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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 28, 2006 Now |
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Frontline Devotion for Tuesday, February 28, 2006 by Don Kress
In today’s lesson, Paul uses a quotation from Isaiah to tell us that, “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Paul’s words echo a note sounded by the Old Testament prophets and heard throughout the New Testament: a call to realize the truth that the power of God’s love is available to each of us. Paul is making the point that since salvation is now being offered, now is the acceptable time to respond. Now is a word of urgency – right away, without delay, before it’s too late!
Today is Shrove Tuesday – the last day of Shrovetide, the three days before Ash Wednesday, observed by some as a period of merrymaking before Lent. “The Lutheran Handbook” (Augsburg Fortress, 2005) says, “Lent is a season when we turn toward God and think about how our lives need to change. This is also a time to remember our baptism, and how that gift gives us a new start every day!” In other words, Lent is the acceptable time to respond to God’s gift of salvation.
Many of us have been raised with the concept that Lent is a time during which we forego something that gives us pleasure – a time for giving up something. I used to practice that custom and would struggle with deciding what to give up for Lent; and, kind of like my New Year’s resolutions, I usually ended up abandoning my ideas after just a couple weeks. Then, about twenty years ago, I was introduced to another concept: rather than giving up something for Lent, take something on! The concept is to use Lent as a time to prepare for Easter by taking on something that would cause me to grow spiritually. It could be making a concerted effort to visit people who are infirmed, or being alert to daily looking for evidences of God’s presence in my life, or making a personal devotional time a daily priority. It could be, as Paul suggests in today’s text, focusing on identifying and eliminating offenses or obstacles – things in my life or my manner which might cause someone to point at me and say, “Because of his life I have no confidence in the God he professes.”
In verses 4-10 of today’s text, Paul is pointing out, as interpreted by “The Message,” that “Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly…” under a variety of circumstances. Perhaps during Lent we could consider taking on some more of those important physical, mental, and spiritual things that characterize and validate us as Christ’s followers.
I encourage you to join me in taking something on during Lent – something that will help you grow in your response to God’s gift of salvation. Now is the acceptable time!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your gift of salvation. As I prepare to begin my Lenten journey, help me to focus on something that I can do that will further my spiritual growth. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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