Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Meditation

Scripture:

TEXT: "Jesus answered them, 'Truly,
truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me,
not because you saw signs, but
because you ate your fill of the loaves'"
(John 6:26).


After the festival Jesus returned north to
Galilee. He spent a whole day preaching
and then fed the huge crowd with five
loaves and two fish. That night after He
sent them away, He walked across the
Sea of Galilee. Gathering again the next
day, the crowds walked around the lake
to find Him.

At first those people sound like genuine
followers of Jesus. But our Lord knows
better. They aren't really there for Him;
they are there for themselves. They want
Jesus to be their king-but only on their
terms. They aren't concerned with their
deep eternal needs like He is; they only
want what Jesus can give them in the
present.

We can be just as near-sighted as they.
We are consumed with today's needs
and desires, but we don't see the more
significant eternal gifts Christ comes to
bring. So we ask Him to help us through
our needs and problems, but we don't give
a single thought to His Kingdom and the
part He would have us play in that Kingdom.

That is why coming to Christ in worship is
so vital. Each week in church He shows us
the bigger picture-the unending punishment
we deserve for our selfish, disobedient lives,
as well as the forgiveness and eternal future
He gives us through His life, death and
resurrection. Yes, He knows and cares about
all our earthly needs and will provide for each
of them just as He has provided for our eternal
needs.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, when I get too wrapped up in this
life and my daily needs, lift my eyes to see the
glorious future You have won for all of us by
Your life, death and resurrection. Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries

Scripture:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Reflection:

I'm not what you would call, "a man of fashion".
Anyone that knows me would know that I'm
really not concerned about what clothes I
wear.  When I get up in the morning and
check out my wardrobe for the day, I
discover 2 suits, a great many pocket
t shirts, sweat pants, and shorts.
But according to this verse in Colossians
I am to clothe myself in compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Now that's what I call a fashionable wardrobe.

There is one thing that stands out in this
verse.  THERE IS NOT ONE AGGRESSIVE
WORD IN THE SENTENCE.  We are not
to be hateful, cruel, egotistical, violent,
and intolerant.  But to be compassionate,
kind, humble, gentle and patient. 
Let me ask you this, WHAT WARDROBE
DO YOU PICK FOR YOURSELF?

The Light Blazes in Fury

March 12, 2011

Read John 2:13-22.

TEXT: "Making a whip of cords, He drove
them all out of the temple, with the sheep
and oxen ..." (John 2:15a).

If you picture Jesus as a meek, gentle
man you might be surprised at what He
does here in the temple. But you shouldn't
be-the thicker the darkness, the brighter
the Light must shine. Our Savior knows
animals must be sold for sacrifice, and
foreign currency needs to be exchanged
for temple currency. But His problem is
where this is all taking place.

This trading is being done in the Court
of the Gentiles, i.e. in the back of the
church. The Jewish worshipers aren't
bothered, they can move up front closer
to the temple. But what infuriates Jesus
is the way the Gentile believers are being
forced to worship and pray in all this noise
and commotion.

When Jesus shouts "Take these things
away; do not make My Father's house a
house of trade," the Jewish authorities are
filled with a dark rage of their own. The
darkness tries to overcome the Light as
they demand Jesus perform a miracle
proving His authority to cleanse the temple.

Jesus will provide that sign in His coming
death and resurrection. On the cross His
enemies will destroy His body-the true
temple and dwelling place of God. But on
the third day Jesus will raise it to life again.

Today the darkness still challenges Jesus.
When we gather at the Lord's house to
worship, pray and receive Christ's gifts in
Word and Sacrament, the darkness fills
our minds with all sorts of trade and
business concerns, as well as other
worries, fears and distractions. But the
light shines in the darkness and draws
our thoughts back to our Savior.

Lutheran Hour Ministries