Lent, Day 18: BEING THE PEOPLE OF GOD

Scripture:   2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19 

Focus on the Word

Two kings, Ahaz and Hezekiah, led Judah in two different directions.  Ahaz ”did not do right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 28:1, NASB), and Judah paid a great price for it.  Hezekiah “Did right in the sight of the Lord” and Judah entered into a time of ”great joy,” (2 Chronicles 29:1, 26, NASB).  Hezekiah took God seriously and led the people back into the spirit of worship.  Reforms took place. The house of the Lord was consecrated, and the unclean things placed there by Ahaz were removed.  Idols were destroyed.  All Israel and Judah were invited to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

 

Once again the people began to act like the people of God.  They allowed God to be the center of their story.  They took seriously the task of being God’s people.  Jesus’ Church can learn a lot from this moment in history.

The Church lives in an age where the mentality of Ahaz seems to be everywhere.  Cultures don’t seem to be too concerned about God, and have taken it upon themselves to forget about God so that its citizens can eat, drink, and be merry.  

Actions have consequences, however; as Ahaz discovered.  Denial works for a time but not forever.  We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), so we ought to sow very carefully.

During Lent we renew our commitment to do right in the sight of the Lord.  We are followers of Jesus.  We do life differently than the culture in which we find ourselves.  We don’t judge; we just live differently.  By grace we have chosen to be the people of God.  It profoundly matters to us that unclean things are removed and that our lives reflect the goodness that is God.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the whole of my love; because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of myself; because you have promised so much, I owe you my whole being. Moreover, I owe you as much more love than myself as you are greater than I, for whom you gave yourself and to whom you promised yourself. I pray you, Lord, make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by love what I know by understanding. I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more, and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of your love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours, too, in love.

(Anselm 1033-1109)