This week we focus on the Lenten theme of repentance.
Words of Reflection
As we think about repentance this week, it is vitally important that we always keep in mind what we considered yesterday—the truth that repentance is rooted in the love and mercy of God. If allow our understanding of repentance to go askew, what we often find is that our image of God becomes warped as well. We begin to see God as an angry and vengeful deity, eager to catch us in our sin and make us feel despised. That is not what Lent is about. Lent is always about God’s love, mercy, and grace shown supremely in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Yet there are many who struggle with that false image of God, and not just during Lent. Sometimes when we are face-to-face with the sin in our lives, immersed in the shame of feeling that we have disappointed or even angered God, it can cause us to withdraw. Like a child who is afraid of being punished, we lie about what we’ve done—to others, to ourselves, and we even may think we’ve gotten away with lying about it to God. And as that shame festers in our souls it becomes toxic, which can then further distort our image of God. It whispers horrible lies to us, saying, “You can’t go to God with this. You’ve disappointed him too many times. He has given up on you.” As our image of God becomes distorted, we can grow even more afraid of coming to him openly and honestly. It is a vicious downward spiral, feeding on itself in a frenzy of self-hatred and fear.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” Sit with that verse for a moment and think about what it’s saying: it’s telling us that the sacrifice of Jesus is just a demonstration of God’s love—it’s definitive proof that, in the words of the familiar children’s song, “we are precious in his sight.” It’s also reminding us that this perfect, divine love did not wait for us to clean up our act first. It was demonstrated to us while we were still in the depths of our sin.
This is the kindness of God that leads to repentance. Even as he hung on the cross, Jesus asked God to forgive those who had tortured him and put him there. If there was ever a picture of the “tender mercy” of God, you’ll find it there. As you travel to Jerusalem with Jesus during these weeks, be sure to follow his heart as well as his footsteps, for his heart is filled with love for you. As one anonymous 19th century preacher put it, he is “the fountain of all gentleness, all kindness, and all good.”
All gentleness…all kindness…all good…this is the one who invites you to walk with him this Lenten journey and always.
Scripture for Meditation:
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
—Titus 3:37 (NIV)
Song: Your Kindness
Waiting for angry words to sear my soul
Knowing I don't deserve another chance
Suddenly the kindest words I've ever heard
Come flooding through my heartIt's Your kindness
That leads us to repentance, O Lord
Knowing that You love us
No matter what we do
Makes us want to love You, tooNo excuse, no one to blame
Nowhere to hide
The eyes of God have found
My failures found my pain
He understands my weaknesses
And knows my shame
But His heart never leaves meIt's Your kindness
That leads us to repentance O Lord
Knowing that You love us
No matter what we do
Makes us want to love You
It's Your kindness
That leads us to repentance O Lord
Knowing that You love us
No matter what we do
Makes us want to love You, tooIf You are for us
Who can be against us
You gave us ev'rything
Even Your only SonIt's Your kindness
That leads us to repentance O Lord
Knowing that You love us
No matter what we do
Makes us want to love You, too
Leslie Phillips
© 1985 Curb Word Music
Questions for Contemplation:
Have you ever had to wrestle with a distorted image of God? What was at the root of that distortion? Spend some time in prayer asking God to clear away any image you have that is not true to who he is.
How have you experienced God as “the fountain of all gentleness, all kindness, and all good?” How has your own journey of repentance and spiritual formation been formed by those experiences? Spend time in grateful prayer for this aspect of your walk with Christ.
When the Old Testament writers wished to speak of God’s kindness, they often used the Hebrew word “chesed.” It is a very rich word with deep meaning that is difficult to capture in English, and has been represented by words and phrases like:
lovingkindness
steadfast love
goodness
favor
mercy
loyalty
devotion
covenant love
Spend some time meditating on these words. Which resonates most with you? Why?