Lent 2014
April 10, 2014
Read Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ….And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. — Philippians 1:6, 9-11
For those of us who are very goal oriented, it is sometimes discomforting to understand that we are a part of a grander process for which we may never see the final outcomes in this life. Goal oriented people like to see final outcomes. I do not know whether Abraham was goal oriented or not but he was assured by God that he would not live to see the results of his obedience to God. It would, however, eventually change the world. It did. In spite of everybody thinking it was folly, Jeremiah bought land just before being marched out of Judah into captivity. He said he was preparing for their return. They did. Jesus’ disciples walked away from the crucifixion and went into hiding. Were they next? Was it all over? He had promised that he would rise on the third day. He did.
In our scripture today the writer is assuring the people of the church of Ephesus that the good work begun among them would bring to completion the day of the Lord. We live within the context of this same promise. We, like the Ephesians, are called to let our love overflow so that we will have done our part in bringing about the harvest of righteousness.
My family celebrated my parent’s 40th anniversary with a reception that invited everyone who knew them through a notice in the local newspaper. Much to my surprise, an unexpected guest was my first grade teacher. She had also taught my sister and been my mother’s friend. It seems she had recently moved back to the area and seeing the article in the paper wondered how my sister and I had matured into adulthood. She was a wonderful teacher. I hope she was pleased with the outcomes of her work.
Prayer: God of the Harvest, help us to plant seeds of love each day, tend them and nurture them with the full realization that you will bring them to fruition. Amen.
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.