Lenten Love

Considering Truths During Lent

Today's Devotional Thoughts

I'm blessed to be able to attend a Men's Bible study every other Tuesday morning, led by our associate pastor. We've been working our way through Colossians, & last TUE morning we focused on Colossians 3:18-4:18. * If you follow this link & read the entire text, especially Col. 3:18-4:6, you will find lots to "cherry-pick." I'll give you some examples, but you have to promise to continue reading the devotion. 
* This is a new link:  "oremus Bible Browser," which I've not used before. I didn't find anything objectionable about it.

Promise? OK, then here you go: [My emphases added.]

• "Wives, submit to your husbands . . . (3:18)
• "Children, obey your parents in everything . . . (3:20)
• "Let your conversation be...seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (4:6

When I say "cherry-pick," I think you can relate. On more than one occasion I've enjoyed throwing the word "submit" at my spouse when I want my way to prevail. [Those of you who know my spouse also know that this may be easier said than done.] This passage has been abused & misinterpreted to suggest that men have absolute power over women both in & out of the church.

Try this reading [my emphasis added]:  "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." (3:18-19) [For an even deeper understanding, check out Ephesians 5:22-33.] 

And of course I always wanted & expected my children to obey me in everything. Instantly & without exception. Surprise, surprise . . . this did not always happen, & there may have been times when I, ahem, got a little hot under the collar at that.

Try this reading [my emphasis added]:  "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."  (3:20-21)

Then there's the matter of political punditry. I admit...it gets under my skin when conservatives--of which I am one--are portrayed as mean-spirited, & then I read some of the comments "seasoned with salt" thrown around by "progressive" pundits. Of course, I do like my sources of conservative pundits, some of whom have been known to occasionally season their talk with salt, as well.

Try this reading:  "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  (4:6) [My emphasis added.]

Lent is a time to reflect on our sinful condition & sinful behaviors that led our Savior to take the punishment we deserved, die the death that we deserved, yet ultimately conquer death that we might live. If I am honest with myself, my love for Jesus always falls short in my love for others. 

Thanks be to God that not only am I forgiven--are WE forgiven--but we are also empowered by His Holy Spirit to strive to love others, not just as ourselves, but as Jesus loves us. [The scripture below aptly describes our Savior & His perfect love for humankind.] Happy late Valentine's Day!

Some Additional Scriptural Thoughts

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres . . . And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."  1 Corinthians 13:4-6, 13

Today's Prayer Thoughts

Let's give thanks & praise to Jesus for His great, selfless love for us. Then let's ask Him to bless us with an extra measure of godly love for others, especially for those we find challenging to love.

A Short Note

Many of my devotions are adapted from those I wrote for the Daily Announcements of Lutheran High Northeast during the 2014-15 school year. This happens to be a devotion I wrote on 2/17/16.