Lent, Day 23 / March 15 Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
She recently lost $3,000.00 in a scam. He was duped out of almost $200,00.00. Both of these Christians are careful with spending. Neither are foolish. Nevertheless, these hopeful, caring souls trusted and were robbed. Both are quick to share that they have learned their lesson.
Do you wonder what their lesson is?
Paul answers for them. He writes, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Yes, their financial losses are significant. They are tremendously painful. But their stories—their losses—don’t stop there. They know that God does work for good. He is not finished. Evil has obviously won the day but not the war.
The United Church of Christ’s slogan, “Never put a period where God has placed a comma,” is true here. God is still at work. His miracles and His mercies are new each day. He protects those who trust in Him. Both victims know their financial losses will not come back to them. Far more importantly, like 203,000 times more importantly, both know God is God. He isn’t finished. Other gains will come in time.
These two pray (and will continue to pray) for those who have hurt them. At the end of the day, this matters most.
TRY IT: If we are indeed to love our enemy, then we, like these two, are to pray for those who have wronged us. These prayers may be painful indeed, but only at first. If we really trust God, then we let God be God.
PRAYER: As our Shepherd, dear Jesus, we know wolves of all kinds attack and even destroy sheep. Under Your care, however, we know that good does come in the end. We pray for those who victimize. Turn thieves to Your righteousness and glory, and let the money mentioned here somehow, somewhere eventually be used for Your Kingdom here on earth. Amen.
Lent, Day 24 / March 16 1 Peter 5:7 reads, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Two choices rest in this single verse. One, you can leave all, some, or none of our angst with God; and two, you have to decide if, in fact, God cares for you.
This may help your discernment today. Peter, a former fisherman, uses the verb ‘cast’ significantly. In Greek, this verb means to give it all to God. How many times in a boat did Peter cast his net, the very ropes and cords he cared for tirelessly? The answer, of course, is too many to count. What we can answer, however, is how Peter cast his net. Fishing was his livelihood. Did he cast his net halfheartedly, or with all he had?
The Peter we know through scripture is one of gusto and quick decision making. Some of those fast thinking or fear-based decisions were wrong, but all he had when he fished for fish and then fished for people is clear: he gave his all. He didn’t jump. He leapt. He did walk. He ran.
Peter faced God like we all do. Sometimes we hear all God says. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes, like Peter, we want God to be who we think God should be. Other times, after God surprises us, we shout praises for Him all the more.
Listen to Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples. He knows what he’s talking about when it comes to anxiousness. He also knows what he is talking about when it comes to God’s care.
TRY IT: Consider how God does not design situations to break us; God designs situations to make us. Cast all your anxiety on God because, as one in the know writes here, God truly does care for you.
PRAYER: Lord, help us see our choices plainly, especially when we are anxious. Take all our angst. We trust that You do care for us. Amen.