by Eron Henry | Mar 12, 2025 | Lent 2025
At the heart of Christianity lies a profound paradox—salvation through suffering. The cross of Christ stands not merely as a historical event but as the central paradigm for authentic Christian living. What makes this paradigm so challenging is that there are no emergency escape clauses from the way of the cross.
When Jesus declared, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23), he was not offering a suggestion but establishing the fundamental pattern of discipleship. This path demands complete surrender, even when that surrender leads through suffering, rejection, and loss.
Our modern sensibilities often rebel against this notion. We seek comfort, convenience, and immediate resolutions to our struggles. The marketplace of contemporary spirituality offers countless alternatives that promise transformation without sacrifice, enlightenment without suffering. These are the emergency escape clauses we desperately wish existed—spiritual bypasses around the uncomfortable terrain of self-denial.
Yet the testimony of Scripture and the witness of saints throughout history affirm that there is no authentic Christianity that circumvents the cross. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer so powerfully articulated, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” This death—to self, to worldly security, to the illusion of control—is not optional for those who would follow Christ.
The way of the cross demands that we embrace, rather than evade, the suffering inherent in love. It calls us to stand in solidarity with the wounded and marginalized, to speak truth when silence would be safer, to forgive when resentment seems justified. In a world that worships efficiency and effectiveness, the cross represents a different economy—one where apparent defeat becomes the seedbed of ultimate victory.
There are no emergency escape clauses from this way because it is, paradoxically, the only true path to freedom. In embracing the cross, we discover what it means to be fully human as Christ was fully human—vulnerable, courageous, and ultimately transformed through love’s sacrificial power.
Prayer
Beloved Lord, who walked the path of suffering before us,
Give us courage to embrace the way of the cross.
When we seek escape routes from difficult truths,
Remind us that it is in surrender that we find Your strength.
When the weight of self-denial feels too heavy,
Grant us the grace to take one more faithful step.
In a world that promises comfort without cost,
Open our hearts to the paradox of Your kingdom—
That in losing our lives, we find them;
That in dying to self, we are born to eternal purpose.
Lord Christ, who surrendered everything for love,
Help us to stand in solidarity with the wounded,
To speak truth when silence would be safer,
To forgive when resentment seems justified.
Transform our fear of suffering into trust,
Our desire for control into holy surrender,
Our search for escape clauses into faithful presence.
May we discover, in the shadow of Your cross
The freedom that comes only through love’s sacrifice,
The joy that emerges from willing surrender,
The life that springs forth from apparent defeat.
We pray this in the name of the One who embraced the cross,
Not as defeat but as the very pathway to resurrection.
Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 11, 2025 | Lent 2025
During Jesus’ time, people had diverse expectations of the Messiah. Some anticipated a political leader who would overthrow Roman rule, while others awaited a prophet like Moses or a royal descendant of David. Even those in positions of religious authority struggled to understand who Jesus was.
Jesus performed miracles and taught with authority, yet He often instructed people not to disclose His identity to avoid being misunderstood as a political leader. Even His family thought He was out of His mind, and many could not reconcile the idea of a suffering Messiah with their expectations of a powerful leader.
Jesus’ own followers sometimes struggled with His teachings. The disciples did not always understand the parables He told, and there was confusion and uncertainty even among those who followed Him closely. Some Jewish leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy and sought to execute Him, viewing His teachings as a threat to their authority and traditions. Public debate raged about whether Jesus was a prophet, and His claim to be the Messiah challenged the established religious order.
Jesus faced rejection in His own hometown, where some people even wanted to throw Him off a cliff. The public nature of His crucifixion served as a warning against challenging Roman authority. Many saw Jesus as a false prophet, and the perception of him during His life was far from unanimous.
We are reminded of the importance of recognizing Jesus for who He truly is. Are we open to understanding His mission of love, sacrifice, and redemption, even when it challenges our preconceived notions?
Let us pray for the grace to see Jesus with clear eyes and open hearts, embracing the true nature of His mission and the profound love He offers to each of us.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, whose wisdom surpasses our understanding, we come before You with hearts seeking clarity and eyes yearning to truly see.
We reflect on Your time on earth when expectations and preconceptions clouded the vision of so many. They looked for a king, a warrior, a political savior, and struggled to recognize the humble servant, the suffering Messiah, the embodiment of love.
We acknowledge our own tendencies to shape You in our image, to fit You into our preconceived notions of power and glory. Forgive us when we cling to our own understanding, when we resist the truth that challenges our comfort and disrupts our expectations.
Just as the disciples struggled to grasp the depth of Your parables and the purpose of Your sacrifice, we too find ourselves lost in confusion and doubt. Grant us, O Lord, the grace to see beyond the surface, to penetrate the veil of our own biases and fears.
Open our hearts to receive the message of Your love, a love that transcends earthly power and embraces the broken and the lost. Help us to understand that true strength lies in humility, and that true victory is found in sacrifice.
We pray for the courage to follow You, even when it means facing rejection and misunderstanding. Grant us the discernment to distinguish between the fleeting promises of the world and the eternal truth of Your kingdom.
May we not repeat the mistakes of those who saw You as a threat, but rather embrace You as the ultimate expression of love and redemption. Let us recognize You not as a political figure, but as the Savior who offers us forgiveness, healing, and eternal life.
Lord, help us to see You with clear eyes and open hearts, to understand Your mission of love, sacrifice, and redemption. May we embrace the true nature of Your mission and the profound love You offer to each of us.
It is in Your name, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray.
Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 10, 2025 | Lent 2025
The tension between the demands of earthly rulers and the call to follow Jesus is a recurring theme throughout scripture. Followers of Jesus are called to be subject to rulers and authorities, and to be obedient and ready for every good work. However, this submission is not absolute. When earthly laws or commands contradict God’s will, believers are compelled to prioritize their obedience to God. The apostles themselves demonstrated this when they declared in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than people”. This principle of conditional obedience highlights that allegiance to God stands above all earthly powers.
The call to follow Jesus also involves a commitment to a different kind of kingdom, one not of this world. This kingdom is characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Followers of Jesus are called to conduct themselves with wisdom toward outsiders. They are called to live as free people, not using their freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God, and not to be partakers with those who are disobedient. They are called to be the light of the world. This means that their values and priorities may often clash with those of the world, including those in positions of power. They are called to love their neighbors as themselves, and to act in deed and truth. This can result in tension with those who prioritize worldly power and self-interest over these higher values.
Following Jesus can involve suffering and persecution. Jesus himself was rejected by those in power and ultimately crucified. His followers are warned that they may face similar opposition. They are to expect that the world may hate them, but they are called to endure and to resist evil. This is because the world system is in opposition to the ways of God. Even in the face of such persecution, the emphasis is to maintain good conduct among non-Christians, and not to repay evil for evil. The example of Jesus’s life, including His death, becomes the example for believers to follow.
We are to examine the ways that we may be tempted to prioritize worldly power or approval over our allegiance to God; to live out our faith in a way that challenges injustice and promotes the values of God’s kingdom; to reflect on how we might respond if our faith puts us at odds with worldly authorities; to be alert and sober; and to resist evil.
By committing ourselves to living with a primary allegiance to God, we can become a true threat to the powers that seek to dominate the world and live into the freedom that Christ offers to all and contribute to the transformation of our world into one that reflects the love and justice of God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with hearts full of gratitude and reverence. We acknowledge Your sovereignty over all creation and recognize that our ultimate allegiance belongs to You alone.
Lord, we live in a world where the demands of earthly rulers and authorities often conflict with Your divine will. Grant us the wisdom and discernment to navigate these tensions with grace and integrity. Help us to be obedient to those in authority, as Your Word instructs, but never at the expense of our commitment to You.
Just as the apostles declared, “We must obey God rather than people,” we too affirm our unwavering loyalty to You. Strengthen our resolve to prioritize Your commands above all else, even when it means standing against the tide of popular opinion or facing opposition.
We are called to be citizens of a different kingdom, one characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Empower us to live out these values in our daily lives, conducting ourselves with wisdom and love toward all people. May we be the light of the world, reflecting Your truth and grace in every interaction.
Lord, we know that following Jesus may bring suffering and persecution, just as it did for Him. Prepare our hearts to endure such trials with steadfast faith, never repaying evil for evil but always responding with love and good conduct. Let the example of Jesus’ life and sacrifice be our guide and inspiration.
Help us to examine our hearts and recognize any ways we may be tempted to seek worldly power or approval over our allegiance to You. Give us the courage to challenge injustice and promote the values of Your kingdom, even when it puts us at odds with worldly authorities.
Keep us alert and sober, resisting the evil that seeks to undermine our faith. By Your Spirit, empower us to live in the freedom that Christ offers, contributing to the transformation of our world into one that reflects Your love and justice.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 9, 2025 | Lent 2025
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Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can, and hate cannot drive out hate, only love can. Darkness and hate, being inherently destructive forces, cannot overcome similar forces. The futility of using darkness to fight darkness is clear, as it only results in more darkness, and similarly hate only begets more hate, creating a cycle of negativity and destruction.
The concept of light, in contrast to darkness, is associated with truth, understanding, and goodness. Light is a powerful symbol of hope and guidance, and it is only through the light that darkness is dispelled. The “true light” is already shining, and it illuminates the way for us to see and understand, showing us the path we should follow. We are called to live in this light and to reject the darkness. We are also called to be the “light of the world” to others.
Love is the only force capable of overcoming hate, as love is patient and forgiving towards the offenses of others. Love is a powerful force for good and is not merely a feeling but a commitment to act, expressed in deed and truth, not just with words or with the tongue. This love is not limited to those who are easy to love, but it extends to all people.
Jesus commands us to love, a fervent love that cover a multitude of sins. The love we are called to embody reflects Christ’s own love, which was demonstrated through His sacrificial death on the cross. We are called to follow His example by loving one another in the same way that He loved us, including being willing to lay down our lives for our friends.
This is a time to recognize the darkness in the world and in ourselves, and to seek the light that comes from Christ. It is a time to confront the hate in the world and in our hearts, and to choose love instead. It is a call to actively participate in the work of love and light, by being compassionate, forgiving, and generous, just as Christ was. We are also called to examine our own lives to make sure that we are not contributing to the darkness or the hatred.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You, acknowledging the darkness and hate that exist in the world and within our own hearts. We recognize that darkness cannot drive out darkness, and hate cannot drive out hate. Only Your light and love can overcome these destructive forces.
Lord, we thank You for the true light that is already shining, illuminating our path and guiding us towards truth, understanding, and goodness. Help us to live in this light, rejecting the darkness and embracing the hope and guidance that come from You. May we be the light of the world, reflecting Your love and truth to others.
Teach us to love as Christ loved us, with a love that is patient, forgiving, and self-sacrificial. Let our love be expressed in deeds and truth, not just in words. Empower us to actively care for others, meeting their needs and pursuing their well-being. Help us to extend this love to all people, even those who are difficult to love.
As we confront the hate in the world and in our hearts, give us the strength to choose love instead. May we be compassionate, forgiving, and generous, just as Christ was. Help us to examine our own lives and ensure that we are not contributing to the darkness or hatred.
We seek Your light to dispel the darkness within us and around us. Transform us through Your love, so that we may grow in our faith and become more like Christ. Let our lives reflect Your love and grace, and may we bring glory to Your name in all that we do.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
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by Eron Henry | Mar 8, 2025 | Lent 2025
The distinction between salvation and vocation is critical for understanding the Christian life, and how we respond to the call to love is a key aspect of this. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, not as a result of works. It is not something that we earn, but something we receive freely. Vocation, however, is our calling to live out the implications of that salvation. This call includes obedience to God’s commandments, and particularly the commandment to love one another.
The commandment to love is not a new requirement for salvation but the defining characteristic of those who have already received salvation. The love commandment is to love others as Christ loved us. This love is not merely a feeling, but a concrete action. It involves actively caring for others, meeting their needs, and pursuing their well-being. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters show that they do not have the love of God in them. Love is expressed in deed and truth, not just with words or with the tongue. It is a matter of practical action and self-sacrificial service.
When we understand obedience to the love commandment as our vocation, we see that it is not a burden but a privilege. It is not about trying to earn God’s favor, but about participating in God’s work of transforming the world through love. The love that we are called to embody is a reflection of Christ’s own love, which was demonstrated through his sacrificial death on the cross. We are called to follow his example by loving one another in the same way that he loved us, including being willing to lay down our lives for our friends.
The call to love is not limited to those who are easy to love, but extends to all people. It requires that we confront injustice, and show compassion and mercy, while rejecting hatred, envy, and strife. This is a challenging and transforming vocation. By embracing our vocation to love, we grow in our faith and become more like Christ, and participate in the work of God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Prayer
Gracious God,
We thank You for the precious gift of salvation, freely given through faith in Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that it is not by our works, but by Your grace that we are saved. Help us to fully embrace this gift and to live out its implications in our daily lives.
Lord, we recognize our vocation to love one another as Christ loved us. This commandment is not a burden, but a privilege and a calling to participate in Your work of transforming the world through love. Teach us to actively care for others, to meet their needs, and to pursue their well-being with genuine compassion.
May our love be expressed in deed and truth, not just with words. Empower us to serve selflessly, following the example of Christ who laid down His life for us. Let our actions reflect Your love, and may we be willing to lay down our lives for our friends.
Help us to extend this love to all people, even those who are difficult to love. Give us the courage to confront injustice, to show compassion and mercy, and to reject hatred, envy, and strife. Transform us through this challenging vocation, so that we may grow in our faith and become more like Christ.
As we embrace our calling to love, may we participate in the work of Your Kingdom here on earth. Let our lives be a testament to Your love and grace, and may we bring glory to Your name in all that we do.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
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