Listen:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Reflect:
We are now in Lent, the season of preparation for Easter. It’s a time for repentance, fasting, self-examination and reflection. The ashes in the form of a cross on Ash Wednesday remind us of our sinfulness and death. Jesus Christ has triumphed over those two things through his cross and resurrection.
We have grown so accustomed to these concepts, but have we really reflected on them lately? That God the Son would voluntarily suffer and die out of love for us, so that we can freely die to ourselves and live for him is astounding. This is the invitation of the ashes.
The #blessed movement claims that only when good things happen and comfort fills our lives, we are blessed. Is that true? Consider Martin Rinkart, who pastored in Eilenberg, Germany during the brutal Thirty Years’ War. Eilenberg was a city of refuge crowded with people fleeing the war, which led to famine and disease. Rickart was the only clergyman left, and he performed 40-50 burial services a day at its peak, including his wife’s. Yet during this time, he wrote numerous dramas and hymns, including the beloved “Now Thank We All Our God.”
Where did he get those words of gratitude for that hymn? I believe that Rickart reflected on the deep reservoir of Christ’s love for him, including Christ’s solidarity with Rickart’s own suffering. If he – or the Apostle Paul for that matter – were not tossed about by the ups and downs of their daily existence, but found reason to give God thanks in any circumstance, what possibly could stop us from doing the same?
Prayer of response:
Gracious God, thank you for all you have given me through your Son’s cross and resurrection. Help me to bring everything to you in an offering of gratitude. Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
- What are you thankful for in the midst of your present hardships?
- How is Christ present in your suffering, and how does that make you feel?
—Submitted by Libby Rutherford
Libby is a longtime member of Lifesprings. She’s married to Jay, mom to John and Sarah, grandmother to Malcolm, and has two cats and countless chickens. She pastors two rural churches and lives in Apple River, IL.
Featured photo: The Angelus by Jean-François Millet (1857–59), public domain, via Wikimedia. Commons.