In a matter of days, we’ll enter the season of Lent. A time
of reflection and repentance that leads us on a journey to the
cross, the crucifixion of Jesus, and invites us to find our true
identity as children of the Resurrection, heirs of the Living
One. My constant prayer is that every day we press more
deeply into living as faithful disciples of Jesus and beloved
children of God.
As I do this work for my spiritual growth, I also hear the
Lord instructing me about my role as the pastor of our
church family. My job is to walk the path of reflection and
repentance with our community and teach from the
scriptures, particularly about how and what it looks like to
live faithful lives. Part of my responsibility is to point our
community to Jesus, and the teachings of scripture so that
each person can discern for themselves what is from and of
God and what is not.
We live in troubled times. In truth, we have always and
likely will always live in troubled times because we live in a
fallen world. The scriptures are clear that we will always
need to navigate the tension and temptation of our sinful
nature versus a redeemed life in Christ Jesus. This side of
heaven isn’t perfect. This side of heaven isn’t trouble-free.
Evil is real. Sin is real. The consequences of evil and sin are
real – pain, suffering, poverty, violence, injustice, hate, and
countless other examples. Galatians 5:19 – 21 tells us:
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results
are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful
pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.
As disciples of Jesus, we are instructed in this same text to
be guided by the Holy Spirt and when we are:
...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these
things!
In John 13:34 – 35, Jesus gives us this instruction,
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love
each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love
each other. Your love for one another will prove to the
world that you are my disciples.”
And in 1 Corinthians 13, we are reminded of what
LOVE is. This is how we know we are Loving as Jesus
loved us:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or
boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being
wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but
rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives
up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures
through every circumstance.
This Lent, we’ll be reading, “Living Well Through
Lent – Cultivating the Fruit of The Spirit In Heart,
Mind, Soul, and Strength.” A copy will provided to
our in-person congregation. It is available to read for
free with Kindle Unlimited. I hope that we will each be
intentional to tend and nurture the fruit of God’s Holy
Spirit in our lives. As we reflect and repent, we will
allow God to prune what keeps us from growing more
deeply in God’s love. I pray that we will intentionally
add what is needed to feed this spiritual fruit so that it
grows abundantly in us and blesses others.
Putting on My Walking Shoes, Getting Ready to
Garden,
With Love,
Pastor Michelle
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