17 Mar My Grace is Sufficient (Lent Series Part 5)

March 17 – Day 24 (Tuesday)

Reading: ¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
–1 Timothy 1:15-17

Reflection: John 3:17 similarly reminds us that Jesus came not for the righteous, but for sinners, not to condemn us, but to seek and save us. Jesus warned the Pharisees that the sick need a doctor, not the healthy (and we are all spiritually ill in one manner or another). As a former Pharisee, Paul struggled with this concept of Jesus coming for people who didn’t have their life together. Even though Paul’s life from an outward and religious point of view looked good, Paul knew that He was rotten on the inside, that his zeal and passion took him to ugly places of hate and anger. Paul didn’t just defend his faith, he persecuted anyone who was different or seemed to threaten him. In short, Paul becomes the embodiment of the gospel message by showing that God can use anyone as an “example of His perfect patience.”     

Prayer: God, remind me that I am a sinner and in need of your “perfect patience.” May I learn to be honest about the messy and ugly parts of my story so that I may also become “an example of your perfect patience” to be shared with many others so that they might believe and receive your grace as well, amen.

March 18 – Day 25 (Wednesday)

Reading: ¹¹ For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. ¹² For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 
–Galatians 1:11-14

Reflection: That phrase, “former life” speaks so deeply. We all have a “former life” that brings us anxiety and shame. The worst part of it is that many of us were “advancing” and good at our old life, making it tempting to want to go back to it, like the Israelites were constantly tempted to go back to their former life as slaves in Egypt. We also notice Paul’s greatest strength and weakness: his “zeal.” Paul’s passion both helped destroy the church in his former life and helped build it in his new life as a missionary. This is a sobering reminder that many of our greatest strengths can be tools for good or evil.  

Prayer: Father, I take a moment to confess part of my former life that troubles me right now. Remind me that your love and grace covers over even those shameful sins. Deliver me from the temptation to want to go back to that former life, even though it felt like I was “advancing.” God, use my greatest strengths as tools in your hands and deliver me from using them for my own purposes and end, amen.

March 19 – Day 26 (Thursday)

Reading: ¹⁵ But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

²³ They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.
–Galatians 1:15-17, 23-24

Reflection: How did God so transform Paul’s life that this saying could be true: “he who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy?” Yes, Paul had a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and, yes, Paul spent time with Ananias as his sight was restored; but, I believe the place where Paul’s deepest transformation happened was his time away in the desert in Arabia. There’s no record of the exact things Paul did during this time away, but it would seem fitting that He followed in Moses, Elijah, David, and Jesus’ model of getting away to solitary places in the wilderness and desert. It is most often in these places of silence and solitude that God transforms the deepest parts of our souls and our identity.

Prayer: Father, lead me in the footsteps of the saints and of your Son who went into the wilderness for time alone with you. Lead me to hug my cactus and deal with the messy parts of my own soul so that I might be able to better follow you and share you with others. Help me to not be in a hurry, but enjoy those seasons when you lead me into quiet places to spend time with you, amen.

March 20 – Day 27 (Friday)

Reading: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For each will have to bear his own load. 
–Galatians 6:1-5

Reflection: Though we have responsibilities TO other in our church community, we are not responsible FOR others in our community. We can only control and take care of ourselves. There are also dangers of helping others who are struggling that they suck us into their darkness and bad habits. This does not mean we avoid those who struggle like the plague, but instead make an effort to be mindful of their possible effect on us. As a type-two on the Enneagram, this concept of not overburdening myself with the concerns of others while neglecting my own needs. How do you struggle with this concept? Is there an aspect of your life where you have neglected to tend to your own concerns because you were so busy worrying about someone else?

Prayer: God, give me eyes to see those around me who are struggling and need the light of your gospel. But, guard me from the temptation of thinking that I am you, God, and able to fix everyone else’s problems while neglecting to face my own. Teach me to bear my own load and teach me to primarily concern myself with my own calling and work.

March 21 – Day 28 (Saturday)

Reading: ⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
–Galatians 6:6-10

Reflection: This passage teaches us that we get out what we put into our lives. This teaching is not Karma; instead, it is showing us that we must work alongside the Holy Spirit in planting God’s Word into our lives. When we follow the lead of the Spirit and allow Him to work in our everyday life (i.e. give Him honest access to even the messy parts of our lives), we have opportunities to grow. But, when we avoid God and fixate on unhealthy things that encourage us to be selfish, we become more and more fleshly.     

Prayer: God, help me to plant your word in my life on a regular basis. Thank you for this Lent season and the opportunity it affords me to grow closer to you and more and more like you, amen.