Lent

February 20, 2021

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:9-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ –Mark 1:9-11

If we are to model our life after Jesus’s pattern of living, we, too, start with our recognition of Jesus Christ as our Savior and pledge to serve God as Jesus demonstrated we should. Most of us take steps to proclaim to ourselves and to the world that we have made this decision. Our confession of faith is between God and ourselves and is often memorialized in the presence of a community of faith. Baptism takes on many forms, but it, too, is an outward sign of our inward commitment.

Children and youth reared in faith communities are schooled in the stories of Jesus for years before they make that commitment. Some faith communities have special training for them as they approach their teen years. Most faith communities offer learning opportunities for teens and adults that are accessed by choice. I wonder how much of our faith development slowed markedly at the close of our pre-baptism training.

I embarrassed myself recently when talking about governmental services to the poor. Someone said many persons with disabilities may get financial help but do not qualify for SNAP (food stamps). I immediately assured the group that those people automatically qualified for food stamps and was assured that was not the case. I retired from working with governmental human services in 2004 and have not kept up with policy changes. When I got home, I looked up the policy, and my co-advocate was right. Eligibility for food stamps does require a separate application.

Again,  how much of our faith development is based on past history designed for youngsters? All professing Christ-followers are called to serve in developing God’s Kingdom in our world today. It is a mighty challenge that requires all of us to grow in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor as Luke 2:52 records Jesus did following his attendance at the temple when he was 12 years old. We do that by practicing the spiritual disciplines of worship, study, prayer, meditation, service, and practicing generosity.

Prayer: Lord, during these days of Lent, guide us to find ways to grow in spirit and truth. Amen.

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.