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A few weeks ago my oldest daughter turned six years old. I can hardly believe it; for it seems just like yesterday that I was rushing my wife to the hospital as her contractions increased. But alas, my girl is growing up.
As my daughter ages, the more responsibility she desires. Often, I can see it on her face, wishing she was old enough to make her own decisions; old enough to no longer take direction or obey her parents.
I remember having similar thoughts as well. Thinking how great it must be for adults not having someone constantly telling them what to do, where to go, how to act. How easy they had it: for they didn’t have to obey anyone.
I recall longing for those days as a teenager. Counting down until I turned 18 and was finally an adult, no longer answering to anyone; especially my parents. I waited with anticipation for the time when I could decide for myself what to do, when to go to bed, and where to eat. I imagined a life free from authority, free from accountability, and free from any correction. A time where the only one I had to obey was myself.
However, I soon learned my thinking was wrong. Accountability never ceases, for “each of us will give an account of himself to God” Romans 14:12. Obedience (especially to God) transcends age, and much to my disappointment, never gets easier. Abraham learned this lesson as well. In Genesis 17 God entered into a special covenant with Abraham and his decedents. According to Genesis 17:9-14 the sign of this covenant was circumcision, and any uncircumcised male would be cut off from God’s blessing. Abraham wasted no time. Later that day he, his son Ishmael, and every male in his household was circumcised.
Abraham was no spring chicken. Genesis 17:24 says “Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised.” Yep that’s right ninety-nine years old!
God didn’t give Abraham a pass because of his age. No, he still required Abraham to obey his command and walk according to His covenant. This couldn’t have been easy or desirable! No one would have blamed a man who had lived nearly a century to attempt to escape such a request. Yet, Abraham didn’t, nor did he even raise a slight objection or complaint. Instead, out of respect, love, devotion, and gratefulness for God, Abraham obeyed and insisted his household do the same!
As we age, it can easy to let compromise creep in. To allow things in our home and our life that we would have never before. Yet, that isn’t right. God doesn't change his requirements, or have different expectations because we are older. No. His Law remains the same. Regardless of our age, His Word still demands our attention and obedience. His grace and mercy continue to require a response. Age is never an excuse for disobedience or dishonor.
While no longer accountable to our parents, or possibly no longer have impressionable children at home, we are still accountable to God. Our lives should still be a living sacrifice to Him. May we walk in His ways by His grace each day of our life.
Labels: Abraham, Accountability, Adults, Bible, Circumcision, Compromise, Covenant, Devotions, Freedom, Genesis 17, God, Growing Up, Ishmael, Law, Obedience, Obedience Transcends Age, Obey, Parents, Romans 14:12, Teenager
With the mercury rising and the snow pack falling, many are suffering from the same condition as my wife - Spring Fever. She’s itching to get out into the yard and begin to clean up the grit and grime left by the long winter. Yet it’s not only our yard that needs to be freshened up, our entire house could use a good “Spring Cleaning.”
Before we wash our windows, shampoo our carpets, or rake our yards; there is another cleaning that many of us need to do. We are fully immersed in the season Lent. Although many people grew up with this custom, and celebrate it today; for plenty of Christians, Lent is a mystery.
For some, it is simply a period of going on a diet; for others Lent is a time when their Catholic friends wear ashes on their foreheads and eat fish on Fridays. Although many are attracted to it, few know much about the Lenten season.
Although, the word “Lent” is not found in the Bible, nor are we commanded to observe this season, it has been a custom which Christians have practiced for nearly two thousand years. I believe this season is still an important time in the life of the Christian and the Church.
Lent comes from the Germanic word for springtime, and can be viewed as a time for “spiritual spring cleaning.” It is designed to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. A time for taking a spiritual inventory and cleaning out those things which hinder our relationships with and service to Christ.
Just as dirt, grit, and grime cover our homes and yards during the winter season; bad habits, compromise and unconfessed sin stack up and dirty our lives as well. Lent is a wonderful time to stop, reflect, repent, and freshen up our relationship with Christ. The great news is, we don’t need to do the cleaning - God does it for us!
2 Corinthians 7:9–10 states “Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Lent should not be a time where we look at our sin and punish ourselves (or attempt to pay for our actions) though outward acts, but instead a time where we conduct a “spiritual inventory.” We invite God to search our hearts, and see if there is any wicked way in us.
When He does search, we should not respond in worldly sorrow and despair, but Godly sorrow; confessing our sins, looking to the cross, and asking God to forgive for Christ’s sake, while at the same time being strengthened, renewed, and refreshed by His Word and Spirit each day.
Would you take time to consider your need for Christ; and invite God do some “Spiritual Spring Cleaning” today?
May your “Spiritual House” be cleaner than your “Temporal one.”
For millions of people across the globe, Wednesday nights during the six weeks before Easter are filled with an opportunity to worship together in observance of Lent. From meat to alcohol, or chocolate to cigarettes many spend these weeks in fasting, or denying themselves something they would usually have. This is done as a symbol of sacrifice to God.
Until 1863 England had a law forbidding the use of meat, fish, cheese, butter, eggs, or milk during Lent. People who broke this law could be fined or even imprisoned. As a result, some traditions were established in order to clean their house for Lent.
One such tradition is known as Shrovetide - which is the English name for the three or four days before the Lenten season. As a result, “Collop” Monday and “Shrove” Tuesday were Established. On Collop Monday small pieces (collops) of meat were eaten, and on Shrove Tuesday Pancake meals were eaten, ensuring the use of all the butter, eggs and milk found in the house.
“Shrove” means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution. People were expected to prepare for Lent not only by having a clean home, but a clean heart as well. Today we may not follow the strict dietary rules of the past, but Lent should still be a season where we evaluate our lives, confess our sins before the Lord and receive His Forgiveness.
Whereas lent is traditionally thought of in terms of “giving something up;” it can be a great time to add some things to our life as well. Simply, feeling sorry, acknowledging, or even vowing to forsake our sinful and destructive habits does not ensure their permanent absence from our life. Yes, our guilt before God is wiped away, but if left un-replaced by something positive, it is likely these habits will return.
The apostle Paul taught the same thing in Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
As we confess our sin, and “put off” the desires and actions of the flesh, we are told to “put on” Christ: His nature, His righteous, His holiness, and His actions. Philippians instructs us to “Have His attitude” and further on in Ephesians four we are given an example of what this looks like: put off Falsehood and speak truth - Don’t let anger steep but seek reconciliation and resolution - stop stealing and work, giving back to those who are in need - put off unwholesome talk and speak only things that build people up - rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Replace them with kindness, compassion, and a forgiving attitude, just like God forgave you in Christ.
Just as Christ has taken your sin, let Him replace it with attitudes and actions reflecting His own. Just don’t give something up this Lenten Season, let Christ add something in your life as well.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25
Joy is not a term often connected with the season of Lent, in fact joy might be considered its antonym. For many, Lent prompts somber emotions, images of silence, sorrow, self-denial and sacrifice. These images are understandable. Throughout the centuries this season has been defined most by “giving something up.”
Lent is the forty-day season of preparation before Easter; and this tradition of giving something up for Lent probably grew out of the history of Lenten penance and fasting. Throughout Scripture fasting is often connected with times of repentance and prayer. Moreover, the length of the season (forty-days) is based on the time Jesus fasted and was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
Fasting can mean abstaining from all food and drink for a period of time. However it can also refer to going on a disciplined diet, or simply giving up anything that you normally consume. When this is practiced, it serves to remind us who is in control. When your belly growls or you see the things you have given up, it prompts you to spend time in prayer. Since Lent is a time for self-examination spent in prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary, fasting, or giving something up for Lent has become a well known tradition.
Others observe this practice by giving something up they value in order to identify with what Jesus gave up for us. While all have some creature comforts that we could live without for 40 days; most of us have things in our lives that we need to give up permanently. Things that distract us from God. Things we have placed before Him. Things we treasure more than Him or His Word. Bad habits or rituals that are not becoming of a Christian; Sin that has dwelt too long in our life, and needs to be removed.
Lent is the perfect time to “give these things up” for good. For in our busy, fast paced, secular world we all need times of reflection and renewal. Times spent before our God, praying as King David in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
You can be confident that God will answer this request. When He does, don’t ignore it but turn to Him in prayer; acknowledging and confessing your sins before Him like David in Psalm 32:5 where he said, “then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
Only six verses later He commands, “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” See, Lent is a season to rejoice not because of our self-sacrifice but because of Christ’s. May you experience the Joy of Christ’s sacrifice this season!
Labels: Confession, David, Devotions, Easter, Fast, Fasting, Fish, Forgiveness, Giving It Up For Lent, God, Jesus, Joy, Lent, Matthew 4:1-11, Penance, Preparation, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 32:1-11, Sacrifice, Sin
A few years ago, our congregation finished a building project that had been a dream for decades. Each week we are reminded of God’s goodness as we worship in a warm and beautiful sanctuary. There is one feature, however, that many cringe at as they walk past; a 3x6 ft framed mirror. It hangs on our back wall simply to provide visual balance to the window to our cry room on the other end of the room. Yet, some wish it wasn’t there, for who really likes to look at a mirror anyway.
Yes, mirrors are necessities. We must look at them to make sure our hair is combed, our teeth are clean, and our clothes are on straight. But for some of us, once we’ve got ourselves put together in the morning, we avoid looking in the mirror for the rest of the day - especially big one.
Whether it is insecurity, poor self image or a desire to remain in ignorance, some people don’t like mirrors. And who can blame them? Mirrors don’t just show our best side, but also our blemishes, and no one wants to be reminded of their imperfections. However unless our imperfections are revealed, they can never be fixed, which leads to much greater problems.
In many ways God’s Word is treated like a mirror. People enjoy looking at it when they are being reassured in their life - hearing about the many blessings and promises Christ offers. However when God’s Word begins to point out our imperfections or sins, most people cringe away; tucking their Bible on the far end of their bookshelf - avoiding it at all costs. For no one likes to be reminded of their imperfections.
King David, someone whom God called “a man after His own heart,” treated God’s mirror in a much different way. In Psalm 139:23–24 he wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Instead of cringing away from God; David invites Him to take a deep look within. To test him, to search his heart and mind for anything that brings offense to God. David asks the Lord to serve as a mirror, pointing out his imperfections, his blemishes, his sins. David knows that only God alone can accurately point out and take his sin, and lead him in a new way of living. David knew he needed to look in God’s mirror often.
We do too. James 1:23-24 compares the Bible and the work it does to that of a mirror; exhorting each of us not to simply hear or read it, but also to do what it says.
As we invite God through His Word to examine our heart, He points out our imperfections, our wickedness, and our sin. Yes, it is ugly. In fact the prophet Isaiah says our sin stains deep like crimson, and our attempts to cover it up reek like filthy rags - images no one likes to be reminded of.
If we close God’s Word there, we miss another, more important, reflection; that of Christ. For God promises that all who acknowledge their sin, repent and turn to Christ will be forgiven (1 John 1:8-10). In fact, no longer is their sin seen, but instead Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are now a reflection of Jesus Christ and the more time we spend in His Word, the more we are transformed to be like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).
I encourage you to take a close look each and every day into the mirror of God’s Word.
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