Lent

March 10, 2023

Scripture Reading Romans 5:1-11

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. –Romans: 5:6-11

My spring Bible Study Group is studying Genesis*. In a video accompanying the study, a Jewish scholar discussed the scene in the garden when Adam and Eve, after disobeying the rule that they could not eat from the tree of good and evil, realized they were naked and began to clothe themselves. He said the Jewish view of that story was that upon discovering they were naked, they had to clothe themselves in doing good deeds to reconcile their failure to follow God’s commandments. I like that interpretation. Firstly, it does not deliver the message that there is something bad about the human body. Secondly, from the very start of life, humans were given the opportunities to find reconciliation with God when we have strayed from doing what is right.

Of course, if you read further into the scripture, we see God kicking Adam and Eve out of the garden and yoking them with hard work and painful birth. What do we make of that? Being reconciled with God frees us to restore justice wherever we can. The pain we may have caused others does not go away merely because we recognize our mistakes. I love the story of John Newton, the author of the hymn, Amazing Grace. He was involved in the slave trade when a killer storm struck the slave ship he was sailing and threatened to kill all aboard. He prayed as a last resort for God to save his life and committed himself to give up the slave trade and serve God fully, which he did. He, indeed, did dedicate his life to Christ’s work. Telling of his reconciliation in his hymn alone has opened the door to God’s Grace for millions worldwide.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for making us whole through your gift of grace. Amen

Invitation to Genesis, A Short-Term Disciple Bible Study, Abingdon Press.

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.