Lenten Devotion for Friday, March 5

Today's lessons:

Psalm 63:1-8

Daniel 12:1-4

Revelation 3:1-6

Author:

Rev. Kurt Hansen

Part-time Assistant to the Bishop for the Northwest Conference

Liaison to the Social Ministry Committee

Theme verses:

Revelation 3:1-6 The Message to Sardis

‘And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:

‘I know your works; you have a name for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is at the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Yet you have still a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Meditation:

On Waiting

The texts assigned to this day in the Lenten calendar are filled with images of waiting. 

Some wait patiently and with faithfulness to God's word and trust in God's promise.  Others "will go here and there to increase knowledge."  It is to those "others" that the warnings are issued.  

How painfully difficult it is to wait patiently for God!  Those facing fearful outcomes in a medical facility often say later that the worst part was the waiting. 

"I was ready for whatever would happen," one parishioner said, "but having to wait was just agonizing."  

One wonders if impatience with waiting was behind the failings of those to whom the words of Revelation 3:1-6 were written.  The members of the Christian community at Sardis are accused of being alive in name only.  Their faith lives have fallen asleep, and they have forgotten the truth and power and central importance of what they were taught in the formation of their church. 

Maybe the waiting got too hard for them.  Maybe they began to "go here and there," seeking to find answers for the trials life was bringing them.  

The Sardis congregation might fit right in to the 21st century.  For so many people, living faithfully and remembering the true importance of the faith life falls away, being replaced by other pursuits.  In our impatience, we run "here and there," chasing this and that answer, forgetting our God.   

Thankfully, while we might be unfaithful, God remains faithful, as the psalmist knew: "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."  Psalm 63:7-8.

Thanks be to God!  

Prayer:

Dear God, calm our troubled and restless spirits.  When our waiting gets long and we drift away from you, still hold us in the palm of your hand, and gently return us to the closeness of your immortal love.  For the sake of Christ Jesus we are bold to pray, Amen.