Lent Day 31

1 John 4:7-11

The love that the world knows is often genuine but incomplete. It makes me think of a cartoon animal; it's similar enough to be clearly identified and may serve a particular purpose but the real thing is much more detailed than the cartoon. Since the complete genuine love we have been given by God is self-giving, we can't fully enjoy it without also passing it along to others. And if we have received real love, why would we not choose to share it with others? Think of the impact you can have in others' lives by simply sharing the abundance you have been given. If you feel like you can't do that, then you should question whether you truly know God and His love for you. You have undoubtedly received His love, but perhaps you haven't recognized it as such. Take time to pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to recognize God's love for you, then start an ongoing list of blessings in your life, thanking the Lord for each one. Within a few days I am certain you will be able to receive God's love more fully. Share those blessings with others; they need to receive God's love too both directly from Him and indirectly through you.
Write in this heart today at least one way that God has shown His love for you and thank Him for it.

Lent Day 16

John 8:3-11

Would you have been able to throw the first stone at the sinful woman? If you think so, read 1 John 1:8. It's important to see in this story both Jesus' willingness to forgive and our inability to deny our mutual sinfulness. Jesus had every right to condemn the woman since He had never sinned (Jn 8:46). Yet He chose to forgive. We do not have that right because we are also guilty and holding onto the punishment of another person means insisting that we be punished also. No one denied the woman's guilt, not she nor Jesus nor any other person there. Nor did Jesus tell her that it was ok. He told her to stop sinning. But since they brought the woman to Jesus and insisted that He judge her, He offered her forgiveness. Every time I've come to Jesus, He has offered me forgiveness too, no matter what my sin was. Since He offers us forgiveness and since I can't pretend I'm sinless, I need to also offer forgiveness to each and every person who hurts me. 

Lent Day 13

1 John 1:5-2:2

I have never had much desire for a job at a help desk or as a store greeter. Most of the time spent at such a job is simply waiting: not doing anything except waiting for someone to come in or leave and waiting for someone to ask for help. Yet as a customer I am glad when I do have a question to know who to ask. I don't have to search endlessly for an employee; I can walk right to the help desk or the front of the store and know that the main purpose of that person's job is to answer my question.
God is even more readily available for us. He's not hidden somewhere where we can't find Him; He's not too busy with more important work that we can't interrupt; He never excludes people because they aren't "members" of some exclusive group. When we turn to Him, He helps us right away. There's no use denying that we have sinned, and that sin separates us from God. Yet He chose to remove that separation so we can be forgiven and be renewed in our relationship with Him. He's ready and available; are you ready to admit your sins and ask Him to forgive you?

Lent Day 4

1 John 3:16-18

Making sacrifices for God is not just about ourselves nor even just about our own relationship with God. There is something wrong in me or in the particular sacrifice I've chosen (usually it's something wrong in me) if I don't also treat the people around me just as well or better on the days I am fasting or making a sacrifice for God as on the days when I'm not doing anything special. We want to become more like Jesus and we know He never yelled at His family or snatched a toy away from another child. Fasting can be difficult but it's not an excuse to mistreat other people.
As you decide which sacrifice to make each day, consider things you can do that will directly benefit other people. Maybe you can help someone with a chore or make a card for a friend or family member. Maybe you can earn some money to give to the poor or give some money you were saving up for something for yourself.
Also use this opportunity to grow in compassion for people who are not as fortunate as you are. When you fast from food, whether from sweets or meat or from all food, pray for people who don't have any food. When you help with an extra chore, pray for people whose health won't let them do that chore or run and move their body like you can or who may be in a lot of pain right now. When you make a card for a friend or family member, make another card for someone you don't know very well who might not get a lot of mail. Each day as you choose a different way to sacrifice, choose sacrifices that will show repentance, that will remind you to pray, that will challenge you to depend more on God, but also choose sacrifices that will help you demonstrate God's love for others.