Lent Day 22: Everlasting and unchanging

Today everyone we met was smiling. The sun's out in Seattle and temperatures reached a high of 55oF. In March, that's considered a gift from heaven.

It's easy to believe in a good God when the sunshine is warming your shoulders. It may be more difficult to sense His love when circumstances feel out of control:

• When the baby's sick and you don't know what's wrong.
• When your teenager is out late without letting you know where s/he's gone.
• When those newlyweds seem to be clawing more than cooing and their marriage looks shaky. 
• When the bills pile up and there seem to be too few resources.
• When the boss hands you a pink slip.
• When you (or your parents) feel the effects of age and infirmity.
• When all your plans fall apart and there's no Plan B for the future.

The lovely reassurance of scripture is that God never changes. Since the beginning of time, He has overseen the universe and its motion, the peoples He made and their relationships.

He knows it all. Controls it all. Is able to direct everything - beauty and chaos - without planets colliding or whirling off course into black holes of nothingness.

We are securely guided and guarded as long as we do His will. When we get off track, we may feel the consequences. Yet, returning to God with our whole hearts, we're promised His resources to direct our paths and give us wisdom.

• Do you need the unfailing love and everlasting arms of God, your heavenly Father? He is strong enough to hold you. Kind enough to comfort you.
• Do you desperately need clarity for a murky situation? God sees a way through the darkness. Nothing is hidden from him.

• Do you need salvation from your brokenness? God provided One who became the sacrifice for our sins, the One who walked steadily toward the cross we will celebrate at Easter.
• Do you need power beyond your wildest imagination to solve a crisis? God created the world from nothing. He parted the Red Sea to provide escape for an entire nation. He broke a few loaves and divided a few fish to feed 5000 people. He promised us the resurrection power that brought Christ back to life.

With joy we celebrate the Lenten season and remember that God-Who-is-with-us is almightly.

Read more:
*The Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness. Psalm 11:7 (NASB)

*I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalm 119:45 NLT

*God himself is righteous and he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26 NLT

*And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NKJV

Moravian Prayer: Help us to be so infused with your spirit, living Christ, that we will not just proclaim empty words but live as your followers. Challenge us by your example to act in ways that are kind, holy, loving, and just. Amen.

How to become powerful

"While we were powerless, Christ died for us," Paul wrote.

But wait! I thought Jesus laid aside his godly privileges to become a servant. How can a servant be powerful and change the world?

Here are a few ideas from Jesus' life of power and influence:

1. Know who you are and who sent you. God is pleased that you and I were born and that we are willing to act on his behalf. HE is powerful and sends us.
2. Ask God for your assignment. Jesus prayed by himself and got direction from his Father.
3. Be willing to do anything, great or small, to serve others. What makes me (or you) intrinsically better than anyone else so that we expect to escape mundane chores and dirty work? It's all the King's business!
4. Be courteous and pay attention to people. Notice the young and old, the hurting and the strong. Who needs God's attention today -- through you?
5. Align yourself daily to God's character and you'll know whether something is a fit or not. Anything that causes you to envy, steal someone's good name or stuff, or bring bad repute on God's name probably isn't "God's will" for your life.
6. Expect to be different. You'll stand out because of God's power through you. However, your own reputation may suffer, as Jesus' did!

People of influence and ongoing authority in my own life have consistently served, rather than looking to be served.

The power of Christ, in laying down our lives for others, excites attention in a self-serving world. Who knows where God will take you, if you are willing to do the humblest background service? The skills and reputation you have built may take you to the forefront, but even if they don't, God has you front and center on his stage of Kingdom events. A powerful place indeed!

Read more:

*Noah did all that God commanded him. Genesis 6:22  

*You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! Romans 5:6-9 NIV

*You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds. Ephesians 4:22-23 (NIV)

Moravian Prayer: Give us the courage to obey you, Lord, even when others don’t understand. Wash away the filth of this world in us, refreshing us with newness of life and purpose. As we put away our old selves, renew our minds by your presence and power, living joyfully in your grace. Amen.