Lenten Journey Day 47...Psalm 150

This Psalm is a fitting conclusion for our Lenten journey. Over the past six weeks we have found our way toward the cross along pathways of confession, repentance, mercy, and grace. At every turn we have been reminded of the greatness of God, while confronted by the weakness of our sin. This kind of journey is wearying, for to witness God's great love in the pages of scripture, and then attempt to follow the pattern of love through Jesus Christ by taking up the cross daily, is a challenge that hymn writer Issac Watts wrote, "demands my life, my soul, my all." The pain and shock of Good Friday has given way to the fear and uncertainty of Saturday. But as this morning dawns, there is something different...the heaviness of death and disappointment have given way to the release of resurrection. The words of Jesus ring in our ears once more..."Whoever believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and the one who lives and believes in me shall never die."

"Praise the Lord," the Psalmist writes. "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord." Friends, the journey doesn't end here, but begins anew, for our lives are to be an offering of praise to the One who has overcome sin and death. The empty tomb is cause for celebration, not just on Easter Sunday, but every day, for God lives and works in us through the resurrected Christ. Every breath...every step...every word is to praise the living Lord.

Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord! Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Friends, today marks the end of our Lenten journey together. Thank you for letting me travel this road with you! The walk of faith continues as the risen Christ goes before us.)
JKA

Lenten Journey Day 46...Matthew 27:62-66

One of the most telling statements of what we now call "Holy Week" was made by the Pharisees as Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly on Sunday. As the crowd waved palm branches and cried, "Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," the Pharisees, disheartened, and perhaps paranoid at the crowd's adulation for Jesus, responded, "Look how the whole world has gone after him." Perhaps that paranoia persisted, even after they succeeded in having Jesus crucified, for our text today tells us that they went to Pilate and asked him to post guards at the tomb of Jesus, lest his followers "come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead." Pilate granted their request. "Go," Pilate said, "and make the tomb as secure as you know how." The stage was set for what the Pharisees believed would be the secure entombment of this "deceiver," but their actions only positioned one more barrier to be broken down when Jesus, the Christ came out of the tomb alive.

We know little of Jesus' followers activities on the day between crucifixion and resurrection. Their Sabbath was probably spent in hiding, perhaps in shame because of their own betrayal...most likely in shock and grief at the events of the previous thirty-six hours. They probably would not have had the energy or faith to refute the Pharisees's actions, nor dared to hope that something miraculous would come with the next morning's dawn.

Tony Campolo tells the story of an African-American preacher who started his sermon slowly, and in the depths of his vocal register said, "It's Friday." He repeated the phrase again and again, pausing on occasion to expand the theme of hopelessness in such a moment. He continued to build his energy and to raise his voice, however, until finally he proclaimed, "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming."

Our lives are marked often by the Friday and Saturday experiences of life. Good seems to have been overcome by evil...truth forever diminished by the lies of the crowd...hopelessness clutching tightly the throats of those who once believed. The Pharisees among us have won. Their victory is now made complete through intimidation and fear. They double the guards and ridicule the dead.

My dear friends, it may be Friday or Saturday...but Sunday's coming...Sunday's coming! The paranoia and fear that so often accompany our sinful ways and motivate our petty actions cannot defeat the Christ...Son of the living God. Stones may be piled on top of stones as barrier to hope, but hope cannot be defeated. Sunday's coming! Sunday's coming! Sunday's coming!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 45...John 19:38-42

After his death, two unlikely men claimed the body of Jesus and placed him in the tomb. Both were known as members of the council that condemned Jesus and sent him to Pilate, though neither is known to have participated in that condemnation. Joseph is identified in our text as a secret follower of Jesus and Nicodemus had once come to Jesus under the cover of darkness to question him about his mission, prompting the response of Jesus that many of us memorized as children, John 3:16. Their brave action in stepping forward to petition Pilate for the body of Jesus moved them from the ranks of secret followers or seekers, to those who would be willingly identified with Jesus. It was a bold move on their part, stepping from the shadows, into the bright light of public awareness.

The cross brings about such transformation. It makes timid followers become bold ambassadors for Christ. Another Pharisee transformed by the renewing of his mind through Jesus Christ wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..." For each of these three men, there was a moment that convinced them that they could not remain as they had been. The truth of Jesus' words to Nicodemus spur us on to action as well..." For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him, will not perish but have eternal life." That is the good news for a very dark Good Friday. That emboldens timid believers. That moves us to step out from the shadows, into the glorious light of the crucified Savior, as ambassadors for Christ.

Ponder anew this Good Friday call to step out and live boldly for Christ.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 44...I Corinthians 10:14-17

We find ourselves often going in many different directions in the Abernathy household. Cindy draws us together with the expectation of a shared evening meal each night, and we work hard to clear our schedules for these important moments that are physically, emotionally, and spiritually significant. There is something about sitting around the table over a meal that nourishes us in many ways.

Paul reminds young Christians in our text today that their unity is found as they gather around the table of the Lord. Using Christ's metaphor of his body as nourishing bread, Paul writes, "Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share that one loaf." When Jesus told his disciples to observe the Lord's Supper "...in remembrance of me," it was a call to unity, to recognize that what makes us one is the faith we share in Jesus Christ. Though we are many, we are one body.

We will gather around the Lord's Table on Maundy Thursday evening, remembering the sacrifice of Christ in the context of human sin. As we partake of the bread, we will hear his words, "I am the bread of life," and as we drink the cup, "I am the vine...". The cross unifies us in understanding that we are sinners...it also unifies us through faith in the One who "laid down his life, for his friends."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 43...II John 1-6

John offers a powerful definition of love in the sixth verse of our text for today. He writes, "...love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: Live a life of love." (NCV) Inherent in this definition is obedience, a receptive heart, and the courage to act. Living as God commanded is surrendering self, yielding in obedience to the One who created you in God's own image. A receptive heart is a listening heart, learning the great truths of God's word, from beginning to end. The courage to act means allowing the Spirit of God to lead and guide you to places, people, and circumstances where you will be used to make a difference.

As we come to these last days of our Lenten journey, we come nearer the cross, viewing a clearer image of love as defined by the One who willingly allowed himself to be nailed there as payment for your sin and mine. John's definition fits Christ's action..."love means living the way God commanded us to live." I believe Jesus Christ did this, yielding his own will to that of his heavenly Father. As we now come closer to the cross, Christ calls out to us through John's words, "Live a life of love." That is our Lenten imperative for today.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 42...Psalm 6

If you have ever traveled in a car with a child, or perhaps an adult
that acted like a child, you have heard the inevitable question of
impatience..."How much longer????" Sometimes it's a cry for
intervention in the middle of sibling argument. Sometimes it's an
admission of boredom from the back seat when all the movies have been
watched or games played. Sometimes it's a plea for deliverance when a
bathroom break is overdue. Sometimes it is just a sign of weariness and
the need for rest.

Our text today is attributed to David and asks the compelling
question, "How long, O Lord, how long?" He cries out in anguish, fearing
for his life, worn out by the tears that fill his long nights. He seeks
mercy and deliverance. He grows impatient waiting for God to act.

Have you felt that way at some time in your life...perhaps now? I talk
with people quite often who ask these kinds of questions of God. They
are people trying to walk the pathway of faith, burdened by their
circumstances, not quite sure how God is at work around and within
them. There are no easy answers to the question of "how long, O Lord?".
The Psalmists often ask such questions, struggling to find God in the
middle of their pain. Yet, they often reaffirm what they cannot always
see, hear, or touch... "God is an ever-present help in time of trouble,
therefore we will not be afraid." (Psalm 46)

The Psalmist answers his own query as he says in verse 9, "The Lord has
heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer." God isn't
threatened by your questions...but God is blessed by your faith.

I remember a song that Dina Church sang a few summers ago in morning
worship entitled, "Trust His Heart," by Babbie Mason. The last part of
the chorus to this song speaks well to our questions of God.

So when you don't understand, When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

Trust His heart

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 41...Philippians 3:4b-11

I would imagine that the Apostle Paul was a difficult opponent in the midst of an argument. As a former Pharisee, a "Hebrew of Hebrews," as he called himself, he knew the law quite well, characterizing himself during that season of his life as "legalistic, righteous, and faultless." Those are formidable character traits to bring to a discussion of any kind, particularly where conflict may arise.

These traits served him well as a persecutor of the church, but they did not serve him well as a follower of Jesus Christ. In fact, Paul writes in our text today that he counts all of that, loss, when compared to the "surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord..." The transformation that came to Paul on the Damascus road and in the days and weeks that followed, set him on a new course with a new goal, as stated in verses 10-11 of our text. "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Now, I'm not sure that humility was one of Paul's best know character traits as a follower of Christ, but his quest to know Christ dominated his actions and ministry for the rest of his life, and made him usable in the hands of God as an ambassador for Christ.

You and I don't need to defend Christ. We don't have to be great debaters in spiraling arguments of faith. Paul's goal is enough for us..."I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection..." That is a worthy goal that needs no debate.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 40...I Timothy 6:12-16

When Jesus encountered Lazarus' sister Martha who came to greet him, sharing the news that her brother had died, Jesus responded by offering these powerful words, "I am the resurrection and the life..." A few moments later, he asked Martha if she believed what he had just proclaimed to her. It was for Martha a moment of truth...an opportunity to take hold of the faith she had claimed prior to this moment.

Paul challenges Timothy to do the same as he writes in verse 12 of our text, "Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..." Words of faith are often easy to say, but faith requires more than words. Paul reminded this young brother in the faith to fight the good fight of faith...to recall the faithfulness of Jesus as he stood before Pilate and to trust that God could and would empower him to live boldly for Christ.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem the Sunday before his crucifixion, there were great words of faith. He was welcomed as a king, celebrated by the crowd who cried, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Those words of faith from Sunday became angry words of condemnation by Friday...faith requires more than words.

Today, Paul's admonition to Timothy rings in our ears as well. "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." It isn't enough to say it...live it, take hold of the gift God has given you through Jesus Christ. "To him be honor and power forever! Amen."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 39...Isaiah 40:37-41

There is an old proverb that says, "Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses." Perhaps the moral of the proverb is that there is always a perspective to be gained when considering only the negative.

In our text today, the prophet confronts a complaining people with a perspective much larger than their own. "Haven't you heard," he says. Let me have your attention! The God we serve is the Creator...the Eternal One who doesn't get weary, like we do. His understanding isn't in question as ours often is. He gives strength to the weary. Those who hope in Him are renewed to face life's challenges...soaring, running, walking when they thought to take another step was an impossible task. This is not simply positive thinking...it is purposeful living by intentionally trusting the living God.

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." (Vs 31a) When tempted to complain, hope in the Lord. Perhaps, as another old adage says, you will then be able to stop and amidst the thorns, smell the roses.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 38...John 12:1-7

It is hard to imagine a more emotionally charged scene...Jesus and his disciples are having dinner with a dead man; excuse me, a once-dead man. Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are giving a dinner in honor of their friend, Jesus, the One who called Lazarus out of death and the tomb to life. What a scene this must have been as stories of grief gave way to a joyous celebration of life. In the midst of this celebration, Martha is serving, as she was prone to do, and Mary, as she seemed prone to do, suddenly does something unexpected. She takes expensive perfume and pours it over the feet of Jesus...a scandalous act, compounded by what she does next, as she wipes his feet with her hair. This immodest act brought condemnation from one of Jesus' disciples, though others may have been thinking the same thing. Judas decries the waste of such an expensive property, nearly a years wages, when the poor could have been helped instead. John tells us that the words of Judas were motivated less by the needs of the poor, reflecting more his own greed as a thief of the group's money. "Leave her alone," Jesus said. Hers was an act of a grateful heart, an extravagant offering for the One who had transformed her life and those of her family. This was also an act of preparation for the moment of death that Jesus would face.

How often do we take note of the unusual, the unexpected, and consider the actions of others to be wasted? How quickly do we pass judgment on that which we do not understand?

On this 15th day of April, when our thoughts are focused on our own checkbooks, perhaps it is significant for us to read again this text, to recognize that true wealth is not measured by dollars and cents, but the willingness of the human heart to give generously for the cause of Christ. Mary's unusual act was a gift of love and adoration. Can we say that our gifts to Christ, in whatever form they are offered, are gifts of love and adoration as well?

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 37...Psalm 131

Somewhere in our misplaced system of values, we find ourselves coveting the front-page status of public figures, as if their lives are of greater value than our own, their work more significant than ours. The star status that is afforded athletes, politicians, and actors, among others, often seems to create a different class of person, based solely on public notoriety, as if that makes them more valuable than others. The reality of life is that most of the work that is done which keeps this world in operation is often done by folks whose names are unknown to the masses and whose actions are little noticed on the grand scale of life.

The New Century Version of our text today translates this brief Psalm in the following manner:

Lord, my heart is not proud; I don't look down on others.
I don't do great things, and I can't do miracles.
But I am calm and quiet, like a baby with its mother.
I am at peace, like a baby with its mother.
People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever.

The writer notes the significance of calm and peace in the shadow of the great things others might do. John Durham, in his commentary on this text writes, "The poet has come to the fulfillment of knowing himself as Yahweh knows him and of seeing his potential in Yahweh's perspective instead of in the world's and in his own."

To a great degree, isn't that what the cross does for us? In seeing the power of God's great love at work in the willing servant, Jesus, we see what we can become...cross-bearing followers of Jesus Christ. The world won't recognize the cross as a place of power and influence, nor will it be seen in the context of calm or peace. But in the eyes of God, it is the bridge between sinful human beings and the Creator who calls them...you and me, to salvation and hope.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, put your hope in the Lord now and forever. May that hope guide your journey, not the recognition of the world around you.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 36...John 10:14-18

The question of authority often surfaces in the context of faith. It is important to know what or who motivates action. This is true for the individual and it true within the Christian community.

In our text today, Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. He declares that he will voluntarily lay down his life and then take it up again, speaking of his death and resurrection. He closes this thought, however, by establishing the authority by which he acts..."I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." There is never a question in Jesus' mind about what motivates his action or what drives his purpose in ministry. As a twelve year-old we hear him tell his parents that he must be about his Father's business. When he struggles mightily in the the Garden just before he is arrested, he ultimately affirms that he will do his Father's will. As he addresses the Pharisees in today's text, he does so not in his own authority, but under orders from His heavenly Father.

What motivates your action as a person of faith? Do you speak and act in your own strength and in the power of your own perspective or that of the group you associate with? If so, you are not following the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep. Jesus said that his sheep knew his voice and he knew theirs. You see, relationship with the Creator God is born from recognition of authority and the willingness to engage, to follow, and to be obedient to God. That was the pattern of the Good Shepherd. It must also be the pattern of the sheep...that's you and me!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 35...Romans 10:9-13

How do you feel about inclusivity? Are you willing to welcome others...anyone to faith in Jesus Christ? We answer quite easily, and usually enthusiastically, "yes!" I wonder, however, if we truly are willing to do so. Our text today reminds us that God looks beyond the outward labels and identifying characteristics we so often recognize. Paul writes, "... there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him." There is no competition here...there is no one more or less qualified than any other to be embraced by God's transforming love through Jesus Christ. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," Paul writes. You and I are not the gatekeepers of salvation, nor are we the arbiters of God's grace. Praise God for that!

There is an old saying that bears repeating here. "The ground at the foot of the cross is level." The cross unifies humankind by need, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) My journey to the cross does not isolate my sinfulness, but reminds me that I am but one among many other sinners who stand in need of God's grace.

Welcome others in Jesus' name. Celebrate the grace of God extended for all. Offer mercy to those around you who need God's love. Be inclusive for Christ's sake.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 34...Isaiah 55:1-3

Have you received an invitation in the mail recently? Perhaps you were invited to a wedding, neighborhood party, or graduation event. Invitations are welcoming, they let us know that we are important to the individual or group associated with the event. To receive an invitation is to be included,

The living God issues an invitation in our text today. "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" This is an invitation to relationship...an invitation to encounter the living God in a manner that fosters nourishment and fulfillment. It isn't something that can be bought or earned...it is the gift of God.

Paul reminds his readers, in the context of personal sin, that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ." (Romans 6:23) The season of Lent invites us once more to witness God's great love, not by private invitation, but by broad appeal that recognizes the need of every human heart. The cross is the seal on this invitation, calling us again to respond to God's generosity...an RSVP to the eternal God. Ponder anew this invitation and then come once again...all who are thirsty, all who hunger for real peace and forgiveness. This is the gift of God for all...for you.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 33...Psalm 145:8

When you return from meeting someone for the first time that friends or family have not met, you may face a number of questions designed to help them have a better idea about the person you just met. Questions of height, hair color, voice, personality, etc. may be asked until the one who inquires begins to form an opinion of what the unknown person is like.

In our text today, the Psalmist gives a brief description of the character of God that helps the listener gain insight about the Creator. He writes, "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." (TNIV) Gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, rich in love...were you or I to attempt to tell someone about God, we could do no better than these terms.

This description came to life in the person of Jesus, the Christ. To those who would follow, he became way, truth, and life. (John 14:6) For all who seek him, there is grace, compassion, patience, and love. Think of how you would describe the character of God to another...perhaps today's text is a good verse to memorize, repeat to yourself, and share with others.

What is the nature of God? Tell them!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 32...Luke 17:20-21

A great deal of time and effort is expended by Christians every day who ignore the challenge of Christ to recognize the kingdom of God at work within them. It is much easier to seek and experience outward expressions of faith where busyness equates to growing spirituality. "God's kingdom," Jesus said, "is within you." He spoke of the heart and of the transformation that comes when one is truly made new. That's why Paul said that "if anyone in in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are new." The kingdom of God is not defined by the activities of a local church body or other religious institution. Yes, it is important to gather with others to worship the living God and serve others in the name of Christ. But that begins not because a church ordains it, but because Christ comes to live within the human heart.

In our text today, the Pharisees wanted Jesus to identify the origins of God's kingdom, but Jesus would not play their game. He turned their words and their world upside down by placing God's hand at work within the human heart. Personal relationship is where faith in Christ begins, and though we share that faith with brothers and sisters through Kingdom work in the church, that work is not the Kingdom. Look within your heart and remember that you have been changed by the sacrifice of Christ, made new...reborn to Kingdom living, right where you are.

Where is the Kingdom of God? It is within you!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 31...Luke 15:1-2

As chapter fifteen begins, Luke confronts one of the most significant issues the Pharisees had with Jesus...he associated with the wrong kind of people. "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'." On more than one occasion, Jesus found himself at odds with the temple leadership because they and he had very different values. The Pharisees were focused on the law and Jesus on the need of the human heart.

Whether it was allowing his disciples to glean grain from the fields on the Sabbath, making himself available to be touched by sick and sinful people, or healing unclean persons on the Sabbath, Jesus intentionally moved to change lives, regardless of other's expectations. He spoke of himself as the Light of the world who came to bring light and life...abundant life to all who would receive. His willingness to accept others as they were and to welcome them into his life sets the standard for how we are to relate to the world around us.

I wonder, however, if that is a standard we are willing to adopt. Jesus suffered little from our twenty-first century distraction with what others think. He was more concerned with what God had called him to be. In thinking about who we associate with, do the choices we make reflect the values of Jesus or the values of the Pharisees? Do we see others with the eyes of Christ where they are loved simply for who they are, or are we more restrictive in the way we view others?

Jesus did welcome sinners...to be more direct friends, he welcomed you and me. To be like Christ may cause some to wonder about the people we associate with. If that is the case, we will be true reflections of Christ when we are more concerned about their need for Christ than what anyone else might think of us.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 30...Psalm 104

I stood in awe as I looked across the south rim of the Grand Canyon this afternoon (Wednesday). To see the beauty of what has been done there is to ponder the power and majesty of the Creator. Earlier in the day, I had stood deep within the cavernous concrete walls of Hoover Dam, a wonder of the world created by human hands. Both were breathtaking in scope and craftsmanship.

As we stood looking into the canyon this afternoon, a friend said, "We saw the wonders of human creation this morning, and the wonders of God's creation this afternoon," to which he then concluded, "God wins...God always wins."

The Psalmist speaks in our text today about the wonder of God's creation. He calls to mind the unmatched power and wisdom of the Creator whose works are indeed worthy of praise. He declares, "May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works..." The glory of the Lord endures through the handiwork we see in the beauty of creation. The Grand Canyon is evidence of this to the person of faith. In this Lenten season, the cross is evidence as well of the enduring love of God, even for a sinful people. I am reminded of my friends words as I think of what I have seen today, and of what God has done through Jesus Christ..."God wins...God always wins."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 29...James 2:14-17

The Lenten season is often manifested in personal action as individuals make commitments to deprive themselves of something that will be proof of their dedication to a more Christ-like way of living. I wonder if such personal deprivation is indication of genuine discipleship, or simply another act of self-centeredness that does little to further the cause of Christ, either in that individual's life or in the world around them.

James reminds us in our text today that faith means nothing apart from action. Now, one might say that he or she is acting in faith by depriving him or her self of soft drinks, television, french fries, or a thousand other things one might deem worthy of sacrificing during the season of Lent. James, however, has a different understanding of sacrifice that recognizes the need of the world around him, and then acts to meet that need. Applying this understanding of faith to the Lenten journey, it then becomes less and less about me and what I give up, and more and more about what I am willing to do to care for someone else in Jesus' name.

I certainly couldn't argue that giving up french fries is a bad thing, but embracing the cross of Christ is so much more than a seasonal "sacrifice". Jesus told his disciples in Luke 9:23, "If any one would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Confession and repentance require an inward look, but the purpose of such action is to be renewed and restored before God, thus to be empowered to love, give, and serve in Jesus' name.

James writes, "My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing." The cross of Christ compels us to do more than curb our veracious appetites for tempting things...the cross calls us to follow Jesus. So, think during these days about living beyond the "do-nothing faith" that James condemns here...think about doing something for someone else in the name of Jesus. That is a Lenten gift worth sharing.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 28...John 6:1-15

There’s an old country song that begins, “O Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” While most of us don’t consider ourselves perfect, we do struggle on occasion with an ego that pushes us to think more highly of ourselves and our opinions than we should. God has always found appropriate voices to remind me of my own limitations. Shortly after I went to Central Baptist Church in Paris, Kentucky as pastor, I was invited to attend a Women’s Missionary Union meeting at another local church. As I arrived, one of our senior adult women met me at the door and began introducing me to the women from the other churches. Proud of her new pastor, she told one woman, “This is our new, little pastor.” These were terms of endearment from a seasoned member, speaking of her young pastor (30 yrs. old). An elderly woman in the crowd, not so quietly, turned to a friend and said, “He may be new, but he ain’t little!”

In our text today, the crowd marvels at the miracle meal they have just enjoyed. Borrowing a lunch meant to feed only one, Jesus feeds thousands. The crowd is ready to make him their king, and why not? They have seen him heal, heard his powerful words, and now been miraculously fed by him. Jesus, however, had a different perspective. John tells us in verse 15 of our text, “Jesus knew that the people planned to come and take him by force and make him their king, so he left and went into the hills alone.” Jesus wisely exited a moment of temptation where the voices and passions of the crowd could have tempted him to become something he was not meant to be. Satan had tempted him in the wilderness to give in to such passions. There was little difference in the voices of this crowd.

The apostle Paul gives us a powerful perspective on the mind of Christ in Philippians 2. Take a moment, at some point today, and read Paul’s words, then remember the grace of God that reaches out to you... not perfect in every way, but forgiven and embraced by the mercy of God.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 27...John 15:1-5

The significance of connection was not lost on Jesus. Knowing that his time with his disciples was growing short, he sought to empower them to live as fruit-bearers whose life and strength came not from themselves, but from the living God at work within them through the Vine, Jesus Christ. "I am the vine," he said, "you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me, you can do nothing."

The last part of this verse speaks powerfully to you and me. We are often taught, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways in this contemporary world, that it really is all about us...that we really are the center of our universe. Jesus confronts us with a different expectation...he is our source of strength...he is our help...he is our hope. To expect that I can live apart from that connection and honor God is human arrogance at its worst.

As you move about your daily tasks this day, remember these important words..."apart from me, you can do nothing." Then walk as one connected to the source of strength, help, and mercy...the One who abides with you always.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 26...Psalm 66

The Psalmist issues an invitation that is indeed appropriate for our Lenten journey; "Come and see what God has done..." He speaks of the wonders of God's provision in the context of deliverance, power, and praise. As we consider the cross of Jesus Christ, the invitation is issued anew. This journey to the cross leads one to a place of sacrifice, mercy, and love. To come and see what God has done there through Jesus Christ is to be confronted with the life-altering message that the Creator of the universe has given everything to redeem a sinful, fallen creation...that's you and me.

Verse twenty of our text finds the Psalmist praising God for God's willingness to listen to his prayer...and then something else. He writes, "Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or hold back his love from me." To view the cross is to witness the great truth of the gospel, that in giving Jesus Christ, God has not held back His love.

So, come...come to the cross and see what God has done.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 25...Jonah 4

Jonah is one of the more colorful characters in the Old Testament. He boards a ship to escape the call of God, gets thrown overboard in a storm, is swallowed by a BIG fish, finds himself regurgitated by that fish onto the shore, preaches judgment to a sinful people in Nineveh, then wishes he were dead because the God who called Him to preach repentance exhibits grace and saves the very people Jonah came to condemn. In our text today, Jonah doesn't try to hide his disgust with God's grace. He says in verse 2b, "I knew that you are a God who is kind and shows mercy. You don't become angry quickly, and you have great love. I knew you would choose not to cause harm." I knew it...I knew you would cave in...those people deserved judgement and you showed them mercy!!! How could you do that? That's not the way I would have done it! What's next...are you going to give and give and give until you have given everything to a people who deserve nothing good from you? The question of a righteous man...

God answered such a question in the affirmative when God gave His one and only Son...that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16b-17) Grace abounds for the unrighteous and the righteous. We, like Jonah, do not always understand the grace of God, particularly when it is offered to those we deem unworthy. The truth for Jonah, and for us, however, was and is that none of us are worthy of God's love. Where sin abounds...so too does God's grace.

Therefore, with the apostle Paul, let us proclaim, "Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!" (II Corinthians 9:15) Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 24...Romans 6:1-11

The quality of relationship is strengthened when you walk together with another person through life-changing experience. To have a shared identity built on mutual circumstance is to establish a bond that cannot easily be broken. That's why friends who haven't seen each other in years are suddenly drawn closer in reunion by two small words..."remember when?". That's why memories dulled by years of disuse are once more recalled when a certain song is played, an old hangout is revisited, or a dusty old letter is uncovered in the bottom of an attic chest. A pathway of life has been shared and the results are brought to the surface, reminding you of something special you once shared.

Baptism is such an experience for the believer. It is a celebration of relationship shared with the eternal God through the Savior, Jesus Christ. To step into the water is to die to self, even as Jesus died for you. To be immersed in baptismal waters is to be buried with Jesus, and to to come up from those waters is to rise to new life, even as Jesus came forth from the tomb to bring new life for all who would believe. The apostle Paul, reminding young Christians that this shared identity inspired a different way of living, wrote, "...don’t you know that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried together with him through baptism into his death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too can walk in newness of life." This experience we share with Jesus Christ empowers us to a different way of living. We are not to be overcome by sin, but we are to be overcomers because of the relationship we share with Jesus Christ. The New Century Version translates Paul's words in Romans 8:37, "...in all these things we are completely victorious through God who showed his love for us."

As you read today's scripture lesson, recall your own baptism...remember the journey you began there with Christ. There you joined him in death, burial, and resurrection...there your life was forever changed through a shared experience with the living Christ.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 23...Hebrews:10:19-23

I watched a local school board meeting on cable access television a few years and found myself most amused at the indecision of one school board member. The topic of the discussion was whether or not to lengthen the school year because of excessive snow days. This particular school board member changed her opinion on three different votes on the subject, nervously laughing after the third vote that she just couldn't make up her mind. I'm not sure her fellow board members found her indecision as amusing as she did.

Some decisions are obviously easier to make than others. Whipped cream and a cherry on that hot fudge sundae,,,of course! Get up early to take a walk or stay in bed another twenty minutes...well....??? The writer of the book of Hebrews finds himself in a moment of decision...a moment of truth, if you will, in which he must decide whether or not God can be trusted. He prefaces his final declaration with a belief that Christ presents his followers with a new and living way. This belief is based on the perfect sacrifice offered through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is not a casual relationship built on strictly ideological or theological discourse...this is about the relentless pursuit of sinful human beings by the Creator God whose ultimate act of love was to offer his only Son as atonement for your sins and mine. In response to what God has done, he writes, "Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised."

This is, for the writer, a moment of decision. He will hold firmly to what he has already declared...no turning back, no reconsideration because of changing circumstance...his is the assurance that God can be trusted, so he will stand firm. In the shifting sands of contemporary living, where values are often situational
and decisions questioned from all sides, there is a foundation of faith that empowers one to live in the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God. Let these words ring in your ears and be called forth to your lips again and again on this Lenten journey, "...we can trust God to do what he promised."

Amen and Amen!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 22...Hosea 14:9

I have enjoyed a fairly eclectic taste in music and musical styles...classical, folk, blues, country, rock, gospel, big band, etc... I cannot say that my family has always appreciated the varying musical styles imminating from the radio, cd player, or that I have hummed or sung by myself . My growing appreciation for Frank Sinatra has not been well received, though there was one song Clayton recognized from a television commercial that he at least tolerated as we made a recent trip in the car. I suppose he looks at me in those moments no differently than I look at him when he has control over the car radio.

"Ol Blue Eyes" had a hit several years ago that perhaps sums up our human perspective, entitled, "My Way." Now having read the lyrics to this song, I understand that it speaks reflectively of a life lived on his own terms where choices made have been his, regardless. That fits well with our American sense of self-confidence and self-direction. Some would say that is how this great nation was built..pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, making our own way, charting our own course. There is, however, a down side to such individualism...we know it as sin.

In relationship to the Creator God, human independence often leads one in paths that selfishly claim that "my way" is better than God's. As the book of Hosea comes to a close in our text today, God reminds a rebellious, sinful people that His ways are right. Those with wisdom and discernment, or as Jesus said, "with ears to hear," will embrace a higher way, a different path that does not lean on human understanding, but trusts the living God. Thus God says,
"Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."

"Regrets, I've had a few..." but unlike the Sinatra song, these regrets, perhaps better known as sin, are not too few to mention. However, the grace of God empowers those who will walk in God's way. And so, let the record show that you and I walked in God's way.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 21...II Peter 1:5-9

"With the toe bone connected to the foot bone,
and the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, and the ankle bone
connected to the leg bone. Oh hear the word of the Lord!"

Do you remember the old spiritual, "Dem Bones"? Civil rights pioneer, author, diplomat, and song writer James Weldon Johnson is credited with setting these old words to music nearly a century ago. There are many verses for there are many "connections" of bones within the human body. The poem was inspired by the valley of dry bones story in Ezekiel as God brings life to lifeless bones through the prophet's words.

When I read our text for today, it reminded me of this old song. There is a pattern in today's text, one characteristic of maturity in Christ building upon another, somewhat like the bones building on or connecting to one another in the spiritual. Peter writes, "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." (II Peter 1:5-7) This is a pattern of Christ-like living that recognizes the progression of faith which moves us ever closer to a genuine reflection of the One who established himself as "...the way, the truth, and the life."

It seems to me that these connections...faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love, fit very well in the context of our Lenten journey; one building on another just as one footstep follows another on the road to the cross. "...Oh hear the word of the Lord."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 20...Psalm 80

The goal of genuine repentance is restoration. The Psalmist states this truth quite effectively in today's text. "God All-Powerful, take us back. Show us your kindness so we can be saved." (vs7) To be taken back is to find one's self in right relationship once again. In the context of faith, repentance comes after confession of sin. The Psalmist's words remind me of an old hymn I remember singing as a child many years ago. William J. Kirkpatrick's text for verse one and chorus is as follows:

I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

To confess my sin and ask God's forgiveness is to ask to be taken back. The cross is a symbol of restoration, a place where the painful work of salvation has been done...a place where forgiveness is born anew...a place where God's arms of love are opened wide. God all-powerful, take me back. Lord, I'm coming home.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 19...II Corinthians 1:3-5

I had the privilege of officiating at the graveside service this past week for a woman I never met. Jeanne was a fifty-nine year-old woman who died from complications of Alzheimer's. For most people, that would seem an early age for the ravages of Alzheimer's to take one's life, but Jeanne's mother, Lucille, shared with me that many Down Syndrome adults who live into their fifties contract this awful disease. I sat with Lucille Wednesday afternoon and heard her tell wonderful stories about her daughter. Jeanne was a courageous and independent young woman. She navigated Northern Virginia's transportation system, routinely, making bus transfers on her own to get to her job in the hotel/service industry. She even flew apart from her family to Memphis, Tennessee several years back to visit the home of one of her idols, the King, Elvis Presley. She loved key lime pie, conversations with her family and friends, and was ready to travel whenever anyone invited her to go along.

After spending time with Lucille, I felt like I knew Jeanne, even though I never met her...all because her mother shared her grief with me and the wonderful story of her daughter's life. In reality, she was really sharing her comfort with me, for she believed that Jeanne was secure in the hands of Jesus now...no more pain, no more confusion, no more struggle. I was reminded of Paul's encouragement to the church at Corinth in our text today; "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Sharing our burdens is a mark of Christian community as the love of Christ flows in and through us, making the darkest of life's moments more tolerable because we share a hope and faith in Jesus Christ.

I look forward to meeting Jeanne someday in heaven, face to face, sharing the comfort of Christ with her, her mother, and so many others whose lives have been changed by the One who willingly endured the humiliation of the cross...the One who comforts us now, in all our troubles.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 18...Psalm 27

The twenty-seventh Psalm concludes with these words..."Wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord's help." To live in Northern Virginia is to wait. We wait in traffic, at the slug line, at the "kiss and ride" at school or at the metro, at the DMV...we wait for the Redskins to win! We often find ourselves waiting, accepting this delay as a part of life in a very busy metropolitan area.

David declares his trust in the living God in our text today and in doing so, finds courage to face what he might not otherwise be able to face. He speaks of rising above his enemies, not in his own power, but in the strength and power of the Lord. Though all others might forsake him, even his family, he will trust in God for the Lord will take him in.

His final words position him in perhaps the most difficult position of faith...waiting. It is much easier to act on our own, to charge ahead as if the outcome is totally ours to achieve. Sometimes we do this out of arrogance, sometimes ignorance...sometimes, fear. But the courage David speaks of is not born of human significance. It is a strength and courage that come from the Lord. "The Lord is my light and the One who saves me. So why should I fear anyone?"

Perhaps you are facing a great challenge today, wanting resolution, considering some bold action to force some issue that you hope will turn in your favor. In the frustration of the moment you hear those familiar words, "Don't just stand there, do something!" Could it be that a better response might be, "Don't just do something, stand there...stand, and wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave and wait for the Lord's help."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 17...Isaiah 53:1-3

The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah uses powerful imagery to tell the story of the suffering servant. We view the writer's words in a prophetic context, allowing them to frame for us the setting of those last humiliating hours that Jesus endured along the way to, and then upon, the cross. The New Century Version translates the third verse in a most interesting manner. "He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering. People would not even look at him. He was hated, and we didn't even notice him." We didn't even notice him...I would think that people noticed Jesus as he stumbled through the streets of Jerusalem on his way to crucifixion. How could you not notice a man beaten and bloodied with a crowd following along, taunting him every step of the way? And yet, though he was seen, he was not understood. As the life was literally draining out from him, the taunts from the crowd proved this point. "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God's Chosen One, the Christ."

We see, but do we really understand? Jesus tells a story of judgment in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew that speaks not only to seeing, but also to understanding. In the story, the King calls the people on his right to receive blessing for they have fed the hungry, sated the thirsty, cared for the lonely, and welcomed the stranger. They also clothed the naked, took care of the sick, and visited the captive in prison. Then he condemns those on his left who have seen the same needs, yet done nothing to meet those needs. They ask him, "When did we see these things and not help you?", to which the King replies, "...anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me." It would seem once more to be a case of seeing, but not understanding.

Along this Lenten road, we pass many who are hurting, struggling, seeking someone to care for "even the least of my people here." We know the message of Christ and walk the familiar road toward the cross, but do we understand its claim upon us to be the presence of Christ in a hurting world? Christ passes among us in the pain and suffering of the world we encounter...do we even notice Him?

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 16...Psalm 70

One of the most poignant moments in the Passion story comes in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus struggles with what lies before him. He pleads with God for deliverance..."Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me." Then, in the next breath he affirms his calling as he says, "not as I will, but as you will." The temptation was to focus on himself...but deliverance was made possible through obedience. In that moment, it was not about him, but about the will of his heavenly Father.

David finds himself in need of deliverance in today's text. He states his need, then moves his attention away from himself as he declares, " Let those who love Your salvation say continually, 'Let God be magnified.'"

The journey to the cross uncovers our sin and lays bear our brokenness and shame. We can become so focused on our own failures and unworthiness that we lose sight of the cross. Yes, the cross beckons us to repentance and forgiveness, but it beckons us even more to know the wonder of God's love. The cross is first and foremost about God, and in all its ugliness and pain, it shouts, "Let God be magnified."

Friends, may our journey to the cross follow the path of praise for what God has done through Jesus Christ. Let God be magnified!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 15...John 3:1-9a

“Do you want to be well?” What a question to ask a sick person! Of course, one who is sick would want to be well. It seems so obvious. Yet, Jesus asked the man at the pool called Bethesda if he wanted to be well. The scripture tells us that the man had been sick thirty-eight years. It also tells us that Jesus knew this before he questioned the man. Why would he ask him such a question?

Perhaps Jesus knew more than the text tells us. Perhaps he knew that this man needed to participate somehow in the healing process. Perhaps Jesus engaged the man in this manner to stir his mind and spirit, just as the angel was purported to have done at other times in stirring the waters of the pool for the lucky one who would be first into the water. Perhaps the man needed to make a commitment to healing, to step away from the life he had known and probably grown accustomed to for the previous thirty-eight years.

In the context of Lent, I wonder if there isn’t a parallel to be drawn here between the question Jesus asked this man about physical healing and the same question put to us about spiritual healing…forgiveness? We walk this Lenten road of repentance, crippled by our sin, unable to heal ourselves of that which separates us from God, and we encounter Jesus, who asks, “Do you want to be healed…do you want to be forgiven?” Again the question might seem superfluous…of course we want forgiveness and restoration…to do so, however, means that we must become a part of the process. Though forgiveness of self is an important part of any healing process, I am not advocating here a self-help program for godliness. I am, however, reminding each of us that forgiveness begins with confession, genuine sorrow for sin…the cry for grace and mercy. Do you want to be forgiven? Yes, Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Yes, Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sin. Yes, Lord Jesus, please forgive, renew, and restore me…Yes, I want to be forgiven.

Through Jesus Christ, God stirs the waters of forgiveness, not just for the fortunate who step in before others, but for all. And so, the question is asked again today…”Do you want to be well? Do you want to be forgiven?” What is your answer?

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 14...Hebrews 3:1-6

In the late summer and early fall of 1992, Cindy and I embarked on an adventure that was new to us then, and has not been repeated since...we built a house. Now to say that we built the house would indeed stretch the truth. We contracted with a company called Henry Fisher Builders who did the actual labor in building the house. Of course, we helped with the design, chose colors, fixtures, lighting, and a number of other things that resulted in the finished product that we called home and resided in for nearly ten years. We have heard horror stories from other couples about building a house, but our experience was actually quite pleasant and the end result, most satisfying.

The writer of our text today reminds us that though we sometimes are quite impressed with what we perceive to be our own accomplishments as builders of certain things in our lives, there is an ultimate builder..."God is the builder of everything." To acknowledge this is to recognize our dependence upon God, and to more readily position ourselves to praise God in everything. The Psalmist affirms this as he writes in Psalm 127:1, "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." Had we tried to physically build a house nineteen years ago, it would have been uninhabitable. We were grateful for the skill of the builder, whose handiwork is still on display at 2014 Lakelyn Court in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. In a much larger sense, we fail miserably when we do not recognize the hand of the Master Builder at work in our lives, shaping...molding...crafting our lives. God's handiwork is on display whenever we seek to honor the One who has made us and redeemed us through the Son, Jesus, the Christ.

Throughout this day, ponder these words, "...God is the builder of everything." These are words to build on.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 13...Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

"Think before you speak..." Sounds like the kind of wisdom your mother might offer doesn't it? Life is full of simple axioms that communicate profound wisdom. The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes offers these words in the context of worship. "Think before you speak and be careful what you say to God." In the spirit of full disclosure, it should be noted that the writer of Ecclesiastes was not known for his good humor or hopeful outlook. He saw foolishness in much of life, declaring on more than one occasion that life "is useless." But before you write him off as an overbearing pessimist, remember too that he spoke of the significance of work, good food, and important relationships. (Perhaps he was Baptist.)

In the study of Ecclesiastes last fall in our Day/Night series, we were tempted to believe that the writer had multiple personalities...pessimistic one moment, encouraging the next, and then in the same breath, pessimistic again. His inconsistency disturbs us, and yet, it is probably closer to the way we live than we might want to admit. We experience majestic peaks followed by deep valleys which challenge our faith, wear us down, and certainly color our perspective.

In worship, however, we seek to tune out the noise of the everyday and focus attention on the One who does not change like the fickle winds of human emotion.
"God is in heaven, and you are on the earth, so say only a few words to God." Measuring words here is not an exercise in brevity for brevity's sake. This is a reminder of the holiness of God and the weakness of human-kind. God is not threatened nor blessed by my words alone. Humility of heart and obedience in action mark the one who brings blessing to God. I should think before I speak and be careful what I say to God, not because God's arbitrary response might condemn me, but because God is worthy of praise that is thoughtful, expressed in words and actions that are genuine. I cannot fool God...neither can you.

And so, particularly in these days of Lent, let us think before we speak and be careful what we say to God. Perhaps the words of the Psalmist are a fitting close here..."May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 12...Jeremiah 1:4-10

John Lepper will be our guest speaker in worship this morning at Westwood. John led our deacon retreat most capably this weekend and will be sharing a message based on texts from Jeremiah and his book "When Crisis Comes Home." I have known John for twenty-five years. That sounds like a long time, and it is, and yet it seems to have passed by so quickly. John and I have walked together through many experiences as colleagues and friends. To have known him over the last quarter of a century (sounds like a long time) has been a blessing indeed.

I know that some of you have had friendships that have lasted much longer than twenty-five years. What a treasure! Bernard and Emilie Bretz have been married more that 70 years...that is a long-term relationship! And yet, young Jeremiah has an encounter with God when Jeremiah is only a teenager that reminds the young boy, and the generations who would hear this story through the ages, that God has known him (and us) much longer. "Before I formed you in the womb," God tells Jeremiah, "I knew you." Our relationships are finite, based on a compressed period of time from introduction to this moment. God's relationship with God's creation is infinite...timeless. God told Jeremiah that great things had been planned for Jeremiah...great things indeed! “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Isn't it amazing to think about the possibilities set before us by the One who has known us, even before we were born?

On this second Sunday in Lent, take a moment to ponder your relationship with the eternal God. Be grateful for this friendship you have known for weeks, months, years, or decades...then, remember that God has known and loved you much much longer.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 11...Psalm 139:23-24

Examination is the essence of the Lenten experience. Our journey to the cross reveals again and again our need in the context of God's grace. That is why the Psalmist's words speak so clearly to our experience. "God, examine me and know my heart; search me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any bad thing in me.' As I said when we began this journey together more than a week ago, this is difficult work. But it is invaluable when we allow God to move within us to do the work of redemption and forgiveness.

I took our home computer last week to be repaired. The technician first did a diagnostic check to look inside the computer to diagnose the problem. Then he called me and identified the problem. I then asked him, based on what he found, to fix the computer, and he did. Evaluation was critical to the process of making that which was broken, usable again.

The Creator God, when welcomed to work within our broken hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits restores and renews. As this work is done, there is this assurance that the Psalmist claims..."Lead me, Lord, on the road to everlasting life." That is our assurance as well.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 10...Hebrews 10:14-22

March Madness started yesterday. Technically, I suppose it began Tuesday and Wednesday with the play-in games, but the traditionalist will tell you it really began yesterday. Many of us fill out brackets, some travel to far away places to watch their favorite teams, and many more watch the games on television...this year there are four television networks carrying the games at the same time. For the basketball enthusiast, that is heaven!

Some of us will have favorite teams that we root for. We will wear our school colors while we watch the game or maybe even be bold enough to wear them to work or display them on flags in our yards or on our cars. We take sides and display those loyalties in many ways. Some even bring the Divine into the discussion as if they believe that God somehow favors their team over another. This is taking team loyalties to the extreme...after all, everyone knows that God is a Big Blue fan and pulls for the Kentucky Wildcats! (Sorry, I couldn't resist that.)

No, God isn't a Big Blue fan...the writer of our text today tells us that God "...does not take sides, and he will not be talked into doing evil." God is not swayed by our petty allegiances, nor drawn in by our scheming plans. Everything is the Lords, the writer tells us here, reminding us that there is much more to life than the small things that so often consume us. "Respect the Lord your God and serve him," our text admonishes. That is good advice for Big Blue, Patriot, Buckeye, and even Volunteer fans.

The love of God is on display at the cross of Jesus Christ where everyone is welcome and all are viewed the same...through eyes of grace. "He is your God, who has done great and wonderful things for you, which you have seen with your own eyes." In the midst of March, June, or October Madness, that is the best news of all.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 9...Psalm 46

The images of the devastation in Japan as a result of the earthquakes and subsequent tsunami are breathtaking. New video surfaces nearly every day to show the destruction, particularly the walls of water that washed away houses, cars, towns, and unknown numbers of human lives. As of the writing of this devotional, more than 8,000 people are still missing. Losses are incalculable. Comparisons have been made between the immediate post-war devastation in Japan as a result of the explosion of two atomic bombs, and the desolate landscape created by the earthquake and tsunami. From the safety of our living rooms as we watch these stories, it seems so far away, so unreal.

The Psalmist speaks in our text today of the threats brought about by changing landscapes. He writes, "God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea, even if the oceans roar and foam, or the mountains shake at the raging sea." There are many things in this life that we cannot control. The elements of nature are surely evidence of this. There comes a point by faith where we learn to trust what we cannot control into the hands of God, knowing that God will not be shaken, threatened, or fearful, particularly in the midst of our own terror.

The Psalmist's admonition is worth hearing and playing over again and again in our minds..."Be still and know that I am God." There is much that worries and frightens us in this world. Faith does not ensure that our lives will not be touched by such struggles. The living God, however, does promise to walk bedside us, to be our refuge and strength...even if the earth shakes; even if the oceans roar and foam. For today, that is enough.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 8...Hebrews 3:12-15

You have probably heard the phrase "We're all in this together," at some time in your life. Maybe it was a cheerleading parent, teacher, coach or other significant person who wanted to remind you that you were not alone...that together, you and others could accomplish so much more. God has created us to be in community, to grow and thrive in the congregation of others.

Nowhere is this more true than in the church. Indeed, one's relationship with Jesus Christ is a uniquely personal one, but that faith is often expressed in the context of corporate worship and study of God's word where other's voices are heard and arms open to embrace. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the significance of community. Yes, he does highlight the need of the individual heart to be right with God. Every soul is unique and autonomous before almighty God. But the writer speaks plainly to the need we share for encouragement and of the calling we have as brothers and sisters in Christ to help one another. He writes, "...encourage each other every day while it is 'today.'" The word that translates 'today" is a word that speaks to the importance of the moment. With emphasis he says, "do it now!"

We often use phrases like community of faith or family of faith to describe our relationship with our church. For some of us these associations feature warm remembrances of past relationships and events. For others, there are moments of dreaming, to ponder what we could be in the days to come. Past and present are important in our understanding of who we are and what we share, but there is no moment like this moment...no opportunity like today. The Lenten journey focuses our attention on the moment; to search our hearts and be drawn closer to the Savior. Perhaps it is also a moment to remember the blessing of relationship we share with others in the name of Jesus...relationships that must be important to us..."while it is still today."

My friends, let us make the most of this moment God has given us. Let us encourage and help each other, for as the writer of our text says today, "we all share in Christ..."

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 7...John 2:13-22

The story of Jesus cleansing the temple is one of the gospel stories that many of us have heard again and again. Some cite this story in the context of righteous indignation, as if the anger Jesus displays in turning over the tables and chasing the money changers from the temple justifies one's angry reactions when offended by ideological or theological differences with believers and non-believers. Others see Jesus defending the poor and helpless here who are being taken advantage of by temple vendors. Perhaps we miss the point in this story for its message, at least for me as I read it, is a story of reverence for the things of God, particularly in the context of worship and grace. Jesus says, "Don't make my Father's house a place for buying and selling!" Today's New International Version offers the following translation of verse seventeen, which immediately follows Jesus' words. "The disciples then remembered that the scriptures say, 'My love for your house burns in me like a fire.'" The wonder, awe, and mystery of relationship with the Creator God have been replaced by temple commerce and petty sacrifice.

David reminds us in the fifty-first Psalm of what God expects when we come before God. "You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don't want burnt offerings. The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin." To worship the living God is to come before God in humility, recognizing my own sin, and asking for forgiveness.

The cross of Jesus Christ, though popular in the commerce of our culture, is not something to be bought and sold as a symbol of righteousness. The cross is a stark reminder of the price God was willing to pay to redeem sinners like you and me. It is also the mark of discipleship, for Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Jesus cleansed a temple that had embraced the buying and selling of faith as a worthy substitute for a humble and contrite heart. Is the temple of your heart in need of such cleansing?

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 6...Deuteronomy 8:11-18

Rudyard Kipling's great poem, " Recessional," was penned for the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Kipling notes in this work the significance of humility in the context of remembrance. The second stanza is as follows:

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The sacrifice of God stands alone, calling human beings to humility and contrition. The author of Deuteronomy tells us as much in today's text as he writes,"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." These are sobering words for a people who have been through so much, yet are tempted to tout and depend on their own strength.

We waver back and forth between moments of self-sufficiency and brokenness. How quickly we forget the deliverance of God in the midst of our successes, or perhaps, in the escalating busyness of our lives. As your Lenten journey continues, hear again these words from our text this day..."Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God."

"...Lord God of hosts,be with us yet, lest we forget--lest we forget!"

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 5...Psalm 63:1-8

David knows what it is like to be thirsty. As he writes the words of our text today he finds himself in the desert, where he parallels the thirst he has for God to one who is parched in the desert. "I search for you...I thirst for you," he cries out, "like someone in a dry and empty land where there is no water." It's a pretty stark picture, particularly if left there. Yet David has hope beyond himself, beyond his circumstances...beyond his surroundings.

Lent can be a desert experience at times. The work of introspection, confession, and repentance is hard work. We grow weary, tired, and thirsty. But God has not abandoned us. In the desert, David affirms his faith and the presence of God at work in his life. "You are my help," he writes. "I stay close to you...You support me with your right hand." With the cross before us we sometimes grow weary of sacrifice. Like the child who wants to skip to the end of the book to see how the story concludes, we want to move beyond the cross to the empty tomb. But there is work to be done here along this Lenten road.

David gives us some powerful words for the journey..."Because your love is better than life, I will praise you. I remember you while I am lying on my bed. I think about you through the night. Because of your protection I will sing." God is with us on this journey, friends. Drink in the wonders of God's love.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 4...John 1:43-46

Sometimes in the challenges of life, we ask ourselves, "Can anything good come from this?" This is not just true in the difficult passages of life such as catastrophic illness, loss of a job, or a break in relationship. Sometimes we ponder this question in the midst of our own failure and sin. Convicted of our wrong, we may wonder if indeed something good can happen when we have failed God again and again. It's a fair question in the context of the inconsistencies of our faith expressions.

After Jesus invited Philip to follow him, Philip found his friend Nathanael and told him that the One who had been promised from days of old had been found. Philip told his friend that the man's name was Jesus, and that he was from the small town of Nazareth. Nathanael was not impressed. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?", he asked. We don't really know what Philip's bias was toward Nazareth, but it is safe to say that he did not expect the promised One of Israel to come from what he believed to be so insignificant a place. Like Nathanael, we often make judgements about others and ourselves that sell them or us short. We are limited by our short-sightedness...hemmed in by our narrow view of life.

Philip counters Nathanael's hesitation by inviting him to "come and see." The Message relates this part of the text a bit more emphatically..."Come and see for yourself." It wasn't enough for Philip to tell Nathanael about it...he had to meet this man and make up his own mind about him.

During this season of Lent, there will be bumps, twists, perhaps even detours along your way. You may wonder to yourself, "Can anything good come from this experience?" All the while, the living Christ calls you to confession, repentance, and renewal...to come and see what He can do in your life. Aren't you just a bit curious about the possibilities?

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 3...Titus 2:11-14

When our son Clayton was a toddler, just learning to form and express words that had any semblance of familiarity to us, there were many voices in our church family in Kentucky that sought to have influence over his vocabulary. One such person was our church secretary, Flora. Flora celebrated 45 years of service at Latonia Baptist Church before we left there in 2001, and as far as I know, is still the secretary there. One afternoon I had Clayton with me in the office and had to make an unexpected visit to the hospital, so Flora volunteered to keep an eye on him while I was gone. By the time I got back, she had introduced a new word to him and it was obvious that both of them were extremely proud of themselves. With a big smile on his face, holding onto a chair as his legs were still a bit unsteady, he stood as tall as he could and then declared with a clear and certain conviction his new word..."No!" I looked at Flora and she began to laugh for she knew he would now use this word indiscriminately and often. It was easy for his young lips to form and say, and for the first few times he used it, we thought it cute and disarming. To be told by your young son, "no," again and again, however, quickly loses its charm.

This little two-letter word carries great emphasis in our lives. It declares position, delights and confounds, blesses and curses. Paul encourages Titus in our text today to remember that the grace of God that offers salvation for all, "teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." At times we reduce this call to holiness to the level of triviality in our Lenten expressions, believing that by saying "no" to soft drinks, cheeseburgers, television, or any of a myriad of other life choices that are "given up for Lent," we are embracing a season of authentic sacrifice. Now, saying "no" to some of these things is significant in our approach to a healthier lifestyle, better time management, etc...but Paul is talking about a way of living that isn't limited by season or momentary deprivation. He speaks to a change of life that as the great hymn writer Isaac Watts declares, "...demands my life, my soul, my all."

Lent calls us to godly living...to self-control...to say "no" to that which dishonors the Christ who on your behalf and mine, said "yes" to the cross.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 2...Psalm 37:1-6

"This time you can trust me," Lucy says to Charlie Brown as she holds the football on the ground for him to kick. "See? I have a signed document testifying that I won’t pull it away." Charlie Brown is skeptical at first because Lucy has pulled the ball away every time before, leaving him flat on his back after missing the ball. He looks carefully, however, at the document, then says, "It is signed. A signed document. I guess if you have a signed document in your possession, you can’t go wrong. Maybe this is the year I finally kick that football." With confidence, Charlie Brown runs as fast as he can at the ball. After all, he has a signed document! Of course, just as he approaches the ball and swings his foot forward with everything he's got, Lucy pulls the ball away and Charlie Brown lands flat on his back...again. "Good grief!!!"

Most, if not all of us, have felt betrayed at some time by someone we trusted. Like Lucy, they gave us assurances that sounded good in the moment, perhaps they even offered iron-clad proof that this time would be different, only to disappoint again. The cross reminds us that in a world of broken promises, God has been proven trustworthy. The uncertainties of our Lenten journey are not caused by God's unfaithfulness. Sin clouds our view, it colors our perspective. Our failures, and those of others around us, disappoint us again and again.

The Psalmist, however, reminds us in our text today that God is ever faithful. "Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you." There is a written document that affirms this truth...The Bible. But more than that, there is a living document, The Word that became flesh and dwelled among us, Jesus, the Christ. The burden of sin is heavy on this journey to the cross...but let us be reminded, that God has eased that burden through the faithfulness of his Son.

"Wait," the Psalmist said, "and trust the Lord." That is good advice for our Lenten journey.

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Journey Day 1...Psalm 32

The Psalmist writes, "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Blessed indeed! The season of Lent carries little of the joy and anticipation that Advent brings. Both seasons are times of preparation, but Lent leads us not to the warm and tender scene of a baby in a manger. Instead we are led to a cross where we are compelled to look upon a man whose willingness to take on our sin and die in our place is the ultimate gift of love.

Day 1 of this Lenten journey calls us to confession and repentance. Verses three and four of today's text remind us of the burden of sin we so often carry...a burden that weighs us down, and steals the joy of living. Verses five and six, however, tell a different story...a story of release and relief as the cover of sin is cast aside in the bright light of confession, resulting in forgiveness. This is difficult work. It is much easier to sing about angels, shepherds, and kings than it is to sing of betrayal, contempt, and death. We would rather frame our story in the wonder of the shepherds rather than the angry shouts of the Good Friday crowd. Our sin, as David wrote in the fifty-first Psalm, is ever before us. Yet, there is good news. Confession truly is good for the soul and it ushers us into a place of grace where love covers a multitude of sin.

Joseph Scriven's great hymn text sums it up pretty well.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry,
everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

As our journey together begins, confession, repentance, and forgiveness are necessary elements of our pilgrimage. And of course, the companionship of our friend, Jesus, makes all the difference.

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Jim Abernathy