First Sunday of Lent
Readings: Deuteronomy 26v1-11; Psalm 91v 1-2&9-end; Romans 10v8b-13; Luke 4v1-13.
Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.
A Word: In Deuteronomy, we hear about a religious rite that God gave to his people through Moses. This was that when they entered the land given to them by God take, they were to gather the first fruits of their harvest, take them to God’s dwelling place, give them to the priest as an offering, then remember the journey to the promised Land that God had taken with them. After this, they were to go and celebrate with everyone who lived in their land. I believe that this instruction is something that we can all follow as we live out our lives wherever we may live. Our first fruits may include our resources, time, skills or abilities, for these can be shared in the service of God’s house or to benefit the people God calls us to serve. The memories we may call to mind as we look back over our lives may simply be to share what God has done for us in our lives. Then when we come to celebrate, our festivities may include parties and gatherings or simply be about giving food to support those in need.
In the psalm we hear that no matter what hardships we encounter in life that God will always be with us: in times of temptation, through times of disease and in times of war. For in all of these times, God draws close to us and sets his angels to stand guard over us. I believe that this is God’s promise to all who put their trust in him. A promise for all time. A promise that God will never retract and will always fulfil. A promise we can depend on even when we cannot feel God’s presence or peace.
In Romans, we hear that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, regardless of their religion or doubts about faith. For Jesus is the Lord of all, the one who is generous to all who call out for help to him and the one who promises that everyone who puts their trust in Him will never be dishonoured, humiliated or embarrassed by Him. I believe that this is a promise that Jesus will keep for anyone who calls out to him. Whether we turn to him in trust and faith, or reach out in our times of desperation, or when we are consumed with doubt. For we have a Saviour who died for everyone and wants all people to come share in his resurrected life.
I believe that these three readings share some of God’s instructions to us, some of God’s promises to us and some of God’s hopes for us. I also believe that these are things that we need to take hold of because there will be times in life when they will be all we have to rely on. I believe this is especially true at times when the Devil comes hunting us down, trying to scam us into leaving God’s ways. For as we hear in Luke, the Devil is sly, cunning and arrogant. The devil is sly because he thought he could trip the Son of God up and cause him to turn stones into bread to eat. The devil is cunning because he thought he could trick the Son of God into avoiding his mission to save all people. The devil is arrogant because he dared to try and tempt the Son of God to put his Father to the test. However, as we heard in each of the three temptations, Jesus defended himself by: stopping and thinking about the scriptures; then refusing to be taken in by the devil’s promises; and finally by using the true meaning of the scriptures to guide what he said and did.
Today we are called to learn about God and God’s ways by readings the scriptures – the library of collected wisdom called the Bible. Today we are called to ponder what the Bible really means so we can live as God calls us to do. Today we are called to stand firm to what God is telling us to be and do through the scriptures – so that when the Devil comes calling – we are not tricked into drifting away. But, what is most amazing of all is that if we do get tricked and find ourselves off God’s pathway, there is a way back - through the forgiveness offered to us by Jesus’ death on the cross.
Let us Pray: Lord God Almighty, give us the grace we need to be renewed and strengthened to discipline ourselves, to overcome our weaknesses and to be obedient to your Spirit; so we live by every word you have given us. Help us to resist all of the temptations that would distract us from the way that leads to eternal life and guide us through the example of your Son Jesus. Teach us to follow Jesus by the faith and hope you nourish and increase within us. Amen
Thanks for joining us today.