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