by Eron Henry | Mar 11, 2024 | Lent 2024
The cross is the central symbol of Christianity, but what does it really mean? The cross is not just a sign of suffering and sacrifice, but also a sign of love and victory. The cross tells us the story of Jesus, who is the Son of God and the Son of Man, who came to fulfill the promises of God to Israel and to the world. The cross shows us how Jesus shared a meal with His friends, washed their feet, and gave His life for them and for us. The cross also shows us how God raised Jesus from the dead, defeating the powers of sin and death, and inaugurating His Kingdom of justice and peace. The cross invites us to participate in this story, to receive God’s grace and forgiveness, and to follow Jesus in His way of humble service and faithful witness. The cross challenges us to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom, to seek God’s will on earth as in heaven, and to share God’s love with the world. The cross is not only a historical event, but also a present reality and a future hope.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the cross of Christ, the symbol of Your love and victory. We praise You for sending Your Son Jesus, who is both God and man, to fulfill Your promises and to save us from our sins. We thank You for raising Him from the dead, and for inviting us to share in His resurrection life.
Lord Jesus, we ask You to help us follow You in Your way of the cross. Teach us to love You and to love one another as You have loved us. Help us to serve You and to serve others as You have served us. Help us to witness for You and to witness to others as You have witnessed to us.
Holy Spirit, we ask You to fill us with Your power and presence. Guide us to live as citizens of Your Kingdom, to seek Your will on earth as in heaven, and to share Your love with the world. Transform us into the image of Christ, and renew our minds and hearts.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 10, 2024 | Lent 2024
Have you ever wondered why God allows suffering in the world? If God is good, loving, and powerful, why doesn’t God prevent evil and pain from happening? How can we make sense of God’s role in our suffering?
These are difficult questions that many people struggle with. There are no easy answers, but there are some biblical insights that can help us understand God’s relationship with suffering and evil.
One of the most important truths we need to remember is that God is not distant or indifferent to our suffering. God is not a remote or uncaring ruler who watches us suffer from afar. God is not a cruel or capricious tyrant who causes or permits suffering for no reason. God is not a passive or powerless spectator who can do nothing to stop suffering.
Rather, God is a compassionate and empathetic friend who suffers with us and for us. God is a faithful and loving parent who cares for us and comforts us. God is an active and powerful agent who works to overcome suffering and evil.
The Bible reveals that God is not only aware of our suffering, but also participates in it. God enters into our human condition and shares our pain. God becomes one of us in Jesus Christ, who is fully human and fully divine. Jesus experiences hunger, thirst, fatigue, temptation, rejection, betrayal, torture, and death. Jesus knows what it is like to suffer physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Jesus cries out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus does not suffer because God has abandoned Him, but because God has identified with Him. Jesus suffers as the representative of humanity, taking upon Himself the consequences of our sin and the effects of our evil. Jesus suffers as the revelation of God, showing us the depth of God’s love and the extent of God’s grace. Jesus suffers as the redemption of the world, breaking the power of sin and death and opening the way to new life.
Jesus’ suffering is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new one. God raises Jesus from the dead, vindicating His innocence and validating His mission. God transforms Jesus’ suffering into glory, turning His weakness into strength and His defeat into victory. God invites us to share in Jesus’ resurrection, offering us forgiveness, healing, hope, and joy.
God does not cause or condone suffering, but God can use it for good. God does not leave us alone in our suffering, but God accompanies us through it. God does not ignore or neglect our suffering, but God responds to it with compassion and action.
God’s compassion is not a sentimental feeling, but a practical expression of God’s love. God’s compassion is not a passive attitude, but an active involvement in God’s work. God’s compassion is not a temporary gesture, but a lasting commitment to God’s purpose.
God calls us to participate in God’s compassion, too. God invites us to join God in suffering with and for others, as Jesus did. God challenges us to share God’s love and grace with those who are hurting, as Jesus did. God empowers us to work for God’s justice and peace in the world, as Jesus did.
God’s compassion is not a paradox, but a paradoxical gift. It is a gift that we receive from God, and a gift that we give to others. It is a gift that reveals God’s presence in our pain, and a gift that transforms our pain into praise. It is a gift that connects us with God, and a gift that connects us with each other.
May we receive God’s compassion with gratitude, and may we share God’s compassion with generosity. May we experience God’s compassion with faith, and may we express God’s compassion with action. May we live God’s compassion with joy, and may we spread God’s compassion with love.
Prayer
Dear God,
You are the source of all compassion and love. You are the one who suffers with us and for us. You are the one who cares for us and comforts us. You are the one who works to overcome suffering and evil.
We thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal Your compassion to us. We thank You for his life, death, and resurrection, which show us the depth of Your love and the extent of Your grace. We thank You for inviting us to share in his resurrection, which offers us forgiveness, healing, hope, and joy.
We ask You to help us participate in Your compassion, too. We ask You to give us Your heart for those who are hurting, as Jesus did. We ask You to fill us with Your love and grace, as Jesus did. We ask You to empower us to work for Your justice and peace, as Jesus did.
We praise You for Your compassion, which is a gift to us and to the world. We praise You for Your presence in our pain, which transforms our pain into praise. We praise You for Your connection with us, which connects us with You and with each other.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 9, 2024 | Lent 2024
As Christians, we believe that God created human beings in God’s image and likeness, and that they were intended to live in harmony with God, with each other, and with the rest of creation. However, because of sin, human beings rebelled against God and fell into a state of alienation from God and from their true selves. The consequences of sin are evident in the suffering, injustice, and evil that pervade the world.
But God did not abandon those who were estranged. God sent the Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile them to Godself and to restore their original dignity and destiny. Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God, the true human being, and the ground of our being. He lived a life of obedience, love, and service, and He died on the cross to atone for our sins and to overcome the power of death. By His resurrection, He inaugurated a new creation, in which all things are made new. He invites us to participate in His life, death, and resurrection, and to become His disciples and His friends. He sends us His Spirit, who empowers us to live as His witnesses and His agents of transformation in the world.
Therefore, as Christians, we can say that the cross is the ultimate answer to the question of humanity’s estrangement from God. The cross reveals both the depth of our alienation and the height of God’s love. The cross is the place where God meets us in our brokenness and heals us by grace. The cross is the sign of our hope and our joy, for it is through the cross that we are reconciled to God and to each other, and that we are restored to our true identity and purpose. The cross is the source of our strength and our wisdom, for it is by the cross that we are enabled to follow Christ and to bear witness to His kingdom. The cross is the symbol of our faith and our devotion, for it is on the cross that we see the glory of God and the beauty of God’s Son.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the ground of our being, the image of the invisible God, and the Savior of the world. We praise You for Your love and Your grace, and we thank You for Your cross. By Your cross, You have reconciled us to the Father and to each other, and You have restored us to our true dignity and destiny. Help us to live in the power of Your cross, and to follow You in the way of the cross. Fill us with Your Spirit and make us Your witnesses and Your instruments of peace and justice in the world. Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 8, 2024 | Lent 2024
Suffering is a universal experience that affects all living beings. We may suffer from physical pain, emotional distress, loss, injustice, or any other form of hardship. We may wonder why we suffer, what is the purpose of suffering, and how can we cope with suffering.
Some people may try to explain suffering by attributing it to a divine plan, a karmic consequence, or a natural law. They may seek to justify suffering by finding a meaning, a lesson, or a reward behind it. They may hope that suffering will end when they achieve a certain goal, change a certain situation, or reach a certain state.
However, these explanations may not satisfy our deepest questions, nor alleviate our deepest anguish. They may even add to our suffering by making us feel guilty, resentful, or hopeless. They may keep us trapped in a cycle of suffering, where we react to pain with more pain.
The alternative to explaining suffering is transcending suffering. To transcend suffering means to go beyond the surface level of our experience, and connect with the deeper level of our essence. To transcend suffering means to recognize that we are not defined by our suffering, but by our source. To transcend suffering means to realize that we are not separate from God, but one with God.
God is the name we give to the ultimate reality, the ground of being, the source of all existence. God is not a thing or a place, but a person, presence, a power, and a principle. God is not distant, indifferent, or judgmental, but intimate, compassionate, and forgiving. God is not limited, partial, or exclusive, but infinite, universal, and inclusive.
When we transcend suffering, we align ourselves with God. We open ourselves to God’s grace, which is the unmerited and unconditional love that God has for us. We surrender ourselves to God’s will, which is the highest and best outcome that God intends for us. We trust ourselves to God’s care, which is the constant and reliable support that God provides for us.
Transcending suffering does not mean that we deny, avoid, or escape from our suffering. It does not mean that we ignore, suppress, or numb our feelings. It does not mean that we accept, tolerate, or resign to our suffering. Transcending suffering means that we face, embrace, and transform our suffering. It means that we acknowledge, express, and heal our feelings. It means that we challenge, change, and overcome our suffering.
Transcending suffering is not a one-time event, but a lifelong process. It is not a passive state, but an active practice. It is not a solitary journey, but a communal endeavor. We transcend suffering by engaging in spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, meditation, service, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion. We transcend suffering by seeking guidance from spiritual sources, such as scriptures, traditions, teachers, and spiritual mentors. We transcend suffering by sharing our stories with spiritual communities, such as families, friends, groups, and congregations.
Suffering is not explained, it is transcended. When we transcend suffering, we discover the peace, joy, and freedom that God offers us. When we transcend suffering, we manifest the wisdom, power, and love that God instills in us. When we transcend suffering, we experience the kingdom, the presence, and the glory of God within us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come to You in our moments of deepest pain and suffering. We acknowledge the universal experience of suffering that touches all aspects of our lives, from physical discomfort to emotional turmoil and beyond.
We recognize that our explanations and justifications for suffering often fall short, adding to our anguish rather than alleviating it. We see the trap of reacting to pain with more pain, and we yearn for a way beyond this cycle.
We seek Your guidance in transcending our suffering, moving beyond the surface level of our experiences to connect with the deeper essence of our being. We yearn to recognize that we are not defined by our suffering but by our source, that we are not separate from You but one with You.
We pray for Your grace to flow into our lives, unmerited and unconditional, that it may heal our wounds and soothe our souls. We ask for Your will to guide us, that it may lead us to the highest and best outcomes in our lives. We trust in Your care, that it may support us in our journey.
We understand that transcending suffering is not a denial or escape but a transformation. It means facing our suffering with open hearts and minds, embracing it as a part of our human experience, and using it as a catalyst for growth and change.
We commit to engaging in spiritual disciplines that will help us transcend suffering: prayer, meditation, service, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion. We seek Your guidance through scriptures, traditions, teachers, and mentors, and we share our stories with spiritual communities, recognizing the interconnectedness of our lives.
Lord, we believe in the peace, joy, and freedom You offer us, the wisdom, power, and love You instill in us, and the kingdom, presence, and glory of Your love within us. We pray for the strength to transcend suffering and to live in the light of Your eternal love.
In Your name, we pray. Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 7, 2024 | Lent 2024
Have you ever wondered why God chose to reveal Godself to us through a suffering servant? Why did God not come as a powerful king, a glorious warrior, or a majestic ruler? Why did God become a humble human being, who endured rejection, pain, and death?
The answer is simple: God loves us. God loves us so much that God was willing to enter into our broken world, to share in our struggles, to bear our sins, and to give us life. God loves us so much that God did not spare God’s own Son, but delivered Him up for us all (Romans 8:32).
The suffering servant is a unique revelation of God’s love, because it shows us how far God went to save us. It shows us how much God identifies with us. It shows us how much God values us.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the suffering servant, who would be God’s chosen one, God’s faithful witness, God’s righteous redeemer. Isaiah described how the suffering servant would be despised and rejected by people, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He would be wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and by his stripes we would be healed. He would be oppressed and afflicted, yet he would not open his mouth. He would be like a lamb led to the slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers is silent. He would be cut off from the land of the living, and make his grave with the wicked. He would bear the sin of many, and make intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53).
This suffering servant is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love, who gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2). Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God, who made God known to us through His words and deeds (John 1:18). Jesus Christ is the true light of the world, who shines in the darkness and overcomes it (John 8:12).
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, we come before You in humility and reverence, recognizing the profound depth of Your love that led You to become a servant of humanity. You chose to reveal Yourself not as a king, a warrior, or a ruler, but as a humble man, enduring rejection, pain, and death for our sake. This revelation of Your love is a testament to Your willingness to enter our broken world, to share in our struggles, and to bear our sins. We are moved by Your sacrifice.
We reflect on the prophecy of Isaiah 53, where You are described as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, who bore our transgressions and iniquities. Your silent suffering, Your being led to slaughter like a lamb, and Your silent submission to the will of the Father, all testify to Your unwavering commitment to our redemption. You were despised and rejected, yet You did not open Your mouth, embodying the essence of sacrificial love and enduring rejection for our sake.
We acknowledge Your promise to see the fruit of Your suffering and be satisfied, for Your will was for the Servant to be a guilt offering. Your sacrifice has brought us redemption, and Your intercession for transgressors offers us hope and forgiveness. We are grateful for Your exaltation, even as You were taken from the land of the living, for Your death has brought about justice, salvation, and blessing for all nations.
Lord, we thank You for Your love, which is deeper than the depths of the sea, higher than the heights of the heavens, and broader than the expanse of the earth. Your love is a sacrifice, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God, as declared in Ephesians 5:2. We are grateful for Your great embrace, which transforms us and empowers us to change, making us truly a child of God.
We pray, Lord, that Your love may transform our hearts and our actions, that we may reflect Your love to the world around us. May our lives be a testament to Your love, a reflection of Your sacrifice, and a beacon of hope in a world that often seems lost. We pray for Your continued guidance and strength in our lives, that we may follow Your example of service, sacrifice, and love.
In Your name, we pray, amen.
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