Daily Archives: March 4, 2019

The Start of Lent

04 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by in Psalms

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The Lenten season begins this week—forty days of contemplation on the suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus, before his ultimate resurrection on Easter Sunday. It all begins with Ash Wednesday.

Free WWe SHARABLE-1 (2)Dust and ashes—we were formed by the LORD God from the dust of the earth, and to dust and ashes we will return. (See Genesis 3:19.) Abraham the father of our faith declared “…I am nothing but dust and ashes…” (Genesis 18:27).

Given our composition and our ultimate return to dust and ashes, how then should we live? In all these matters—in life, death and eternity—Jesus shows us the way. Lent gives us an opportunity to set aside time to examine these things.

Ashes signify repentance—a turning away from sin and self, and a turning toward our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Genuine repentance is a gift from God. It requires change—deep personal change. My flesh—my human nature—resists change. But during this season Jesus calls us to change. He beckons us to follow Him. He calls us to give up those things that we foolishly cling to in order to embrace His mission for us.

Are you ready for repentance? Are you ready for change? Are you ready to set your affections on the One who loved you all the way—to the sharp point of three iron nails on a wooden cross?

If your answer is yes, then I invite you to journey with me. Beginning this Wednesday evening, I will be posting a series of excerpts from my biblical novel, The Soldier Who Killed a King. This an opportunity to journey through Holy Week as seen through the eyes of Marcus Longinus, a Roman centurion.

Keep this in mind. God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

To download a free study guide for this high-impact, bible-based novel visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/centurion.php/free study guide PDF

For book purchases try Amazon or https://www.christianbook.com
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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

 

I Used to go to the House of God

04 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by in Psalm 42, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 42
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
(Verses 1-5)
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God (NIV).

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Immanuel Lutheran Church, Landestreu, Saskatchewan — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Thirst is one of our most basic cravings. Our need for water far exceeds our need for food. The human body can go 60 days or more without food, but only about ten days without water. Your body needs water because it is water. About two thirds, (2/3) of your body weight is water.

But you are more than skin filled with bones and water. Paul, the apostle, closes his first letter to the Thessalonians with this prayer, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Thessalonians 5:23).

As Paul states, we are spirit, soul and body. By nature—by God’s design—you are two thirds, (2/3) spiritual. You are more than a collection of molecules. You are a living soul with a spirit that was designed and intended to commune with God. Therefore, just as our physical body thirsts for water, so our spiritual man thirsts for God.

This should be our constant prayer, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Are you thirsting for God? The truth is we all thirst for God. Some of us know how to mask our thirst or we substitute other things for the true living water. But the thirst remains. We need to heed Jesus’ invitation. On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37).

Response: LORD God, I thank you for Jesus. I am thankful that you are the true water of life and when we drink of your Spirit, springs of water flow from us. Hallelujah! Amen.

Your Turn: Have you tasted the life-changing, life-invigorating water of Christ?