17 February 2010
Psalm 32, 143; Amos 5:6-15; Heb. 12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14

Lent begins. Today, Ash Wednesday is a call to keep a solemn fast in preparation for Easter. It is a call to examine our lives, our values and our habits and to see the sin in our lives and the crutches on which we rely that keep us from seeking the Lord. It might be a diet that we choose for Lent but only for the purpose of being thankful for what we have to eat. It might be alcohol which, even in moderation, can become a crutch to us for overcoming the day. In addition to what we give up we need to consider what we might add to our lives as an aid to seeking the Lord, whether that is an extension of our quiet time, the discipline of praying at set times during the day, or reading God’s Word instead of what we might normally read. The purpose of all these disciplines is to focus our attention on Him, to give up an earthly pleasure for the sake of knowing Him more and coming closer to Him.

The parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee is told to those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt.” We tend to think more highly of our righteousness than we have any right to. Primarily it is because we have poor standards for measurement, one another. The only standard of righteousness that matters is God’s standard and if we fail to meet it, we are under the penalty of death. That is, unless we have faith in Jesus who is our righteousness. In this parable, Jesus illustrates this truth that our prayer life needs to be more like the tax collector’s than the Pharisee who would have represented the epitome of righteousness for most Jews. Justification depends more on confession than works.

We don’t like discipline primarily because we don’t see that we deserve it. We don’t feel we deserve it because we compare ourselves with those around us in the world who we don’t see suffering it and we are certain they deserve it. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus underwent discipline so how could we complain about it in our own lives if our goal is Christ-likeness. Anybody there yet? Discipline is for our good, for our growth, and yet we see no advantage so we complain and become bitter, demanding God explain Himself to us. At least Lent allows us to choose our own discipline at the human level, but who knows how He will use it in our lives.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.