Lent 2010 #31

Matthew 12:22

Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.

THOUGHTS:

How many times am I blind to the pain and suffering of others or blind to the ways I may hurt those around me.  How often am I mute when Love would ask me to speak.  I tell myself I am too busy or what will others think.  I leave it unsaid.  It is with the strength of Christ's love for me that I dare to see and it is in the compassion Christ brings to my life that I dare to speak engaging the world.

PRAYER: 

During this time of repentance help our blind eyes and muted voices to come to life as instruments of the spirit of God at work. Amen.

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Thoughts by participants in the Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 # 29

Hebrews 10:19-25 (The Inclusive Bible):

Therefore, sisters and brothers, since the blood of Jesus makes us confident to enter the holy place by the new and living path opened for us through the veil - that is to say, the body of Jesus - and since we have the supreme high priest presiding over the house of God, let us enter it filled with faith and with sincerity in our hearts, our hearts sprinkled and cleared from any trace of bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us keep firm in the hope we profess, because the One who made the promise is faithful.
Let us always think how we can stimulate each other to love and good works. Don't stay away from the meetings of the community, as some do, but encourage one another; and do this all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

THOUGHTS:

The Holy Place in the Tabernacle, and later in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, was separated from the people by a one-to-two foot thick curtain. Only the priests could enter. This was no thin veil that ripped when Christ died. Think of the dividers that are used to split off large meeting rooms, and imagine them twice as thick! That's quite a barrier between God and the people.

God, of course, is present in and with all creatures and places, but when a place is set apart as sacred, particularly by many people and for a long period of time, it develops a certain air of holiness, if you will. God declared a particular dwelling in the Holy of Holies. It is interesting to observe that this residing place was essentially a box - the one thing we are NOT supposed to put God in. This box was special though. Instead of a box that keeps God limited, sterile, and safely hating only the sins of the people we hate and not our own, the Ark of the Covenant kept God hidden, unknown.

Jesus changed all that. Instead of unknowable and distant, the Trinity adopted us. We are not only family to other believers - the Creator of the universe calls us family. If someone told you Obama was their second cousin, that would probably come across with thoughts that this person must "have it made, " knowing someone that powerful and being a relative on top of it. How much more the God who created the universe? And we are God's relatives - and we can now relate to God, since God came down to our level and took on human flesh. The blood of Christ and the water of Baptism are free gifts which have been given to us to cleanse us. We may now approach our new Family, not seen as the weak people we sometimes are - for this is covered in love - but rather as a child of grace, adopted by the Holy Spirit. We are called to the radical power of love, of forgiveness, for we have been forgiven and made heirs to the kingdom where Love reigns eternal.

God has left the box.

PRAYER:

Abba, we enter your presence today, not as strangers but as family. We rejoice that we have been given the opportunity to really, truly know You, and also to know and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Amen.

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Thoughts by Victoria Meixell, student at George Mason University

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran
Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/
DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #22 – SEARCH and RESCUE!!

St. Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV)

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

THOUGHTS: 

This text from St. Luke's Gospel tells a couple of parables of things that are lost and the rejoicing that occurs when they are found.  A sheep and a coin were lost and in both of them Jesus lifts up the importance of the single person who is lost and then found by God.

How important that has been in recent weeks when one was found among the rubble in Haiti, or Chile or Turkey and the rejoicing that followed.  These parables raise for us the consciousness and awareness of what is really valuable.  

I read recently a devotional that talked about the value of our possessions – how common possessions can become extremely valuable, even priceless if they have been owned by someone who is powerful, wealthy or famous.  For example, did you know that Napoleon's toothbrush sold for $21,000?  Can you imagine paying thousands of dollars for someone's crude old toothbrush?  Hitler's car sold for over $150.000 years ago!  At the Sotheby's auction of Jackie Kennedy Onnassis' personal belongings, he fake pearls sold for $211,500 and JFK's wood clubs went for $772,500.  It is not that the items themselves are worthy, but that they once belonged to someone significant.

If we, as humans, place value on things because they belonged to people – stop to think for a minute of the value of something owned by God.  God singles us out and places value on us that is beyond human comprehension.  God cares about EACH and EVERY ONE of us as individuals and will never stop searching for us when we get lost and will rescue us at whatever the cost might be.  Now that's what search and rescue is all about!  That's the value and importance of ONE that God makes in claiming us found!

PRAYER: 

Lord Jesus, thank you for your continual search and rescue efforts in our lives – especially when we find ourselves lost from you.  Thank you for never giving up on us even when we give up on ourselves.  AMEN.

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Thoughts by Pastor Mike Magwire, King of Kings Lutheran (Fairfax, VA)

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #13 - Take Heart

Chronicles 20:1-23

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. ²Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, 'A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar' (that is, En-gedi). ³Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Eternal One, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴Judah assembled to seek help from the Eternal One; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek God.

5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of God, before the new court, ⁶and said, 'O Eternal One, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. ⁷Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it for ever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? ⁸They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, ⁹"If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgement, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save." ¹⁰See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— ¹¹they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. ¹²O our God, will you not execute judgement upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.'

13 Meanwhile all the men of Judah stood before the Eternal One, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. ¹⁴Then the spirit of God came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. ¹⁵He said, 'Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Eternal One to you: "Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's. ¹⁶Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Eternal One on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem." Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and God will be with you.'

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Eternal One, worshiping God. ¹⁹And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Eternal One, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.


20 They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Eternal One your God and you will be established; believe God's prophets.' ²¹When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Eternal One and praise God in holy splendour, as they went before the army, saying,
'Give thanks to the Eternal One,
   for God's steadfast love endures for ever.'

²²As they began to sing and praise, the Eternal One set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. ²³For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.


THOUGHTS: 

When troubling challenges overwhelm me, it is a rare occassion that I admit out loud that I do not know what to do. I wish I did more often, though, for then I might hear words of good news in reply: Do not fear or be dismayed, for God is with you. God's steadfast love endures forever, so take heart.

I don't exactly know what to make of the notion that these challenges are God's battles and not my own, except to wonder if letting go of the attractive but false idea that I can control everything-- and therefore acknowledging the freedom of other people and of the Living God to act-- frees me to do what I need to do. A song of thanks probably isn't a bad place to start, and at times like these requires courage-- as does waiting for the dust to clear, asking for help, accounting for what I've done and left undone, and forgiving myself and others. Praise be to God, then, who promises that we will not go the road alone.

PRAYER: 

Eternal One, friend and sustainer, we ask for comfort and strength when we cry out in distress. Grant us the courage to receive your love and salvation. In your many names we pray. Amen.

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Thoughts by Ben Masters, a graduate of George Mason University and an alum of Lutheran Campus Ministry at GMU. He is currently working at Open Arms of Minnesota in Minneapolis, through Lutheran Volunteers Corps and is a proud member of the Wellstone House.

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #12

Numbers 14:10b-24 (NRSV)

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.

And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they." 

But Moses said to the Lord, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; for you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, 'It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.' And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying, 

'The Lord is slow to anger, 

and abounding in steadfast love, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression, 

but by no means clearing the guilty, 

visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children 

to the third and the fourth generation.'

Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now."

Then the Lord said, "I do forgive, just as you have asked; nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of theLord— none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

THOUGHTS: 

I run into a lot of people who think that the so-called "Old Testament God" is an angry God more  interested in smiting people than in giving them the benefit of the doubt. At first glance today's text appears to fit right into that assumption. In verse 12 we read that the people have tried God's patience long enough. God is ready to strike the people with pestilence and disinherit them. It look like God is mad; get out of the way.

It's for this reason that Moses' response is so surprising, or at first glance stupid.  We might expect Moses to cut his losses and try to get out of Dodge (or at least the wilderness).  Instead, Moses takes God on; he argues with God. Moses ostensibly "mouths off" to God, using God's own words to make an argument.

If this were a scene in a play, I would imagine the cast running for wings while the audience gasped in fear for lone Moses standing there in the spotlight before God on an otherwise pitch black stage. And then, afraid to exhale, the audience would watch Moses neither run for stage right nor cower in fear, but fervently gesture towards the Most High as he reminded God of promises God already made: "The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression but by no means clearing the guilty" (v. 18). And Lo and behold: God listens.

What I love about this is Moses' audacity to quote God back to God. And Moses can do this because he starts with an important assumption: God is just. Now Moses doesn't sugarcoat what this means. He knows that the actions of the people will not be without consequence; he knows that God will judge them as we read at the end of verse 18. But Moses presumes that God is just; that God always is who God is. Moses pressures that even in the worst situations, God does not change from love to hate but remains love even in the midst of human faithlessness. So Moses argues with God because he trusts that he is dealing with a just God who really wants love, forgiveness, and deliverance for his people.

I run into a lot of people who believe that God is angry; that God wants to smite them or damn them or punish them. But Moses reminds us of something different. God is just no matter how unjust or unfaithful we have been. God is faithful to the promises God made to us, even when we don't deserve them.

Now we're invited to trust God's justice enough that we hold God to it, too!


PRAYER: 

God, so often we carry our sins with us and try to hide them from you. Lord, teach us not to fear but to trust you and your justice…for ourselves, our loved ones and our world.  Amen.

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Thoughts by Rev. Amy Sevimli, Assistant to the Bishop, Metro D.C. Synod of the ELCA, www.dcyoungadults.org

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Feel free to share them with your friends!

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Lent 2009 #36

1 Corinthians 1:18,25-30 

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. 25 For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. 26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

THOUGHTS:

It sounds crazy, doesn't it?  God chooses to save the world through death.  Jesus died to realign our relationship with God.  What?

Yet that's how it played out.  We are now reconciled to God through our own brokenness at the foot of the cross.  

God shows time and time again that our real value isn't measured by the standards of the world.  It is not about how smart you are, how connected you are, what you look like, how cool you are, what clothes you wear, how many "fans" you have, what tint your skin has, how sexy you are, what movies you like, how many houses you own, how big your army is, what your major is, what "stuff" you own, who you work for, who your friends are, who you find attractive, where you are from, how many people you've kissed, what music you like, or ANYTHING else that our society tells us is important!

You are worth more than you can possibly imagine or comprehend because of who you are at your core: a beloved child of God.  It's out of your control -- your value comes from being loved by God!  This truth still sounds foolish to our ears today...

PRAYER:

O Lord, our God, we can scarcely believe it is true that you love us so much.  Please accept our humble thanks.  Our lives are yours.  Lead us as you wish. In Jesus name, AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #34

Jeremiah 33:10-11 
10 Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, "It is a waste without human beings or animals," in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without inhabitants, human or animal, there shall once more be heard 11 the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: "Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

THOUGHTS:

God will bring gladness to places of desolation.  This pattern repeats over and over in scripture.  God makes the broken whole.  God fosters community to the lonely.  God heals wounds.  God brings joy where there was sorrow.  God brings life where there was death. 

What are the places of desolation in your life?  

Have faith that God will bring joy and wholeness into areas of brokenness and sorrow in our lives!

PRAYER:

Lord, bring joy and life to our lives and community.  Praise be to God!  In Jesus Christ we pray, AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University.  Please feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #32

Philippians 2:3-8 
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

THOUGHTS:

I don't think that Paul is suggesting we look down on ourselves.  Know that you are a loved child of God, more valuable than you can imagine.  Accept that.  Own it.  Feel it.  You are loved.

Then, with knowing that, try to see everyone around you as being at least that precious too, for they are each also loved children of God.  And don't just think of them that way, treat them that way.  Not just your friends, but also those who might seem incidental to your life, or even as enemies to you!  Treat the person who screws up your lunch order as a loved child of God, with the dignity and compassion they deserve because of their status in God's eyes.  Love the person who backs into your car, for they are more valuable than any car could be.  And when someone tries to tear you apart, show them compassion.

That's what this passage says to me when it talks abut acting humbly and emptying ourselves as Jesus did.

PRAYER:   

Lord God, we know that you love us more than we could ever fully comprehend.  Help us to humbly accept that love, sharing it with all those we encounter during our journey in life, each day, every day.  For the sake of Jesus the Christ, AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University.  Please feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #29

Romans 12:10 

10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

THOUGHTS by Chris Bergtholdt, junior at GMU:

First off, I suggest you read the whole section this is from (Romans 12:9-21).  These thoughts, however, are just on this single verse.  At times I feel Christianity can be boiled this single line.  It is simple, yet so complicated.  Now a lot has been said about putting this principle into practice.  This is an important idea for us to reflect on during Lent, and for those of you who are a part of the GMU community, isn't this what Pride Week is all about.

 PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the complexity that simple ideas can contain.  Keep us mind of love as we reflect on our spiritual practices this season.  Help us rejoice in the diversity of life and the power love. AMEN

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JOIN US this Wendesday at 7:47pm in the BISTRO for our PRIDE WEEK themed worship service. http://GMU747.org 

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=64244846540&ref=ts  

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #25

1 John 3:16-18

16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

THOUGHTS:

Jesus modeled perfect love for us in allowing himself to be crucified for our sake. He allowed himself to be tortured to death so that we might have life. This is one of those passages that can convict us, because it asks how we are responding. It tells us we should be laying down our lives for:

... others

... friends

... neighbors

... strangers

... communities

... and all humanity.

Verse 17 reminds me of a quote from Dorothy Day: "If you have 2 coats, you've stolen one from the poor."

It reflects that most of us live in abundance: with closets full of shoes, numerous pairs of shoes, several coats, hats, and other accessories ... many purely for "decoration" of our bodies. We like the way they make us look and we enjoy the variety. You may even have the luxury of having things like iPods, computers, TVs, and video games.

Yet most of the world, and many people not far from where we live, have little. There are people struggling to stay warm. There are people without food to eat. There are many people who need your extra coats and shoes.

When asked why so many people live in poverty, Rob Bell has responded that the reason is because the church isn't doing our job. We are called to care for each other, to give from our abundance to those who have less. It isn't easy. I struggle with this all the time.

PRAYER:

Lord God, we thank you for all the blessings in our lives: food, clothing, education, housing, friends, medical care, and so much more. Help us to lay down our lives for others. Help us to learn that there is joying in giving things away. Help us to learn the way of Jesus. All this we pray in your holy name. AMEN.

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TODAY: Worship with us. 7:47pm in SUB 1 room B (3rd floor) on Wednesday 3/25/2009. Bring a friend: ALL are welcome!

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University. Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #16

Psalm 19:7-13   

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

THOUGHTS:

God's laws are more to be desired then "much find gold."  We tend to think of laws as merely a list of things we can't do.  The law restricts us from speeding, killing, parking certain places, etc.  To be sure, that's a common view of God's commandments too.  People don't like that God made us  how we are, then tells us "thou shalt not" do whatever you want. 

Yet the psalmist rejoices in these "rules." Why?

Many of the decrees found in scripture aren't about controlling people, but rather they teach us how to live in community with each other.  Maybe that's why, when asked what the greatest commandment is in Matthew 22, Jesus replied, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Next time you are reading God's "rules" -- try reading them through a lens of love.  Ask yourself, how does this commandment help me understand love?  How does it help me share God's love with those around me?

 

PRAYER:

Lord, help us to see those around us as you do.  Help us to love as you love.  Help us to serve you with our whole selves, as Jesus did.  AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #3

Daniel 9:16-19 
16 O Lord, in view of all your righteous acts, let your anger and wrath, we pray, turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become a disgrace among all our neighbors. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, and for your own sake, Lord, let your face shine upon your desolated sanctuary. 18 Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears your name. We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people bear your name!"

THOUGHTS:

     Daniel prays that God spare the people, but not because they deserve it.  As humans, we like systems of justice, where everyone gets what they deserve.  Yet, in reality, we all stumble and fall short.  We pass buy the man who is homeless sleeping on a park bench.  We ignore the man who is hungry and carrying a sign saying "will work for food".  By God's rules, we all miss the mark sometimes.  

     As Daniel knows, God's forgiveness is about what we've earned.  We aren't forgiven because we are good enough. (If we were "good enough", then we wouldn't need forgiveness.)  Daniel is essentially saying "God, I know that we aren't worth listening to based on what we do, so don't pay attention for our sake.  God, listen because your nature is to show mercy. Listen because that's who you are."  Daniel has faith that God hears us because God wants to listen.  Daniel knows that God forgives us because God wants us to be forgiven.  

    The reason we are worth God's attention is simply because God loves us.  To God, we are worth more than we could possibly imagine or describe, all because God loves us.  Our relationship with God is based on the foundation of God's love.  As you journey through Lent and life, don't let your view of things become a barrier between you and God.  Always remember that God loves you, no matter what.  Period. 

PRAYER:

God, we lift our hearts to you.  We thank you for loving us first, and we ask that you help us view ourselves through your eyes.  Enable is to grow closer to you, rather than creating divisions in this relationship.  We want to know you more.  All this we pray in the name of Christ Jesus.  AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University.  Feel free to share them with your friends!  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran