Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Proverbs 22:9

 9 The generous will themselves
be blessed,for they share their
food with the poor. (NIV)

Matthew 19:21

 21 Jesus answered, “If you want
to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”

Luke 6:20

 20 Looking at his disciples,
he said:
 “Blessed are you who are poor,
 for yours is the kingdom of God.
(NIV)

Reflection:

We keep hearing the same mantra
from congressional leaders:

“The government is out of money.”

But our country’s problem isn’t just
spending -- it’s misplaced priorities.

Congress keeps stalling on passing
last year’s budget. And now, some
members are moving from neglect of
the poor to targeting of the poor. For
people of faith like you and me, this
is an assault against those whom
God specifically instructs us to protect
and whose well-being is the biblical
test of a nation’s righteousness.

Did you know that $11.2 billion is at
stake for early childhood education
programs, but recent tax breaks for
the estates of millionaires cost
$11.5 billion? Or that $4.1 billion for
job training programs for the unemployed
and new workers could be cut while tax
breaks for offshore operations of U.S.
financial firms (worth $4.1 billion)
are safe?1

This is why we can’t allow this issue to
be ignored, glossed over, or forgotten.

Be a part of "What Would Jesus Cut?"
campaign.  REACH OUT TO YOUR
NEIGHBORS, REACH OUT TO
CHRISTIANS ACROSS THE NATION.
RAISE YOUR VOICE, AS LOUD AS
POSSIBLE TO TRY AND STOP THIS
MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE BUDGET!
Obviously we have a case of upside-down
priorities. Telling our nation that we are
broke and that we should cut safety net
programs for the poor is a joke -- really
an insult. Defend the  poor, ask the tough
questions, and CALL PEOPLE TO
PRAYER, FASTING AND ACTION! 

Our federal budget priorities must uplift
people who are left most vulnerable and
undefended against those with many
resources and lobbyists. So call on people
of faith to consider a month of prayer,
fasting, and action.

GOD BLESS US ALL!

(for more information go to Sojourners@sojo.net)

Lenten Meditation

Die in Your Sins

Read John 8:12-30.

TEXT: "Again Jesus spoke to
them saying, 'I am the Light of
the world.' ..." (John 8:12a).

Jesus' enemies want Him dead.
Has He pressed too hard? Is it
time to lighten up or compromise
to find common ground? No!
Jesus knows there is only one
way for them to be saved. So
He presses even harder. He
declares, "I am the Light of
the world."

Instead of backing down
Jesus draws a line in the sand
and says, "Whoever follows Me
will not walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life." But
to those who reject Him, He
says, "I am going away, and
you will seek Me, and you
will die in your sin."

Their hearts should be stirred,
but instead they stubbornly
refuse to listen. In idle curiosity
they ask each other if Jesus'
talk of "going away" means He
will kill Himself. Jesus answers,
"When you have lifted up the
Son of Man, you will know that
I am He."

When they lift Him up and nail
 Him to the cross, they will know
who He is. The miraculous signs
at His death: the darkness, the
earthquake, the torn curtain in the
temple and His glorious resurrection
will make it clear to them that
Jesus is the mighty Son of God,
the promised Messiah.

Which side of the line are you
walking on? Are you truly walking
in the light of Christ or the darkness
of this unbelieving world? Jesus
warns all of us that our time is short.
Don't wait for tomorrow. Today is
the day to live in Christ through faith,
rather than die in your sins.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, bring me
out of the darkness of my sin to the
light of Your Son Jesus Christ. I pray
in His Name. Amen.

Lutheran Ministries

A Lenten Meditation

Scripture:

Read John 8:1-11.

TEXT: "... 'Teacher, this woman
has been caught in the act of adultery.
Now in the Law Moses commanded us
to stone such women. So what do You
say?'" (John 8:4b-5)

Unable to arrest Jesus in front of the
crowds, His enemies look for a chance
to turn those crowds against Him. They
bring a woman caught in adultery and
set their trap, "Moses commanded us
to stone such women. So what do You
say?" Certainly the crowd is ready for
a stoning. Jesus will lose popularity if
He stands in the way.

Jesus answers them. "Let him who is
without sin among you be the first to
throw a stone at her." He was the only
one qualified to be her Judge, the only
one who has the right to throw that first
stone. One by one they drop their
stones and walk away.

Jesus tells her, "Go and from now on
sin no more." She can walk away
unpunished because He has taken her
guilt and sin upon Himself, along with
the punishment she deserves from
God for that sin. She goes away free
while He prepares to suffer in her place
on the cross.

We don't like to admit it, but each of
us is a sinner like that woman. God
catches us in every single one of our
sins, and we deserve something far
worse than being stoned to death.
We deserve the fires of hell under the
wrath of God.

But Jesus Christ steps forward to
take our condemnation on Himself and
pay the full price for our sins as He
suffers and dies on the cross. On
Judgment Day we will walk away free.
He will not condemn us either.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You set me free by
being condemned in my place.
Help me show true gratitude by
forgiving others and sharing Your
salvation with them.              Amen.

Lutheran Ministries