Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11
Reflection: We have come to another Lenten season. This year, as part of Camp Mount Luther’s summer curriculum, we will be studying Lent each Wednesday. As our chaplain to the staff and I have been working on preparing for this, both of us have remarked that this is going to be a hard topic to discuss. In this text from Matthew (and the verses around it), we hear the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil. Jesus responds with great discipline but as humans, being in that situation would definitely be hard. What has really struck me as I’ve been reading and thinking about Lent lately is that the season is all about forgiveness. As we prepare for Jesus’ passion, we hear themes of repentance and forgiveness. We are to turn from our former ways and turn back to God. We are to turn from our former ways and make things right with one another. That’s hard to do. But maybe we will instill that in our campers this summer, and you’ll also ponder that as you practice your Lenten disciplines this year. Speaking of Lenten disciplines, often people give up something for this season. I’ve advocated that it’s also a good time to start something positive in your life. Many folks might go to church more often this time of year or start a devotional habit. I ran across this piece before and think it is really neat. I share it with you, especially if you are thinking about making a plan to read the Bible more this Lent or dig deeper into scripture. It definitely gave me something to think about when I first read it. Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it? What if we gave it to the kids as gifts? What if we used it in case of emergency? This is something to make you go, “Hmmm, where’s my Bible?” And unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill! May this Lenten season for you be a season of drawing closer to God. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director
1 Comment
Ruth Gates
3/3/2014 08:37:42 am
Hi Chad! May I reprint this in a Bethlehem Lutheran Lent devotion? Love the list! Oh, it has me thinking a whole new way. Thanks.
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