Lent
March 14, 2019
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
My first thought every time I read this scripture is to ask myself the question, “Would I have the audacity to advise anybody to imitate me?” I do not think I would ever say it. The truth is as we are called to imitate Christ, people we introduce to God’s love as Paul did will see us as role models whether we invite them to or not. That is a very scary and humbling thought. I do think that Jesus was fully human and thus was as likely as you or I are to shout an expletive if we hit our hand with a hammer. Thus, I do not think we are prescribed to be holier than thou. The real modeling comes with our responses when we see someone hungry, thirsty, without appropriate clothing, sick, or in prison. All these conditions add up to addressing the need for righteousness, justice in our world today.
There are as many ways of addresses these issues as there are people on the earth. Some commit their lives to just one of these like those working to bring safe water to the Congo who are committing a lifetime of resources and talent to letting justice flow literally via streams of living water. Others excel at one-on-one mentoring of the poor taking care of immediate needs while providing training and education targeted toward self-support and self-sufficiency. Many throughout our land are making progress in switching our civil justice system from punishment to restorative justice, helping those who break the law become whole as productive members of society.
I keep coming back to the need to be intentional about our lives as followers of Christ because we never know when someone might be following us on their pathway to God.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be honest about who I am and my limitations while I intentionally seek to model my life after Jesus’ example. Amen.