DAD LICHFIELD METHODIST 21 MARCH 2016

21 March 2016. Welcome – presence / interest / commitment.

Much of tonight`s material for meditation = www.patheos.com

It provides daily inspiration for your life and work . . because

at the start of Holy Week, this devotion will help you make connections between God, Scripture, and our daily life and worship.

The bottom line…..
Luke 22 : vs. 54 – 65 – Jesus is arrested, mocked, and Peter denies three times that he knows and follows Christ.

Luke 23:34 - “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
I recall reading Forester`s `Hornblower` description of a man flayed / skinned alive, and Cornwell`s`Sharpe` description of the beating heart being removed from a prisoner. Recently, I recall watching the last 20 minutes of Mel Gibson`s portrayal of the scourging and suffering of Christ`s carry his Cross to Calvary.

I was sickened by the humiliation, pain, and torture of the journey, thinking no man could withstand this. Then I had that mind-flash – this was no normal man, this was a Special Man with a Purpose and a Passion.

How often we look for the easy way : the blind eye, deaf ear, keep your distance, don`t get involved.

We focus on `forgiveness`. That is the point of the cross, after all, Christ suffered a terrible, humiliating death to redeem in a vast sacrifice the wrong-doings of Man. Forgive their ignorance.

Jesus is destined to die so that we might be forgiven for our misdoings, so that we might be reconciled to God for eternity. Christ the Advocate (go-between) and Redeemer (defender).

However, the forgiveness of God through Christ doesn’t come only to those who don’t know what they are doing when they do wrongs : because in the mercy of God, we receive his forgiveness even when we do what we know to be wrong.

God chooses to wipe away our misdoings, not because we have some convenient excuse, and not because we have tried hard to make up for them, but because he is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are new every morning. God wipes the slate clean.

As we hear the words, “Father, forgive them,” may we understand that we too are forgiven through Christ`s coming sacrifice, regardless, in our eyes, of his innocence, caring, and thoughtfulness.

As John writes in his first letter (1 John 1:9), “If we confess our wrongdoings to him, he is just and faithful to forgive them and to cleanse us from all wickedness”.

Christ will die on the cross for us, to cleanse us from all wickedness, from every last transgression. We are united with God the Father as his children. We are free to approach his throne of grace with our needs and concerns through prayer – requiring humbleness, confession, petition and thanks.

As Psalm 103:13 writes - God “has removed our transgressions as far from us as the east is from the west”. What good and great news!



Reflection inc. short period for reflection.

1. Do you recall times when you have regretted your wrong-doing, albeit major or minor ?



2. Do you take time to recollect and confess your `sins` on a regular basis - time of day or night – or immediately / or anytime it occurs to you / or only when you are found-out / or get feed-back from the offended ?



3. Is this forgiveness taken-for-granted, or is it recognized, confessed, and thanks given for the forgiveness which comes for the realization of the transgression ?



4. Because you have identified / analysed / been reproached - do you enjoy the freedom of God`s forgiveness to prevent re-occurrence of each wrong-doing?



5. To prevent re-occurrence - is the analysis / the import of your words / and the body language expressed ……………….helpful, in shunning arrogance and showing humility ?



The importance and relevance of Holy Week ? It……

..helps us build social relationships by living the Gospel.

..helps us understand and accept the Holy Spirit ? Quote Galatians 5 : vs. 22-25.

..enables the baring of the soul, which helps to develop a conscience ?

..helps fuel discussion / analysis / reflection / decision, on the everyday dilemmas ?

..identifies our priorities – putting into perspective our spiritual and material being.

..makes us hesitate and stop taking the escape route / easy way /excuse /mitigation ?

..gives courage to confront hard decisions ?

We carry our cross before wearing the crown – we take our example from Christ.



Prayer

Gracious Lord Jesus, it’s easy for us to speak of your forgiveness, even to ask for it and to thank you for it.

We hope to be able to experience the freedom that comes from the assurance that you have cleansed each of us from our transgressions by not repeating them ?

Dear Lord, though each believes that you have forgiven us, this amazing truth needs to penetrate our heart in new ways.

Help each of us to know with fresh conviction that we are fully forgiven, not because of anything we have done, but because of what you have done for each of us.

Personally, each of us can be assured that you ………….

May each of us live each day as a forgiven person, opening our heart to you, choosing not to sin - because the power of sin and its temptation has been broken by your salvation.

All praise be to you, Saviour Jesus, for your matchless sacrifice and unique forgiveness!

In the name of Christ our Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer.