March Week 5

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Lawrence of Rome (225 - 258)

When we read of the early church, certainly courage is a primary characteristic of many of our older brothers and sisters, and Saint Lawrence exemplifies courage in the utmost.

Roman Emperor Valerian was a persecutor of the church. On August 6, 258, Valerian continued this persecution by having the Bishop of Rome, Sixtus, captured while he was celebrating Mass and had him beheaded. Afterwards, he sent word to the young deacon Lawrence demanding he turn over all the riches of the Church, and he gave Lawrence three days to round it up.

Lawrence worked swiftly. He sold the Church’s vessels and gave the money to widows and the sick. He distributed all the Church’s property to the poor. On the third day, the Emperor summoned Lawrence to his palace and asked for the treasure. With great aplomb, Lawrence entered the palace, stopped, and then gestured back to the door where, streaming in behind him, poured crowds of poor, crippled, blind, and suffering people. “These are the true treasures of the Church,” he boldly proclaimed. One early account even has him adding, “The Church is truly rich, far richer than the Emperor.” (Author, Brandon Vogt)

This, of course, angered the Emperor and Lawrence was scourged, tortured, and imprisoned.

In his prison, however, he took no rest but wounded and bleeding as he was, he baptised the converts won to Christ by the sight of his courageous suffering. He confirmed their faith and fired their souls with a martyr’s intrepidity. When the evening hour summoned Rome to its pleasures, the prefect recalled the executioners to their work, for a few hours’ rest had sufficiently restored their energy to enable them to satisfy his cruelty.

Surrounded by this ill-favored company, the prefect thus addressed the valiant deacon: ‘Sacrifice to the gods, or else the whole night long shall be witness of your torments.’ ‘My night has no darkness,’ answered Laurence, ‘and all things are full of light to me.’ They struck him on the mouth with stone, but he smiled and said, ‘I give Thee thanks, O Christ.’

Then an iron bed or gridiron with three bars was brought in and the saint was stripped of his garments and extended upon it while burning coals were placed beneath it. As they were holding him down with iron fork, Lawrence said ‘I offer myself as a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.’ The executioners continually stirred up the fire and brought fresh coals, while they still held him down with their forks. Then the saint said: ‘Learn, unhappy man, how great is the power of my God; for your burning coals give me refreshment but they will be your eternal punishment. I call Thee, O Lord, to witness: when I was accused, I did not deny Thee; when I was questioned, I confessed Thee, O Christ; on the red-hot coals I gave Thee thanks.’ And with his countenance radiant with heavenly beauty, … He then raised his eyes to his judge and said: ‘See, this side is well roasted; turn me on the other and eat.’ Then, continuing his canticle of praise to God [he said]: ‘I give Thee thanks, O Lord, that I have merited to enter into Thy dwelling place.’

Reference: https://anastpaul.com/2017/08/10/saint-of-the-day-feast-of-st-lawrence-of-rome-martyr/

Lesson: James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

There’s a lot at stake when we are faced with a trial. Romans 5:3-4 tells us that when we persevere under suffering it produces character and character produces hope. But what if we don’t persevere? Some antonyms of character are evil, crookedness, viciousness, depravity, and the list goes on and on. And what do these things produce? Despair, distrust, discouragement, disbelief, and hopelessness. Second Corinthians 2:17 says that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Think of a child who needs an immunization because her grandfather has Hepatitis B. She is terrified of getting a shot, but this “light and momentary” pain is worth it so that she can have a face to face relationship with her grandfather. As adults, we often look at our situations the same way as this girl – with kicking and screaming and squirming when we come across trials in our lives. We need to remind ourselves what’s at stake (character and hope) and what awaits us in the end (the crown of life).

Remembrance

Henry Suso (1290-1365)

Remember that you will derive strength
by reflecting that the saints,
yearn for you
to join their ranks,
desire to see you fight bravely,
and behave like a true knight
in your encounters
with the same adversities
which they had to conquer
and that breathtaking joy
is the eternal reward,
for having endured a few years,
of temporal pain.
Every drop of earthly bitterness,
will be changed into
an ocean of heavenly sweetness.

Challenge

The girl who needs shots doesn’t want a nurse holding her as the injections are done. She wants her mom holding her, comforting her. Why? Because she knows her mom, she trusts her mom. In the same way, we can only lean into God when facing trials if we have already learned to trust His love for us.

Spend time meditating on these (or other) scriptures and/or listening to some of these songs. Develop a habit that regularly draws you into God’s presence so you can learn to trust Him always but especially in trials.

Scriptures
Deuteronomy 31:6,8
Joshua 1:5
Isaiah 41:10 
Hebrews 13:5-6
Matthew 28:20                 

Songs
I will never leave you by Ben Glover
Never Once by Matt Redmond
A Mighty Fortress
Find You on My Knees by Kari Jobe
Eyes Fixed by Phil Wickham

Reflection

Ponder the trust it required for Lawrence to praise God while his flesh roasted over a fire. Can you trust God with your current trials?

Further Growth: 5th Sunday in Lent

2023: No 5th Week in March

2022: 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Joshua 5:1-12
Psalm: Psalm 34
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32

2021: Wednesday in Holy Week

Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm: Psalm 69:6-22
New Testament: Hebrews 9:11-28
Gospel: Matthew 26:1-25

2020

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: Romans 6:15-23
Gospel: John 11:18-44

March Week 4

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Father Dale Hall

One of the most courageous acts a Christian can display is living counter-culturally. In our American bent toward consumption and greed, it can become common place to succumb to a “get ahead at any cost” mentality. This lifestyle is rarely challenged by the church. It can be daunting to respond to this American ethos with a lifestyle of simplicity and dependency upon God.

Father Dale Hall has chosen to be courageous in this way. He has had a bountiful career in church ministry: church planter, pastor, mentor, spiritual director, counselor, social worker, among others. One of his most inspiring characteristics has been his commitment to a life of simplicity. Below is a transcript of a brief interview with Fr. Dale.

When in your Christian journey did you begin to be drawn toward “simplicity”?

I always liked fixing up old things, reusing and repurposing things. As a child it made me sad to see things not being used. As an adult I really began to reject excessive American materialism early on.

Who were your role models in this process?

Saint Francis and Richard Foster who, in his book Celebration of Discipline, has a chapter on simplicity which was very influential and practical. E.g., I go through my closet and if there are things I have not worn in the past year I consider if it's time give them away, practicing simplicity with generosity.

What advice would you give a 20-something believer who wants to be more spiritually mature?

Make time and be available to be mentored. Look at the early church, that's how it was done. Saint Symeon said this is the “golden chain" of how the church is handed down generation to generation. Also, make a conscious choice to let the uncomfortable things of life be used by God to mold and shape you; He can reclaim many of our worst circumstances and build intimacy with you.

Describe your view on the world now as it relates to material possessions, living your faith in culture, revealing Christ in culture?

Material possessions are only as important as they are necessary. So, ask "What is necessary?" As for culture, I think the culture needs two things from the church:

1) For us to be accessible, meeting the culture whenever and wherever possible. Jesus exemplified this well by where he went and who he spent time with.

2) For us to stay true to the message: That for us and for our salvation Christ came down from heaven, he suffered...was crucified...rose... and will come again. The world needs the faithful presence of the church in both our words and our deeds.

Lesson: HebrewS 13:5 (NIV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'

Have you ever thought about what you look to for fulfillment? What is the one thing you would need to be content? We tend to depend on temporary things that aren’t guaranteed--wealth, fame, or position. It isn’t wrong to have these things, but we must guard against allowing them to consume us. Focusing on these temporary things clouds our understanding that the “one thing” we really need is the presence of the all-sufficient, eternal God through Christ our Lord. Even if everything else is stripped away, God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

The letter to the Hebrews was most likely written to a local church community facing difficulty because of their acceptance of Christ, and some were losing hope and leaving the faith because of the hardships. Perhaps they saw others prospering while they were feeling mistreated because of following Christ’s teachings. The early Christians receiving this letter would have more clearly understood the Old Testament references than we do. They would have remembered their history as a nation. The Israelites had been safely delivered from Pharaoh’s persecution but found themselves wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. God supplied their needs, but still they questioned if life in slavery might have been better. Finally, with God’s encouraging words, Joshua led the Israelites to that land promised to their ancestors: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV). Although following Christ may not always be comfortable nor will answers to prayer always be known to us, there’s no need to be afraid. Just as God was with Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites, God is also with us. Even if everything else is gone and we feel like we are in a wilderness (whether of our own making or because we are being mistreated), God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. The Holy Spirit is with us, even at times when we may not be aware of his guiding presence. God is the “one thing” we really need, and when we learn to be content in Christ, we discover He is more than enough.

No person is immune to hardships and difficulties, even followers of Christ. We live in a flawed world where we are regularly confronted with pressures and injustices that can distract us or cause us to become afraid. But our faith can be strengthened by remembering our hope is not in the systems or possessions of this world, but rather in Christ and what He has accomplished for us. God is more than sufficient to sustain and keep our souls safe through difficult times and to guide us onward. Fear can fade and our hope can increase if we learn to embrace God’s eternal promise to us: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Remembrance

GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in
the next.
Amen
-Reinhold Niebuhr, 1926

Challenge

Father Dale advises that we “make time and be available to be mentored.” You have people in your life who are “older” (physically or spiritually) who could offer encouragement, guidance or advice for your current season of life. Additionally, there are “younger” people in your life who could benefit from your past experiences. Asking someone to mentor you or asking someone if they would like to be mentored takes a lot of courage and a time commitment. This week pray about someone you could ask about mentoring. If God gives you a name, be responsive to His leading.

Reflection

When you read of Father Dale’s commitment to simplicity and ponder the call to contentment in Hebrews 13:5, what areas of your life or future goals feel inspired? Challenged? Are you holding tightly to comfort, position, or excess? May we as a chapel continually redirect one another to Christ’s promise never to leave us.

Further Growth

2023: 5th sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: Romans 6:15-23
Gospel: John 11:1-44

2021: Palm Sunday

Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13- 53:12
Psalm: Psalm 22:1-21
New Testament: Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: Mark 15:1-39

2020: 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm: Psalm 23
New Testament: Ephesians 5:1-14
Gospel: John 9:1-13 and John 9:28-41

March Week 3

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Perpetua and Felicitas ( - 203)

Some of the most powerful examples of supernatural, Christian courage originate in the stories of martyrdom in the early church. When we read the stories of the martyrs or even hear of persecution in the world today, we can easily feel disconnected from their suffering. It is often challenging for those in the western church to relate to the level of determination and courage exhibited by the martyrs. However, it is still important that we allow ourselves to sit with their stories and let the gravity of their experiences inspire and catalyze our faith in Christ.

Early in the third century, the reigning Roman emperor, Septimius Severus, had decided to stop the spread of Judaism and Christianity. Under penalty of death, he outlawed all conversions to Christianity. Intensive persecution was aimed directly at new converts and their teachers. Perpetua was an affluent woman, liberally educated, married, and still nursing her infant child. She had a slave named Felicitas. Both women were a part of a group of five catechumens (followers of Christ preparing to receive baptism) who, in 203 A.D., were charged with disobeying the imperial edict against conversion to Christianity.

When initially arrested, Perpetua’s father came to her to persuade her to save her life by abandoning her faith. She answered that, just as everything has a name and it is useless to try to give it a different name, she had the name of Christian, and this could not be changed. The judicial process was a drawn-out affair, apparently because the authorities hoped to persuade the accused to abandon their faith. Felicitas, who was pregnant when arrested, was afraid that her life would be spared for that reason, or that her martyrdom would be postponed, and she would not be able to join her four companions. But her prayers were answered as she gave birth, in her eighth month of pregnancy, to a girl who was later adopted by another Christian woman. Seeing her suffering in childbirth, her jailers asked how she expected to be able to face the beasts in the arena. Her answer is typical of the manner in which martyrdom was interpreted: “Now my sufferings are only mine. But when I face the beasts there will be another who will live in me and will suffer for me since I shall be suffering for him.”

When the day of martyrdom arrived, Perpetua entered the arena, singing psalms and walking with confidence as the beloved of God. Perpetua and Felicitas had been told in a vision that while in the arena they would be attacked by a ferocious cow. Having been hit and thrown by the animal, Perpetua asked to retie her hair, for loose hair was a sign of mourning, and this was a joyful day for her. Reportedly Perpetua had been so deeply in the Spirit that she was not aware of the initial hit of the animal. She responded, “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings.” Finally, the two bleeding women stood in the middle of the arena, bid each other farewell with the kiss of peace, and died by the sword.

The account of their arrest and imprisonment is believed to have been conveyed by Perpetua with the final details added by Tertullian:

O most brave and blessed martyrs! O truly called and chosen unto the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! [Believers] assuredly ought to read these examples for the edification of the Church… so that new virtues may also testify that one and the same Holy Spirit is always operating even until now, and God the Father Omnipotent, and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, whose is the glory and infinite power for ever and ever. Amen.

Reference: The Story of Christianity, Justo L. Gonzalez

Lesson: Acts 7:51-53 (NIV)

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.

Western Christianity has significantly influenced the culture of the United States to a point where three out of every four adults say they are Christian. A basic understanding of the Christian faith, along with an elementary level discernment, reveals that this is far from the case. It is quite easy to hide under the label “Christian” in this country, even if that Christianity is, at best, nominal.

In the early church, luke-warm Christianity was as foreign as Florida residents living in igloos. Throughout Luke’s two-book narrative (Luke- Acts) from Jesus’ ministry to the stories of the early church, he is showing that what God has done through Jesus compels a person to respond. Being a follower of “the way” was serious, and much was at stake. Without courage, it was impossible to persevere.

Stephen is as bold of an example of courage as we encounter in the pages of the New Testament. He is a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (6:5) and performs great wonders and signs among the people (6:8). The Sanhedrin is a group of powerful religious leaders who would meet on an ad-hoc basis to decide on important legal matters. Stephen’s summons to the Sanhedrin would be akin to an average American citizen standing in front of Congress. The expected response would have been to flatter the members of the group praising their power and wisdom and hope to be let off with a slap on the wrist. Stephen lives boldly and stands with courage. He gives a succinct, yet brilliant summary of Israelite history, followed by pointing his finger in the face of the most honorable men in the temple, accusing them of being no different than those who fashioned a golden calf 1400 years earlier after one of the greatest miracles the world has ever seen. Stephen is re-telling the story and exposing a common theme: unfaithfulness. (See 1 Kgs. 19:10-14; 2 Chr 36:16; Neh 9:26.) When Stephen completed his discourse, the Sanhedrin had him stoned to death.

To speak truth requires courage, for the truth spoken could result in dire consequences. The early Christians knew this. In fact, the first three centuries of church history are filled with martyr accounts, with Stephen leading the way as the first Christian martyr. The culture of 21st century America may be quite different than 1st century Judea, but the seriousness of following Jesus, and the courage it takes to be a true and committed follower, is remarkably similar. The lack of opposition we face today perhaps says more about the commitment level of our relationship with Jesus than the sanctity of modern life compared with antiquity. Stephen surely had fears like the rest of us do, but his courage over-rode those fears because of his commitment to Jesus. Though we most likely will not be stoned, we must be willing to let our courage over-ride our fears, no matter the cost.

Remembrance

A Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, The Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Challenge

Lectio Divina is a fancy Latin word for "Divine Reading". It was coined by Benedictine monks in the 6th century who were seeking to emphasize Scripture as the Living Word, as opposed to just another text to study. Using John 14:25-27 as the text, practice Lectio Divina by following these four steps:  

Reflection

The introduction to March’s devotionals included the following quote from Brene Brown: In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” How do Perpetua’s and Stephen’s resolve encourage you to speak what’s on your heart concerning Christ?

Further Growth

2023: 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm: Psalm 23
New Testament: Ephesians 5:1-14
Gospel: John 9:1-13, 28-41

2022: 3rd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm: Psalm 103
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Gospel: Luke 13:1-17

2021: 5th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm: Psalm 51
New Testament: Hebrews 5:1-10
Gospel: John 12:20-33

2020

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm: Psalm 95
New Testament: Romans 1:16-32
Gospel: John 4:5-42

March Week 2

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Carolyn Dirksen

Hot, dry, Bisbee, Arizona was hardly fertile ground for the dreams of 12-year-old Carolyn. She wanted to go to college but would be the first in her family to do so. Her widowed mother worked a minimum wage job to support Carolyn, her sisters, and their grandmother, who often warned Carolyn to suppress her college dreams. Since none of them knew about grants and scholarships, it was the kind of dream that caused more sadness than hope, especially for Carolyn’s mother, who had no idea how to make it a reality. It took courage for Carolyn to believe that this dream might have been laid on her heart by her Creator. She persisted, and her mother told her they would pray.

Their church looked a bit like Carolyn’s family—poor, mostly women, and untrusting of academia —but they knew love and prayer. These women, whom she calls her “spiritual mothers,” gathered around Carolyn and her mother. A prophetic word was spoken; Carolyn would go to college. Her dream became a calling, and that calling gave her courage to face the obstacles ahead. She soon encountered brothers and sisters in Christ who saw her call to higher education as sinful or misguided. But she persisted and became the first female faculty member of her college to be awarded a sabbatical. Carolyn used it to pursue her PhD. She faced criticism, direct and latent, for seeking a doctorate when her husband, who “had a good job,” didn’t even have one. She was villainized for pursuing career and “her own wishes.” Yet, she had a calling and so she had courage.

Pursuing her calling had its costs. Even now she tears up as she recalls words spoken to and about her that ranged from unkind to untrue. Her voice cracks as she reflects, “I had to go underground about the things I was doing, which made me trust less. I think I missed out on ‘community.’”

Of late, she has been more vocal in her advocacy for the voiceless and the marginalized. “The time for subtlety is over;” she explains “my days of staying under the radar are past.” Which means she became a target of rude criticism, this time on social media. Carolyn responded with overwhelming grace and dignity. True bravery in this situation, she believes, includes a real honesty with yourself and with God. “When being attacked, you must be certain to look for any truth in the criticism before you respond.”

Dr. Carolyn Dirksen has now retired from a 50-year career in which she was central in transforming Lee College of Cleveland, TN from a small bible college into a thriving Christian liberal arts university. Her impact on the thousands of students she has inspired and taught is hard to overstate. She points to Ephesians 2:10 as a guiding verse that has given her courage. She recalls, “We were meant to build something here for God’s Kingdom. Who could stand against us?”

Lesson: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians was written by Paul to a church of non-Hebrew believers. The first two chapters make the argument that Jews and Gentiles are equal members of the family of God. Paul is uniquely positioned to make such a claim. When he speaks to the Ephesians as equal citizens in the Kingdom of God, He does so with the authority of a respected believer and scholar of the Hebrew people.

Imagine how meaningful it would be for a natural born son of a family going to an adopted sibling and saying “You are just as much a member of this family as I am.” Paul’s implication is made clear by his repeated use of plural first-person pronouns like “we” and “us” (e.g. 2:4-5). Our membership in the Family of God has nothing to do with our actions, our family heritage or our earthly citizenship. And believing this takes courage.

We long for love and value that is based on our accomplishments. We would love to believe that we have somehow done something to impress our significant other, friend, or boss who looked over a large field of applicants and pulled us out of the pile saying “Yes!” We have been raised in a meritocracy where rising to the top is seen as an indication of value and significance. Yet, Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that our value is that we are made by God. “For we are God’s handiwork...” We’d love to believe we could somehow earn God’s love by impressing Him. Consider this conversation between a painter and God:

ME: What do you think of the painting?
GOD: I love you.
ME: That’s nice, but what do you think of the painting?
GOD: (smiles) I love you.
ME: Yes, but do you see what I did over here, with the shading and the color?
GOD: I love you.
ME: You’re not listening...

Can you imagine what we could possibly “paint on our canvas” that would be more impressive than the work of art that He has done by creating us? It takes courage to surrender our desire to impress, to find our identity in Christ instead of our accomplishments. Our works are not a means to earn God’s love, but rather a gift He’s laid out for us because He loves us. May we have the courage to release our dependence on conditional love and remember that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Remembrance

An excerpt from C.S. Lewis's The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
     Drinian’s hand shook on the tiller and a line of cold sweat ran down his face. The same idea was occurring to everyone on board. “We shall never get out, never get out,” moaned the rowers. “He’s steering us wrong. We’re going round and round in circles. We shall never get out.” The stranger, who had been lying in a huddled heap on the deck, sat up and burst out into a horrible screaming laugh.
     “Never get out!” he yelled. “That’s it. Of course. We shall never get out. What a fool I was to have thought they would let me go as easily as that. No, no, we shall never get out.”
     Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting top and whispered, “Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now.” The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little—a very, very little—better. “After all, nothing has really happened to us yet,” she thought.
     “Look!” cried Rynelf’s voice hoarsely from the bows. There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched a broad beam of light fell from it upon the ship. It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by searchlight. Caspian blinked, stared round, saw the faces of his companions all with wild, fixed expressions. Everyone was staring in the same direction: behind everyone lay his black, sharply- edged shadow.
     Lucy looked along the beam and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane, then it looked like a kite, and at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross. It circled three times round the mast and then perched for an instant on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow. It called out in a strong sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them. After that it spread its wings, rose, and began to fly slowly ahead, bearing a little to starboard. Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance. But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, “Courage, dear heart,” and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan’s, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.
     In a few moments the darkness turned into a greyness ahead, and then, almost before they dared to begin hoping, they had shot out into the sunlight and were in the warm, blue world again. And all at once everybody realized that there was nothing to be afraid of and never had been. They blinked their eyes and looked about them. The brightness of the ship herself astonished them: they had half expected to find that the darkness would cling to the white and the green and the gold in the form of some grime or scum. And then first one, and then another, began laughing.

Challenge

Fasting is an ancient Christian tradition – one that is central to the season of Lent. It seems to have lost a lot of its significance in the midst of today's "Have it your way" society. In an effort to recover this practice, give something up this week (or month, or for the season of Lent) that has become an idol for you. Don't just give it up but replace it with something that particularly helps you draw nearer to God's heart and purpose in your life.

Reflection

Do you relate to the conversation between the painter and God from the lesson? Do find yourself eager to impress God, or are you able to rest in the peace that He simply loves you? Let us be reminded, “Our works are not a means to earn God’s love, but rather a gift He’s laid out for us because He loves us.”

Further Growth

2023 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm: Psalm 95
New Testament: Romans 1:16-32
Gospel: John 4:5-42

2022 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-18
Psalm: Psalm 27
New Testament: Philippians 3:17 — 4:1
Gospel: Luke 13:22-35

2021 - 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 36:14-23
Psalm: Psalm 122
New Testament: Ephesians 2:1-10
Gospel: John 6:1-15

2020 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 33:12-21
New Testament: Romans 4:1-17
Gospel: John 3:1-16

March Week 1

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968)

On April 3rd, 1968, in a prophetic speech given at Mason Temple Church in Memphis, TN, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said these words:

We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop....Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

The next day he was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was a minister, and at 25 years old, after receiving degrees from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University, he followed in his father’s footsteps to become a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama. After the 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks, Dr. King was put on center stage of the Civil Rights Movement when he and others began planning the Montgomery bus boycott. Under constant harassment, threats, and violent acts, the participants of the boycott held out for over 381 days until the city of Montgomery desegregated their buses.

From that point, MLK’s role began as one of the main the voices in the Civil Rights movement. He went on to help found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group of African American church leaders that organized non-violent protests and demonstrations around the U.S. to end all forms of segregation. King helped organize sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters in Atlanta, held demonstrations in Birmingham and Washington, marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, won a Nobel Peace Prize, and helped get the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act passed. King was also very outspoken against the war in Vietnam, nuclear armament, consumerism, and the oppression of the poor in society. He accumulated a list of trials and troubles that could be laid beside the Apostle Paul’s; he faced beatings and harassment, death threats to him and his family, the police used fire hoses and dogs to stop his demonstrations, he was stabbed, thrown in jail 30 times, and ultimately shot and killed.

In the face of all these afflictions, Dr. King overcame hatred and fear through courage, love, and faith. Like the prophets of old he was a spokesman who called out the injustices of society and expressed love for the oppressed and their oppressors. He had an unshakable belief, “that unarmed Truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality” and could say with confidence that, “right temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

Lesson: Matthew 10:26-31 (NIV)

So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

This week’s lesson is MLK’s personal analysis of Matthew 10:26-31. This excerpt is taken from his book “Strength to Love” in the chapter entitled, “Antidotes for Fear.” 

Religion endows us with the conviction that we are not alone in this vast, uncertain universe. Beneath and above the shifting sands of time, the uncertainties that darken our days, and the vicissitudes that cloud our nights is a wise and loving God. This universe is not a tragic expression of meaningless chaos but a marvelous display of orderly cosmos – “The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.” Man is not a wisp of smoke from a limitless smoldering but a child created “a little lower than the angels.” Above the manyness of time stands the one eternal God, with wisdom to guide us, strength to protect us, and love to keep us. His boundless love supports and contains us as a mighty ocean contains and supports the tiny drops of every wave. With a surging fullness he is forever moving toward us, seeking to fill the little creeks and bays of our lives with unlimited resources. This is religion’s everlasting diapason, its eternal answer to the enigma of existence. Any man who finds this cosmic sustenance can walk the highways of life without the fatigue of pessimism and the weight of morbid fears.

Herein lies the answer to the neurotic fear of death that plagues so many of our lives. Let us face the fear that the atomic bomb has aroused with the faith that we can never travel beyond the arms of the Divine. Death is inevitable. It is a democracy for all of the people, not an aristocracy for some of the people- kings die and beggars die; young men die and old men die; learned men die and ignorant men die. We need not fear it. The God who brought our whirling planet from primal vapor and has led the human pilgrimage for lo these many centuries can most assuredly lead us through death’s dark night into the bright daybreak of eternal life. His will is too perfect and his purposes are too extensive to be to be contained in the limited receptacle of time and the narrow walls of earth. Death is not the ultimate evil; the ultimate evil is to be outside God’s love. We need not join the mad rush to purchase an earthly fallout shelter. God is our eternal fallout shelter.

Jesus knew that nothing could separate man from the love of God. Man, for Jesus, is not mere flotsam and jetsam in the river of life, but he is a child of God. Is it not unreasonable to assume that God, whose creative activity is expressed in an awareness of a sparrow’s fall and the number of hairs on a man’s head, excludes from his encompassing love the life of man itself? The confidence that God is mindful of the individual is of tremendous value in dealing with the disease of fear, for it gives us a sense of worth, of belonging, and of at-homeness in the universe.

Reference: King, Martin Luther. “Antidotes for Fear.” Strength to Love, Fortress Press, 1963, pp. 128–130.

Remembrance

Celtic Daily Prayer: Book Two: Prayer by Dawna Markova

I will not die an unlived life,
I will not live in fear
Of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days, To allow my living to open me, To make me less afraid,
More accessible,
To loosen my heart Until it becomes a wing, A torch, a promise...

Challenge

Our motives drive us. Reflect on what has motivated you to get where you are right now in life. After an honest self-evaluation, consider the following verse, Hebrews 13:5: "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you." If you identified "control, safety, security, or comfort" as motivating forces in your life, consider how God may be calling you to have the courage to let go of those motives and live a more contented life, trusting in God's provision.

Reflection

In a time when we are bombarded with images of injustice around the world, in our country, even in our own community, what does this quote from Dr. King mean to you and your desire to see peace: “right temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant”? Are there examples of “right” that give you hope?

Further Growth

2023 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 33:12-21
New Testament: Romans 4:1-17
Gospel: John 3:1-16

2022 - 1st Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm: Psalm 91
New Testament: Romans 10:4-13
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

2021 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-21
Psalm: Psalm 19:7-14
New Testament: Romans 7:12-25
Gospel: John 2:13-22

2020

Old Testament: Genesis 2:4 — 3:7
Psalm: Psalm 51
New Testament: Romans 5:12-21
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

March Introduction

March: Courage

Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

The Latin root of the word courage is cor, or “heart.” The concept of courage as “heart” positions like two points on an axis. On one side, courage is what we most commonly envision--bravery, heroic acts, valor. On the other side, there is the subtlety of courage--to speak what is on one’s heart. It is an inner strength that may not be demonstrated by an act of power, but a fortitude to face a difficult conversation. Brene Brown says:

Courage is a heart word.... In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences - good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as "ordinary courage.”

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” This passage should be compelling. God promises something other than fear. He will give us power, love, and self-control. Power if we need to respond to fear with bravery, love if we need to respond to fear with compassion, and self-control if we need to respond to fear by overcoming our own lack of discipline. If we are called upon to take a dramatic stand against injustice, we will have the power. If we need to forgive someone who has deeply harmed us, we will have love. If we need to simplify our lives in our gluttonous culture, we will have the self-control.

In March we begin, or maybe continue, the season of Lent. Lent symbolizes Jesus’ time in the wilderness. He fasted for 40 days and was tempted by Satan on three different occasions (see Luke 4:1-3). He demonstrated power when tempted to reveal His divinity too soon. He showed love and trust in His father when tempted to short-cut the divine plan to achieve victory over death via the cross. And He had to summon self-control when tempted to turn stones into bread. Jesus embodied courage. Let us follow Jesus’ footsteps as we choose to live with courage.

March: Liturgy

Leader: Almighty Father, You inspired the prophets of old to speak truth to oppressive powers and not be silent about Your desire for Your people. Give us courage to do likewise and be bold in this unjust world.

People: Father, grant us courage to stand for what is true.

Leader: Lord Jesus, You modeled courage for us in the wilderness by not giving in to the lures of earthly temptations. During this season, strip us of all sinful desires so that we may serve the one true God alone.

People: Jesus, show Your power through our weakness.

Leader:  Holy Spirit, Source of our courage, give us clear minds to live boldly during these difficult times. Convict us of individual and societal sin; give us courage to speak and act against evil forces bent on destruction.

People: Spirit, empower us to overcome our fears and instill courage in others.