Thought for the Week 2021 – Lent 2

Ephesians 4: 25 – 5: 2

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ ‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

5 ¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

Lent 2 – Forgiveness and Community

How can people live together and work together, without ending up screaming and running out the door, or worse? Some people (including Christian groups) have tried communal living – and if you are serious about trying that, then a passage such as this one at the end of Ephesians 4 is vital for survival!

But even those of us who have not chosen to live together in a close-knit community still need this kind of teaching if we are to truly live as Christians, and love one another with the love of Christ. The church is the Body of Christ, and for it to work we need to seek to be Christ-like, and this passage gives some guidance. I noted last week that Lent is the time leading up to Easter when we look ahead to the crucifixion and resurrection, and examine ourselves in the light of the life, death and resurrection of our Saviour. And what does this passage say to us?

1. No lying to one another. Always be truthful in everything you say. Not even little lies, or exaggeration or a bit of whitewashing! Why? Because we are all members of one body! The body cannot function if there is untruth and people cannot believe what other people are saying. This is true in families, in the community and especially true in church.
2. Don’t go to bed angry. Notice that the instruction is not ‘Do not get angry’. In fact it is clear that Paul expects and understands that sometimes people will get angry. But the important thing is that our anger does not lead us to sin. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that anger in the heart can lead to the same judgement as murder. And if you go to bed still angry with a brother or sister, you are giving the devil a foothold in your life. You are opening yourself up to temptation to sin.
3. No stealing. How can a community survive if people steal? Instead, do something useful with you hands – work to earn a living and then share with those who are in need.
4. No ‘unwholesome talk’. Equally, no posting unwholesome messages on social media. What we say (and write) should build people up, not knock them down. Our words should be a benefit to other people.
5. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. How do we do that? Well, the four things already mentioned would grieve him. Equally, the things that follow, in verse 31: ‘bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander’ would all grieve the Holy Spirit. Be very aware that the Holy Spirit is always with you, always listening to your words and looking at your actions. He is grieved when our actions dishonour him.

 

Verse 32 tells us what we should do instead: ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ Forgiveness between people is vital in church life. Grudges have no place in the Body of Christ. We can’t hang on to things that somebody once said that upset or offended us. Those grudges must be thrown out! Instead let’s fill our lives with kindness and compassion – which takes a conscious effort. Let’s be forgiving – why? Because in Christ God forgave you.

And finally, at the beginning of chapter 5 Paul says, ‘Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’ This is the heart of the matter. It is all about love. We are loved, so we should live a life of love – and in doing so we are being like Jesus himself, who loved us, and gave himself up for us by dying on the cross.

 

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you that you set an example for us in loving other people, showing kindness and compassion, and in right living. Please help me to become more like you day by day in my thoughts, words, actions and attitudes. During this Lent season I want to give up all the wrong behaviour that grieves the Holy Spirit. Please be with me every day as my guide and teacher in all things. Amen.

 

Thought for the Week 2021 – Lent 1

Luke 4: 1 - 13

¹ Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

³ The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’

⁴ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.”’

⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.’

⁸ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”’

⁹ The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written:

‘“He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
¹¹ they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’

¹² Jesus answered, ‘It is said: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’

¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

 

Lent 1 – Temptation

The period leading up to Easter is a time of preparation which we call Lent. Some people give something up for Lent; some people take something on. It is a time when we look ahead to the crucifixion and resurrection, and examine ourselves in the light of the life, death and resurrection of our Saviour.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. And when he came up from the water, there was a voice from heaven – God the Father was proclaiming and confirming that this was his own dear Son. And the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in physical form, like a dove. If you and I were in charge of planning Jesus’ next steps, I wonder what we would have done. Maybe some big ‘campaign launch’. Perhaps we would have Jesus, still glowing and with the dove resting on him, walking straight from the River Jordan into Jerusalem and into the temple, proclaiming the Kingdom, with bolts of lightning and other great signs of power.

Thankfully we are not in charge, and it wasn’t up to us. Rather it was up to the Holy Spirit to guide Jesus… and look where the Spirit led him: “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” (v. 1 - 2)

Isn’t the Holy Spirit supposed to lead us away from the devil? Don’t we rely on the Holy Spirit to steer us in the right direction, away from temptation? Why was the Holy Spirit leading Jesus into temptation? This is a good question, and also a question that we can turn around to our own lives. When life is a challenge; when we are going through a dry season or a time of pain, then who has led us there? Were we led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit?

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation’. I don’t know whether you have ever wondered about that request and the way it is worded. It implies that we are asking God not to lead us into temptation, as if that might be an option. In June 2019, Pope Francis approved changes to the Lord’s Prayer, so that instead of saying, “Lead us not into temptation,” Catholics will say, “Do not let us fall into temptation.” The Pope added, “A father doesn’t [push me into temptation]; a father helps you to get up immediately. It’s Satan who leads us into temptation – that’s his department.”

However, it is clear in Luke 4 that it was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus into temptation – or rather it was the Holy Spirit who led him into the wilderness, where he would face temptation. It was not the Holy Spirit who did the tempting.

Are you in the wilderness right now? We might answer that all of us are in the wilderness right now, and have been since the beginning of the pandemic a year ago. Who led us there? The Holy Spirit certainly accompanies us into the wilderness, and we could also say he leads us. If we have to face the wilderness, then it is good to know we are following God into it, and not trying to make our own way, on our own. Temptation and testing do not come from God – but he might lead us into the place where we have to face them. This is true in our personal lives, and it is true of the covid-19 situation.

In the wilderness, rejoice that God accompanies you, that he is leading you, that he strengthens you and empowers you to live through it and come out the other end.

 

Prayer

Holy Spirit, you led Jesus into the wilderness, where he faced the Tempter. I thank and praise you that whenever I face times of trial – testing and temptation – I am still led by you. I thank you that you always accompany me through the good times and the bad. May I trust in you to always give me the strength to overcome. Amen.