Let’s press on to maturity
6 So let’s press on to maturity, by moving on from the basics about Christ’s word. Let’s not lay a foundation of turning away from dead works, of faith in God, 2 of teaching about ritual ways to wash with water, laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment—all over again. 3 We’re going to press on, if God allows it.
4 Because it’s impossible to restore people to changed hearts and lives who turn away once they have seen the light, tasted the heavenly gift, become partners with the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age. 6 They are crucifying God’s Son all over again and exposing him to public shame. 7 The ground receives a blessing from God when it drinks up the rain that regularly comes and falls on it and yields a useful crop for those people for whom it is being farmed. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it’s useless and close to being cursed. It ends up being burned.
Make your hope sure
9 But we are convinced of better things in your case, brothers and sisters, even though we are talking this way—things that go together with salvation. 10 God isn’t unjust so that he forgets your efforts and the love you have shown for his name’s sake when you served and continue to serve God’s holy people. 11 But we desperately want each of you to show the same effort to make your hope sure until the end. 12 This is so you won’t be lazy but follow the example of the ones who inherit the promises through faith and patience.
Reflection
The book Pastors Joe and Kate chose for their morning Lenten studies, “Lent In Plain Sight” by Jill Duffield, was an easy and enjoyable read for me. One of the questions for reflection was “Have you ever begged God for help for yourself or on behalf of another? What Happened?
That lead me to prayer, thought and deep concerns that I have when I see loss of life, or increase in diseases and hardship, which have hit the world. Did those things happen by accident because someone did not take time to look at the big picture? Do these things happen because of a lack of empathy and caring? Reading scripture, thinking and praying, led me to ask what is it that God wants us to do with our lives and I hope this helps answer the question for some of us.
God’s purpose in saving you and me is not merely so our souls can go to heaven; God wants to use us here on earth, until we die and then reward us in the afterlife. Our scripture points to the importance of growing in spiritual maturity during our earthly pilgrimage as we head toward glory.
The heading for Luke 19, verses 11-28 is “Faithful Service”. This is the parable of the rich man, born into royalty, who went to a distant land and left his servants money. When he returns one says that the money was invested and grew by one thousand percent, the second achieved a 500 percent return while the third returned the money to the man, still wrapped in a scarf for safekeeping, because he was afraid to do more, he had no faith.
The money the man gave was called mina, and each coin was worth about a hundred days’ wages. The point here is that God would expect his followers (i.e., believers) to manage what he gave them until the man of royalty returned to take up his position in Jerusalem. We, as Jesus people, are called to follow his teaching, to have faith, to have patience, and to be living examples of the values that Jesus taught and lived.
In Pastor Kate’s March 30th sermon message she said something that continues to stick with me. Are we asking the right questions? I surely do endeavor to do that but the explanation would not be brief.
I feel that I have seen God’s hand at work in many ways during this Lent. I feel that way because I often have a gift of rejoicing when I see things that are positive and try to shake off, but not ignore, the bad things.
I am writing this on Monday, the day that we heard that Pope Francis had passed. It was so amazing that he was able to be out among the people on Easter, which was not anticipated, nor was his visiting those he felt needed care. For many, I feel that the celebration of his life, and the way he demonstrated caring and empathy for all, is a needed and powerful message.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
Where do you see God’s hand at work?
What strengthens your hope and faith and gives you patience?
How do you experience God’s love as you live among people who touch your life?
Prayer: Holy Lord, as we go about our daily work and routines, help us to truly see those in our midst who are too often dismissed or disregarded. Forgive us for acting in ways that ignore the suffering of others. Grant us the faith and energy to offer abundant grace, mercy, and compassion, more than just crumbs, if even those, in your name. Please touch us through the power of your Holy Spirit in ways that draw us to you more closely than ever before. Thank you for listening to our prayers. We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.
