Lent’s Focus

The focus of someone that believes is called faith.  Hebrews chapter 11 is often referred to as the faith chapter. The chapter opens with,

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

It can also be described as an assurance of hope, and a conviction of what we don’t see.  There are so many things in this world that we live that we don’t physically see.  Yet we know they exist because of the effect they have.  I can’t see the wind, but I feel and often see it’s effect.  Jesus used the wind as an example of the work of the Holy Spirit.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”- John 3:8

It is the Spirit the brings to us the life of faith.  In John 16: 13 Jesus tell his disciples, and us,

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ”

I received a picture of one of our granddaughters sitting in the backseat of her parents car, calmly reading a book on their travel to our house.  She was assured that she was going to Grandma and Grandpas’.  She has a conviction, doesn’t doubt that her parents know the way.  May we all trust God’s work and preparation for us in this season of Lent.  He had promised a Redeemer and fulfilled that promise in His Son, Jesus.  And Jesus promised that the Spirit remain with us and guide us.

Luther put it so well, ” I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, or come to him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies, the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith;”- (Dr. Martin Luther’s Catechism with explanation)

Frederick Faber wrote a song titled, “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”.  the last two lines read; ” If our love we but more simple,  We should take Him at His word;  And our lives would be all sunshine,  In the sweetness of our Lord.”

I love the simple trust that our granddaughter has in the words of her parents, and faith she has that they will carry her to where she has heard they are going.  May our trust today be in the God that is love, and in the word of the Gospel, be as simple and sure.

Pastor Stan