Lent,, Day 14 - March 10

The Readings for today are: Psalms 61, 62, 68; Jere 2:1-13; Rom 1:16-25; John 4:43-54

If I remember correctly one of the first verses of scripture I memorized was Romans 1:16-17; Paul's grand summary of his life's purpose and God's redemption.

Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."

It was Martin Luther in the early 16th century that found so much freedom from religion and the accompanying attempts to perform one's way into God's favor who "rested" in this passage of scripture...so should we.

In reading Paul's life I cannot help but recognize that his greatness did not consist of anything within his personality or gifting. He must have been a bit driven in a "type A" kind of way. He probably was demanding upon those around him and might not have been the easiest leader to follow. Yet Paul had a sense of his humanity. He knew that what resided in him was not just the personality and passion that was needed, but the heart of God to bear witness of His love for the world manifested in his Son, our Lord Jesus.

What can we do to make sure that people first recognize that the passion we have for Christ is a passion that God first carries for them?

I'm returning to the Lenten theme as part of the answer, if not most: "Weakness". The way in which God demonstrates his power and love towards us is not in our strength, nor in our successes, and certainly not in our religious performing. It is primarily in our brokenness, in our redemption that takes us from our condition as weak and demonstrates that at the "end" of ourselves, there God still meets us.

Here's a thought for today and one we'll continue with later - Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB),
9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

My emphasis is on "dwell" - the word is "episkenoo", "to tabernacle". It is the only time that the word is used in the New Testament. The greek word Paul uses comes from the Hebrew word, certainly a word Paul was aware of and was used in the Septuagint, "shekinah". It was used first in Exodus to describe God's visitation to the Israelites, and Moses, at Mt. Sinai.
Exodus 24:16 (NASB)
16 The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. . Just a chapter later in Exodus 25, God instructs Moses: Exodus 25:8 (NASB)
8 "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them..

The idea of God "tabernacling" with his people was important enough for God to include instructions on this in 13 of our Exodus book chapters. Think about this, Moses only includes from God -- what we have labeled - three chapters of the accounts of creation and fall. When Moses summarizes the reason for the tabernacle, he writes: Exodus 29:45 (NASB)
45 "I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.

God's tabernacle is a sign of his presence, and his purpose to maintain that faithful presence in order to continue to instruct them and develop them as a people.

I think all of that is crucial in understanding Paul's statement to the Corinthians: 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB),
9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Paul understood God's continuing presence, his revelation to him, and his desire to work for him - regardless of the circumstances.

I don't know about you, but I hang on to that with gratitude and trust.

A Prayer:

"O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule my heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen."