Lent March 15, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 3:14-21 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’ — John 3:19-21

Have I mentioned that I am an NCIS fan? There is an episode of that show where a child caught up in the drama of his father’s life, helps his dad evade Gibbs and his team. The boy knows what he did was wrong but his love for his father overruled following the law. Gibbs walks into the break room to interview the boy and hands him an ice cream treat and the boy says, “I didn’t see that coming—ice cream as a punishment.” Gibbs says something to the effect that the boy loved his dad and there is nothing wrong with loving your dad. And then they set about solving the issue at hand.

We live in a world that does not expect the gift of the abundant love of God as a response to sin. We stumble around in darkness trying to survive the struggles that we face and never turn around to the light that clarifies the scary things for what they really are and illuminates the path or paths to wholeness.

Of course, turning around is just a first step. It takes all of God’s love and our dedication to it to keep us heading done the right path. We usually want to run back to the comfort of the pain we know rather than to move forward toward the unknown we have not experienced.  God often sends a Gibbs to help us set about solving the issue at hand. We need to keep an eye out for God’s messengers and let them help us.

Prayer: O Lord, there are plenty offering their solutions to the problems that I face. Help me discern rightly that which is of you and that which is not and be willing to seek help when help is what I need. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.