April 14, 2014

 

Good Monday Morning To You!

We're here. We are at the last week of our Lenten Journey to the Cross: Remembering Jesus. For 5 weeks, we have been abstaining, adopting and reflecting all in an effort to grow deeper and closer to God. You have made it this far; I know you can make it to the end.

Thank you for the concern, prayers and support you offered to me and my Mother. She was released from the hospital and they were able to discover what caused her issue. She is back to her sassy 84 year old self and for that I am eternally grateful to God for God's goodness and mercy toward us. That experience reaffirmed for me once again that our faith journey is greatly enhanced by sharing in community. There is great comfort in knowing that, "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor. 12:26). I appreciate you!

This last week, we cannot conclude without exploring the one discipline that seems to characterize the entire life and ministry of Jesus. We know he lived a life of solitude, surrender, service, submission and simplicity. But I suggest to you that the theme of his time on earth could be encapsulated in the discipline of Sacrifice. The notion of 'sacrifice' is a familiar Christian concept. In the Old Testament sacrifices were central to sustaining, renewing and restoring covenantal relationship with God. In the New Testament, we are taught that we now have relationship with God through the belief in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In response, the apostle Paul challenges us to be "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1).

Sacrifice in each of these three instances clearly involves giving up something. However if we remain at this level of understanding sacrifice, it remains a notion associated solely with pain, suffering and loss. But I offer you an alternative view. Earl Creps, author of "In Off Road Disciples: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders", suggests sacrifice is about the ability to mold our life into a missional shape to fit a purpose larger than oneself. Isn't that exactly what Jesus did? Isn't that what are called to do? Sacrifice is about doing what we need to do to mold our lives into a missional shape to fit God's purpose for our life in every area of our life.

As we reflect upon this final week of scriptures, let's look specifically at the ways Jesus molded his earthly life and ministry to fit God's purpose praying for illumination on how we can more fully do the same.

Monday - Luke 4:16-21
Tuesday - John 10:11-15
Wednesday - Matthew 16:21
Thursday - John 10:17-18
Friday - John 15:13-17 .
Saturday - Hebrews 10:1-10
Sunday - (Worship)

I am so humbled that you would join me in this Journey and I pray that you are stronger, wiser and better for having made the trip. I would love to hear how you have encountered God in a new way over the 6 weeks. As we enter this Holy Week, I encourage you to be intentionally reflective upon what the sacrifice of Jesus means for you, our community and our world. I invite you to celebrate the Resurrection in community because we are so much better together. Finally, I challenge you to stay the course. The Lenten season is ending but the journey is a lifetime.

So, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let's Grow!

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor