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