleges where community service hours are expected from students as a means of completing their educational experience. Paul reminds those who follow Christ, however, that generosity means little apart from love. That which motivates the generosity is as important as the gift itself.

John challenges the Christian to embrace the example of Christ who laid down his life for all. As a result, John encourages, "let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." Love motivates our actions, calling us, as it did Jesus, to the way of the cross. To give without love, even to sacrifice self, gains nothing.

In the end, Paul reminds us that faith, hope, and love remain...but the greatest of these is love.

Prayer: Eternal God, may love motivate our every gift...our every sacrifice, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 21

Philippians 1:3-11

Confidence is a wonderful characteristic of relationship. In the best of circumstances, confidence breeds trust, empowers encouragement, and sparks perseverance. Paul's confidence in the Philippian Christians is based on their faithfulness to him and God's faithfulness to them all. He trusts that God will guide their steps and complete the work that has already begun in them. Their prayers for him...their holding him in their hearts is an encouragement that empowers his work.

To know that God is faithful, and that brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for you, offers a double portion of confidence that gives continuing strength for the journey. You, God, and I partner together in the local and global church, confidently trusting, as Paul said, "that the One who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ." Therefore dear brothers and sisters, walk confidently today.

Prayer: For the confidence we gain through partnership with you and others, we give you thanks, O Lord. May your strength, wisdom, and love empower us all. Amen.

Jim Abernathy      

Lenten Devotional...March 20

Matthew 22:23-33

 

I have always had an appreciation for a good question.  Questions open doors for learning about the world and about ourselves.  Whether a six year-old asks how old God is, a sixteen year-old asks for the car keys, or a sixty-six year-old asks, "What's next?," the questions of life make us recognize that we don't know it all and are certainly not in control.

 

Jesus is presented a question in today's text that has little to do with honest searching, and more to do with intentional trouble making.  The Sadducees follow up the failures of the Pharisees in trying to incite Jesus to say something worthy of arrest, by asking him a question about resurrection.  Their sincerity is easily brought into question for they do not believe in the resurrection. Jesus sees through their ploy and before long, turns the question around to reflect a perspective of hope.  Speaking of the One who sent him, Jesus says, " God is the God of the living, not the dead." 

 

Questions arise along this journey for many reasons.  Jesus' response to the Sadducees is a pretty good answer to keep in mind...no matter the question.

 

Prayer: Eternal One, in our questions, remind us that you are the God of the living.  Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 19

Ephesians 2:1-10

We have learned well the modern philosophy that says, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." A related phrase often heard from someone we know, usually in the context of having made a poor investment, is "You get what you pay for." Each of these make common sense claims that are meant to either warn us, or after the fact, teach a lesson that won't soon be forgotten.

Paul's words seem to run counter to the common sense so often seen in these phrases. He writes, " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." Salvation, it would seem, is outside the lines of our common expectations. The cross is not something we can purchase, nor earn in any human endeavor. The cross is God's gift to a sinful, human creation. Lest you think you have earned this favor through some action of your own, Paul completes the above statement, saying that this salvation is "not the result of works, so that no one may boast." I haven't earned it and I can't achieve it on my own. That makes little sense in a world that constantly assesses and reassesses its value...thank God!

Prayer: For your gift of love unearned and undeserved, we give you thanks, dear Lord. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 18

Psalm 143:1-6

March is not usually a month where drought is part of the conversation, at least in our area. Rain, snow, frost all contribute to moisture in the ground at this time of year that usually produces more muddy spots than dry. July and August...that's a different story!

In verse six of today's text, David parallels his need for God to an arid land in desperate need of rain. He is weary from the pursuit of enemies, disheartened by the darkness of his isolation, and very much aware of his own sinfulness. His hope is rekindled by his memory. "I remember the days of old," he writes. "I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands." In spiritually dry and dusty moments, I have found the memories of God's faithfulness to be like cooling, cleansing rain on cracked, hard ground. The secret for me, as it was for David, is found in verse six as David reaches out to God. Recognizing the need, then seeking help is key to recovery.

These days of Lent offer continuing opportunities to confront our failures and in reaching out to God, find forgiveness and mercy. The first verse of Daniel Whittle's hymn text, "Showers of Blessing," is a fitting closing here. "There shall be showers of blessing: This is the promise of love; There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above."

Prayer: Bring refreshing showers through the power of your Spirit, O Lord. In reaching out to you, may we find help for our every need.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 17

John 11:6-17

In A.A. Milne's wonderful stories of Christopher Robin and his friend, Winnie the Pooh, there is a character whose perspective is always a bit cloudy. Eeyore, the donkey, always seems resigned to the worst outcome for himself. In "Lessons From the Hundred Acre Wood," he offers these words which seem to define his perspective; "A mostly sunny day, to some, can look a lot like partly gray."

I think Thomas was a "partly gray" kind of guy. He always seemed to ask the questions no one else wanted to ask or say what nobody else was willing to say. Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to Judea, partly to awaken his friend Lazarus who had just died, and more importantly, as a stopover on his way to Jerusalem and the cross. The disciples remind Jesus that he's not terribly popular there, in fact, he was almost stoned there! Jesus, of course, persists, causing that partly gray guy, Thomas, gloomily to declare, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” I suppose there are several ways you could read this, but it has always seemed to me that resignation marked Thomas' voice...the kind that embraces the negative as the ever-clear choice.

Christ invites us to join him on the varied pathways of this journey. It's easy to have a partly gray perspective, resigned to expect the worst, but Jesus ultimately encourages his followers, even the Thomases among us, as he says, "In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." That hope can make even the partly gray among us become partly sunny.

Prayer: Help us to gain a perspective, Lord, that helps us trust you, wherever you lead. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 16

Luke 24:44-53

Today's text may seem a bit out of place for our Lenten walk. Jesus is speaking here to his followers, post resurrection, moments before he ascends into heaven. It is a good place along this Lenten journey for us to look ahead, to catch a glimpse of glory. Jesus is reaffirming what has already taken place, calling these who will lead the movement forward, to embrace their identity as children of the promise. They are witnesses of all that has happened who must now trust that God will continue this good work.The promise he speaks of is the Holy Spirit that will come upon them, just as Jesus promised before his death. They have already seen the wonder and fulfillment of God's promise...as he leaves them, they must believe.

Certainly, Lent gives way to Easter, but not as a right of passage earned. This transition will only come as fulfillment to a promise. So, wherever you find yourself today, in any circumstance, remember, by faith in the living Christ, you are a child of promise. Most importantly, remember that God is faithful.

Prayer: Another day, another step toward the cross. Help us, dear Lord, to trust in your promises, to be embraced by your faithfulness with each step. Through Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 15

Ezekiel 33:10-16

"Yet," is such a small word, only three letters. In today's text however, it is a bridge between destruction and salvation. Ezekiel has returned to his people after serving in a judicial role to the surrounding nations. He tells his people that their sins have angered the Lord, yet, there is hope. There it is, that little word. The actual text says, "...though I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” yet if they turn from their sin and do what is lawful and right— if the wicked restore the pledge, give back what they have taken by robbery, and walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity—they shall surely live, they shall not die." The bridge of God's grace spans the vast chasm between our sin and what God calls us to be.

The gospel story gives that bridge a name...Jesus, the Christ. Though our sins condemn us, yet, there is a way to salvation. Paul speaks of this holy "yet," saying, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Thank you, God, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for all. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 14

Psalm 130

I sat impatiently in the drive-thru lane the other day. I had already placed my order and was ready to get my food and move on in the best traditions of fast food living, but the line was not moving. I strained my head out the window to catch a glimpse of the delay, but there was nothing visible to explain this growing inconvenience. (We are willing at times to settle for diminished quality in return for speedy service. Eat and run are the operative words in the context of our busy lifestyles.) I suppose the length of time I waited was not all that long, but in that moment, it seemed like an eternity!

We wait for very little anymore, but even when we do wait, there are a host of diversions, including our smart phones, tablets, and laptops that fill those waiting moments with mindless distractions that are soon forgotten. The idea of thoughtful pondering is a foreign concept to many of us. The Psalmist says, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope." Is it possible that God speaks to us in the waiting moments of life...even in the drive-thru? Perhaps if we put our cell phones down, turn off the radio, and take a deep breath, even in those brief moments of delay, God will speak. The question is, are we listening?

Prayer: In the waiting moments of life, O Lord, may we listen for your voice. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 13

Matthew 9:27-34

Not much surprises us anymore. With media options available where news is instantaneous, and personal conversations shared in split-second exchanges from thousands of miles apart, we tend to think we have seen and heard it all.

In our text, Jesus heals three men...two who were blind, and one who was mute. Though told to keep their good fortune quiet, this surprise is simply too good for these newly-sighted men to keep to themselves. One cannot blame them for telling everyone in sight...everyone they could now see with their own eyes. Hearing this mute man speak for perhaps the first time, the crowd is amazed. "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel," they exclaim. The predictable norms of everyday living had been turned upside down by this man, this surprising Jesus.

The Pharisees, of course, explained this surprise as demonic in nature. Their God seemed only to interact with them in the surprises of past generations. Perhaps now, as then, particularly among "religious people", faith can be overshadowed by tradition. Does God still surprise? Seeing the wonder of what God has done and is now doing, do we, in our amazement say, "Never has anything like this been seen...?"

Prayer: Your wonders are new every morning, Lord. May these surprises open our blinded eyes to see, and our muted voices to sing your praises. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 12

Colossians 1:9-14

The Apostle Paul spent a great deal of time encouraging brothers and sisters in the faith. His letters to the churches are varied in their content depending on the particular need of the body, but always there are words of encouragement. He challenges them to stand firm in their faith, live in the light and power of the resurrection, and walk in a dark world as children of that light.

Though he had not met most within the Colossian church, he knew they shared a bond through faith in Christ. His words of encouragement also remind us of the connection we share with brothers and sisters in Christ whom we have never met, some who live down the street...others, half a world away. Though we have technology that literally brings the world into our homes, we tend to have a narrow view of the church, thinking of our particular family of faith or denomination. But we share a connection with believers we will never meet this side of heaven. We may not know them by name, but that does not lessen the bond we share in Christ.

In this Lenten season, we focus on our journey to the cross, acknowledging our sin and embracing the unmatched love of God in the gift of Jesus Christ. There is also room for us to focus on the larger connection we share with the church of Jesus Christ around the world. Give thanks during these days for the rich heritage of faith that is not only yours through a local body, but one you share with brothers and sisters around the world.

Prayer: Lord of all, we thank you for the faith we share with people we will never meet in places we will never go. You are present among us all. May the blessing of your presence encourage our steps. Amen.

Jim Abernathy  

Lenten Devotional...March 11

Psalm 146

 

Some of you may remember a commercial jingle from days gone by...you can trust your car to the man who wears the Star, that big, bright Texaco star!  It misses a little something without the music to accompany it, but you get the general idea.  The Texaco man was a trustworthy choice when making a decision about the care of your motor vehicle...at least that's what the commercial sought to convey.  There may be fewer catchy jingles today, and we are certainly more skeptical of the quality of services offered in some advertisements, yet there comes a point where trust is necessary when you place something you value in the hands of someone else..

 

Who do you trust?  The Psalmist does not paint a positive picture of human trust.  He writes, "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save."  His point is well taken here, particularly in the context of comparison between human faithfulness and that of Almighty God.   "Blessed," he writes, "are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God."  It's not that human beings aren't ever trustworthy, but the Psalmist reminds us that by comparison, God is ever faithful.

 

Perhaps you can trust your car to the man who wears the star, but trust yourself into the hands of God.   

 

Prayer:  Faithful God, may we trust ourselves fully into your hands.  Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 10

Ephesians 5:8-14

What an appropriate text for the Sunday of Daylight Savings Time change! "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Yes, you lost an hour of sleep last night and facing the morning is indeed challenging. But Paul reminds us, even in the immediate aftermath of DST, that there is reason to get up, for the light of Christ shines on you. Yes, you once were in darkness, but the light of Christ shines in the darkness, and as we said yesterday, the darkness cannot overcome it.

So, don't give in to the momentary deprivation of sleep...throw open the windows and step into the bright light of Christ. Shake off the sleepiness and allow yourself to adjust again this morning to the bright hope we have as children of the Light. Rejoice and give thanks for this day that God has made!

Prayer: Overcome the darkness with your glorious light today, Lord. Shine through us. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 9

John 1:1-9

Eugene Peterson translates verses four and five of today's text in the following manner, as he says of the Living Word, "What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." New Testament writers often use metaphors of life and light to describe Christ at work in human hearts and in the world around us. Several years ago, hundreds of feet underground in Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the guide, having taken us to the deepest part of the cave, talked about the power of light in the darkest places. To illustrate his point, he flipped a switch and the artificial light that lit our way as we descended into the depths of the cave was suddenly extinguished. The darkness was unlike any I had ever experienced. There was no adjustment to be made, no glimmer in the distance...total, overwhelming darkness. Left in such darkness, the guide told us, we would soon begin to lose perspective and before long, most likely go mad. After a few moments, the lights were again turned on and the oppressive darkness that had enveloped us was overcome.

Sin is often characterized by darkness in scripture. It is the kind of covering that compromises perspective. Salvation, on the other hand, is often characterized by light, as in today's text. This light, however is not dependent on a source of fuel that must be replenished before it runs out. There is no battery to be replaced or covering that must be in place to protect it from the elements. This light, this blazing Life-Light, cannot be put out. Yes, the darkness of sin threatens all around us, but the light of Christ is indeed "light to live by."

Prayer: Light of the World, shine on us and within us, overcoming the darkness of our sin. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 8

I Samuel 15:22-31

Saul is one of the truly tragic characters of the Old Testament. Drafted for a position he really didn't want, caught between the will of the people and the will of God, and constantly looking over his shoulder for a meddling prophet, Saul seems challenged at every turn. Of course, lest we feel too bad for him, we are reminded that his greatest sin before the Lord is disobedience. Given specific orders for the destruction of the Amalekites, Saul chooses a different outcome, then tries to cover his disobedience through sacrifice. Samuel, that meddlesome prophet, responds to Saul's sin as he says, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice..."

You may have a hard time comparing your shortcomings to those of an ancient king who failed to destroy an enemy people completely, yet, there are similarities. Like Saul, we are disobedient to the word of God. Then, like Saul, we try to cover over our sin through sacrifice...good works that we think might earn us once more the good graces of God. Samuel reminds Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice. Confronted by his sin several years down the road, King David responds, "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

There were unique circumstances facing Saul, but disobedience was his ultimate downfall. The same can be said for each of us. A broken, contrite heart is the difference...that is the sacrifice acceptable to God.

Prayer: Gracious God, our lives are marked by disobedience. In brokenness, may we find forgiveness and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray, amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 7

Ephesians 4:25-32

 

Perhaps your mother, a teacher, or mentor once told you, "If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all."  Such advice is reflective of a more positive approach that intentionally chooses not to focus on the negative.  Some would characterize this attitude as less than realistic for one cannot always see and speak only the positive.  In truth, we are often taught important lessons in the context of life's greatest challenges, even the harsh words that others sometimes say about us.

 

Paul challenges the Christians in Ephesus to understand that the words they use are to be building blocks to relationship. Their words should be "what is useful for building up...so that your words may give grace to those who hear."  Paul isn't talking about insincere flattery here, but honest, thoughtful communication that offers what is best in the give and take of relationship.  After all, in putting away bitterness and anger, we are to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you."  Our words and actions, it seems, are to be a reflection of Christ.

 

Prayer: Living Word, we see and hear from you actions and words that build us up.  Use our actions and words that we may be a reflection of you.  Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 6

John 7:14-31

Have you ever tried to reason with someone who already had their mind made up? I don't mean someone whose opinion was simply different from yours. I mean the kind of conversation where your communication partner is really not a partner at all...someone whose mind is closed to consider any other possibility than what he or she sees or believes. Even when confronted with irrefutable fact, they will not yield. It's a "don't confuse me with the facts" mentality that makes open communication nearly impossible. (One could argue this mentality is paralyzing our political and governmental systems, but I don't have enough time here to deal with that!!)

In our text today, there is debate among the people about whether or not Jesus could be Messiah. Their pre-conceived notions lead them to conclude that he is not Messiah. He is a familiar face among them...they know too much about him. Messiah, they believe, will burst on the scene not as a favored man among them, but sent directly from God to break the bonds of governmental oppression and restore Israel again to its rightful place. The tragedy of a closed mind...missed opportunity fed by pride and arrogance.

The season of Lent is nothing if not an opportunity to open heart and mind. Our pre-conceived notions keep us from experiencing the riches of God's grace and mercy. Jesus reminded those with shuttered minds that he was doing the work of the One who sent him. Is your heart and mind open to allow The Christ to work in you?

Prayer: May we open our hearts and minds to you, Lord, that you may create them anew within us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord we pray. Amen.

Jim Abernathy   

Lenten Devotional...March 5

Psalm 81

One of the most challenging aspects of parenting is letting go. It begins when you place that infant in his or her crib the first night or two after you bring the child home, listening for each breath, trusting as you walk away that he or she will be safe through the night. It continues when you turn loose of clutching fingers, allowing the child to take first steps on his/her own. Before long you are walking beside a two-wheel bicycle. holding the seat while your child balances, and then, turning loose. In a few short years you are handing him/her car keys, kissing him/her goodbye at college, and on and on it goes. Parenting is a series of moments when we turn loose of that most precious of treasures.

For the Creator God, there seems a parallel, for in God's wisdom, you and I are allowed to make choices that empower our own steps. Sometimes we make good choices...sometimes not. God allows this freedom so that faith is not a coercive journey of blind conformity, but a willing choice that exercises the mind, heart, and spirit. God allows our "stubborn hearts" to "follow their own counsels." But he also provides a way back...redemption in the midst of our wrong choices.

The cross casts a shadow over our rebellion, calling our stubborn hearts to repentance. You see, God, like a loving parent who lets go, is close by to pick the wounded up and to celebrate with us when when with God's help, we take those first steps, that first ride, and on and on.

Prayer: Thank you dear God for the gift of freedom, for allowing us to take each step, for letting go, and for being near. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 4

II John 1-13

What is your favored means of communication? Today the choices are many. In John's day...not so much. Closing this second letter, John admits his preference for communicating with the church is face to face. He cuts this letter short in hopes that he soon will be with them, that their "joy may be complete." His words remind us that there is no substitute for presence.

In the rush and hurry of our world, face to face communication is not always possible. We can easily become content with the kind of communication that lacks a personal touch. Perhaps John's words challenge us today to look for opportunities to make communication more personal, investing ourselves beyond the keyboards of our computers, smartphones, or tablets, taking time to make presence a priority.

Taking the time to be present in communication may open new doors of relationship.

Prayer: Gracious God, may we be more faithfully present in our communication with you and with others. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 3

Exodus 17:1-7 

The last in this four day lectionary focus on Exodus, brings us to one final complaint on the part of the people. They had no water to drink,certainly a difficult circumstance for so large a gathering of people. It seems, however, that they had forgotten once more the provision of God. Yet again, they pressure Moses with a nostalgic longing for captivity in Egypt. Moses seems a bit overwhelmed by the cries of the people as he says to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." Perhaps Moses also had forgotten the provision of God. 

We are often impatient with biblical characters whose short-term memory seems to fail them when confronted by life's challenges. "They had seen such wonders," we think to ourselves. From these rebellious wanderers to the twelve who followed Jesus more closely than any others, we shake our heads and point our fingers. I wonder, though, do we trust the provision of God any more now, even though we have the record of God's word and the assurance of God's living Word at work among us? 

Moses called this place where God brought water from the rock to sate the people's thirst,Meribah and Massah, for there the people tested God...still. Their question which closes this text may sound familiar to you..."Is the Lord among us or not?” You and I would do well to study our desert ancestors from time to time, realizing that their questions are at times, our questions, yet God is faithful...still. 

Prayer: When we forget your provision, O God, remind us of your faithfulness to all generations. Amen. 

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 2

Exodus 16:27-35

 

The complaining, unruly, disobedient Baptists, I mean, Children of Israel, find themselves once more in a position of grace.  Though disobedient still, this time over Sabbath expectations, God remains faithful.  He speaks to the certainty of their future through the preservation of the present.   A small portion of this wonderful manna that God provided them, roughly four quarts in standard measure, was to be set aside for future generations as evidence of how God provided during the wilderness journey.  The manna served as witness to the faithfulness of God.

 

Having embraced Jesus Christ as Lord, there is a witness we carry within us that is to be shared with those who walk beside us and those who follow after.  Ours is the privilege of offering Christ as witness of God's redeeming love.  Steve Green, a contemporary Christian singer, sang a song several years ago entitled, "May Those Who Come Behind Us, Find Us Faithful."  We do not point others toward ourselves, but by living as witnesses, we, like that preserved manna, tell the story of God's mercy and love.  You and I are living witnesses!

 

Prayer:  For the privilege of sharing the story of your love as living witnesses, we give you thanks, Lord.  May those who come behind us, find us faithful.  Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...March 1

Exodus 16:9-21

 

The story is told that President Theodore Roosevelt was engaged in a serious discussion in the White House one afternoon.  The integrity of the conversation was violated as the President's daughter, Alice, ran in and out of the room again and again.  Oblivious to the importance of her father's meeting, she failed to hear the man say to the President, "Sir, isn't there anything you can do to control your daughter."  With certain resignation, the Commander in Chief replied, "Well, I can do one of two things; I can be President of the United States or I can control Alice, but I can't do both."

 

I wonder if Moses felt this way sometimes.  It was difficult enough to discern and follow the revelation of God without also having to keep the "out of control" desert wanderers in line.  In our text today, God had heard the complaint of the people and responded by providing meat (quail) and a wonderful bread the people called manna.  Moses outlined simple instructions for how they were to respond to these gifts from God, but the text says, "But they did not listen to Moses..."  I suppose most parents can relate to this incident, for how many times have parents given specific instruction to children, only to realize that their children weren't listening either.

 

Sometimes, the word of the Lord is near, offering strength, sustenance, and direction, but we, like disobedient children, simply aren't listening. Jesus often challenged those around him with these words; "Let anyone with ears to hear, listen." Are you listening?

 

Prayer: Help us dear Lord, to listen for your voice, and to obey. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy