A Lenten Reflection
Remembering the grace shown unto us....
"Pity, forbearance, long-sufferance, fair interpretation, excusing our brother, and taking in the best sense, and passing the gentlest sentence, are certainly our duty; and he that does not so is an unjust person."
- Jeremy Taylor
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:36
It is very easy, my friends, to look down upon others, or show disdain for their missteps, and pass judgement on their failures and follies. Indeed, our inner, very human nature, urges us to do so...for each of us likes to feel good about ourselves; and the easier way to achieve that feeling is to have someone to look down upon.
Yet we, who are wretched sinners saved by a merciful Savior, have no right, no calling, and no authority to be prideful, hard hearted or un-merciful. Such traits are not from the fruit of the Spirit (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23) and it is such fruit that we should pray and ask the Spirit to cultivate in ourselves. We should reflect and repent of feelings of pride, self righteousness, haughtiness, and condemnation throughout the year, but especially at Lent. For as we travel through Scripture and prayer with Christ towards the cross, we want to shed those things which are a hampering to our faith; and pride is toxic to the Christian life.
Indeed, friends, the Lord hates the proud and haughty attitudes of those who exalt themselves; "I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11"
See what the Apostle Paul admonishes us to do rather than be proud;
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:2-4
If we are aware, dear friends, of the state of our own sinfulness- how we were drowning in sin, unable and unwilling to save ourselves- then we are at the state to recognize the great mercy and love Christ Jesus poured out upon us, and for us, at the Cross. How by the death of the only begotten Son of God, very God of very God, part of the Triune Godhead, we were redeemed and allowed the unimaginable privilege of being called the children of God! (1 John 3:1) If we can see even a glimpse of how far Christ went to save us, then we know we have no right to be haughty, no cause to be proud!
We are then able to view others with mercy, with gentleness and love...for was it not with mercy, and gentleness and love that Christ Jesus taught us, called us, wooed us, and bought our salvation? He did not allow the woman to be stoned, but showed mercy. He did not shove away the Centurion seeking a miracle for his servant, He had compassion and healed him. Jesus did not let the people go hungry, but fed them. He did not disdain the thief upon the cross, but assured him and comforted him. Christ Jesus did not cast out Peter for his failures, but forgave him and loved him and set him anew to doing the Lord's work.
Can't we show that same mercy, that same grace, to those around us?
Let our days and months, this Lent and church year, even unto the ending of our lives be marked by this, my friends; that we strove to show the same compassion and mercy to all those we could, that our Lord Jesus Christ showed unto us!
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
Remembering the grace shown unto us....
"Pity, forbearance, long-sufferance, fair interpretation, excusing our brother, and taking in the best sense, and passing the gentlest sentence, are certainly our duty; and he that does not so is an unjust person."
- Jeremy Taylor
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:36
It is very easy, my friends, to look down upon others, or show disdain for their missteps, and pass judgement on their failures and follies. Indeed, our inner, very human nature, urges us to do so...for each of us likes to feel good about ourselves; and the easier way to achieve that feeling is to have someone to look down upon.
Yet we, who are wretched sinners saved by a merciful Savior, have no right, no calling, and no authority to be prideful, hard hearted or un-merciful. Such traits are not from the fruit of the Spirit (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23) and it is such fruit that we should pray and ask the Spirit to cultivate in ourselves. We should reflect and repent of feelings of pride, self righteousness, haughtiness, and condemnation throughout the year, but especially at Lent. For as we travel through Scripture and prayer with Christ towards the cross, we want to shed those things which are a hampering to our faith; and pride is toxic to the Christian life.
Indeed, friends, the Lord hates the proud and haughty attitudes of those who exalt themselves; "I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11"
See what the Apostle Paul admonishes us to do rather than be proud;
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:2-4
If we are aware, dear friends, of the state of our own sinfulness- how we were drowning in sin, unable and unwilling to save ourselves- then we are at the state to recognize the great mercy and love Christ Jesus poured out upon us, and for us, at the Cross. How by the death of the only begotten Son of God, very God of very God, part of the Triune Godhead, we were redeemed and allowed the unimaginable privilege of being called the children of God! (1 John 3:1) If we can see even a glimpse of how far Christ went to save us, then we know we have no right to be haughty, no cause to be proud!
We are then able to view others with mercy, with gentleness and love...for was it not with mercy, and gentleness and love that Christ Jesus taught us, called us, wooed us, and bought our salvation? He did not allow the woman to be stoned, but showed mercy. He did not shove away the Centurion seeking a miracle for his servant, He had compassion and healed him. Jesus did not let the people go hungry, but fed them. He did not disdain the thief upon the cross, but assured him and comforted him. Christ Jesus did not cast out Peter for his failures, but forgave him and loved him and set him anew to doing the Lord's work.
Can't we show that same mercy, that same grace, to those around us?
Let our days and months, this Lent and church year, even unto the ending of our lives be marked by this, my friends; that we strove to show the same compassion and mercy to all those we could, that our Lord Jesus Christ showed unto us!
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
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