Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
How is it with your soul? Whatever our condition, Jesus meets us in the power and presence of His Holy Spirit, through his Revelation in the Word of Scripture and the physical presence of his Church.
Jesus welcomes us to join him today, whatever our condition, receiving his mighty work of restoring us to original righteousness by being born anew. Choosing Jesus and allowing his power to turn us to new life and glory in Almighty God.
When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them and he said. “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went on to another village. Luke 9:51-56
Our Lenten faith journey is vital for the ministry of Christ’s Church for this time. Making new disciples of Jesus requires we truly serve Jesus as Lord. We need to listen and accept his proclamation for why he has come and live in that power and purpose. We are given the rich resources of God’s Word, prayer, penitence, and intentional ministry to impact unchurched and churched in unique expressions of Jesus’ love, salvation, and transformation available to all.
We are living and leaning into this mission as we follow Jesus and go forward in the power of His Spirit for this new time. We profess we need Jesus, and know he is with us!
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot! Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me. Revelation 3:14-20
Reasons why folks have become lukewarm are many and varied. We have done or left undone, said or not said; thoughts, words, deeds, which separate us from God, others, and our own true self. Pandemic restrictions, relationship strains and stress, work, family, and health all have a role in why many have drifted from the Church or have not acknowledged a need for faith in Jesus. Lent is a season the Church intentionally professes we need our Savior! We celebrate Jesus’ willingness to birth us again by water and the Holy Spirt!
“The cross is the ultimate metaphor of prophetic criticism because it means the end of the old consciousness that brings death on everyone. The crucifixion articulates God’s odd freedom, his strange justice, and his peculiar power. It is this freedom (read religion of God’s freedom), justice (read economics of sharing), and power (read politics of justice) which break the power of the old age and bring it to death. Without the cross, prophetic imagination will likely be as strident and destructive as that which it criticizes. The cross is the assurance that effective prophetic criticism is done not by an outsider but always by one who must embrace the grief, enter into the death, and know the pain of the criticized one.” – From The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann
God loves us with such wondrous love! We are welcomed each day to journey knowing Jesus frees us from the curse of sin and death! God provides all that is necessary for salvation, life with him; Scripture, prayer, ministry (our work for the glory of God and to serve others), worship and sharing life in joy with others.
Welcome God’s power and presence as we live in Him this Lenten season, sharing that none are beyond Jesus’ presence to save and not destroy.
God loves you, and we love you!
Paul and Nancy Wier