Scripture Treasures

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Lifted Up By Christ If Christ is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Romans 8:31, 32 Preparing ourselves for death is the most important task of life, at least we believe that death is not the total dissolution of our identity but the way to its fullest revelation. Death, as Jesus speaks about it, is that moment in which total defeat and total victory are one. The cross on which Jesus died is the sign of this oneness of defeat and victory. Jesus speaks about his death as being “lifted up.” Lifted up on the cross as well as lifted up in the resurrection. Jesus wants our death to be like his, a death in which the world banishes us but God welcomes us home. How, then, do we prepare ourselves for death? By living each day in the full awareness of being children of God, whose love is stronger than death. Speculations and concerns about the final days of o

SATURDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT Prayer Has Power You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…Matthew 5:43, 44 We often wonder what we can do for others, especially for those in great need. It is not a sign of powerlessness when we say: “We must pray for one another.” To pray for one another is, first of all, to acknowledge, in the presence of God, that we belong to each other as children of the same God. Without this acknowledgment of human solidarity, what we do for one another does not flow from who we truly are. We are brothers and sisters, not competitors or rivals. We are children of one God, not partisans of different gods. To pray, that is, to listen to the voice of the One who calls us the “beloved,” is to learn that that voice excludes no one. Where I dwell, God dwells with me and where God dwells with me I find all my sisters and brothers. And so intimacy with

  FRIDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT Look No Further I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope… Psalm 130:5 Aren’t you, like me, hoping that some person, thing or event will come along to give you have final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don’t you often hope: “May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country or relationship fulfill my deepest desire”? but as long as you are waiting for that mysterious moment you will go on running helter-skelter, always anxious and restless, always lustful and angry, never fully satisfied. You know that this is the compulsiveness that keeps us going and busy, but at the same time makes us wonder whether we are getting anywhere in the long run. This is the way to spiritual exhaustion and burnout. This is the way to spiritual death. Well, you and I don’t have to kill ourselves. We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children and friends loved us or wounded us. That’s the truth of ou

THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT   We Are Sent Into The World In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 If you dare to believe that you are Beloved before you are born, you may suddenly realize that your life is very, very special. You become conscious that you were sent here just for a short time, for twenty, forty, or eighty years, to discover and believe that you are a beloved child of God. The length of time doesn’t matter. You are sent into this world to believe in yourself as God’s chosen one and then to help your brothers and sisters know that they are also beloved sons and daughters of God who belong together. You’re sent into this world to be a people of reconciliation. You are sent to heal, to break down the walls between you and your neighbours, locally, nationally, and globally. Before all the distinctions, the separations, and the walls built on foundations of fear, there was unity in the mind and hear

WEDNESDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT Searching For God The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 The fact that I am always searching for God, always struggling to discover the fullness of Love, always yearning for the complete truth, tells me that I have already been given a taste of God, of Love and of Truth. I can only look for something that I have, to some degree, already found. How can I search for beauty and truth unless that beauty and truth are already known to me in the depth of my heart? It seems that all of us human beings have deep inner memories of the paradise that we have lost. Maybe the word “innocence” is better than the word “paradise.” We are innocent before we started feeling guilty; we were in the light before we entered the darkness; we were at home before we started to search for a home. Deep in the recesses of our minds and hearts there lies hidden the treasure we seek. We know is pre

  TUESDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT Loving God: Our First Duty O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3 The unfathomable mystery of God is that God is a lover who wants to be loved. The one who created us is waiting for our response to the love that gave us our being. God not only says: “You are my Beloved.” God also asks: “Do you love me?” and offers us countless chances to say “Yes.” That is the spiritual life, thus understood, radically changes everything. Being born and growing up, leaving   home and finding a career, being praised and being rejected, walking and resting, praying and playing, becoming ill and being healed – yes, living and dying – they all become expressions of that divine question: “Do you love me?” and at every point of the journey there is the choice to say, “Yes” and the choice to say “No.” Lord, I confess that I have not tried as hard as I can to know and love you. But I will try this Lent to revive the First Commandment in

MONDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT Love of God Means Love of Others Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food…” Matthew 25:34, 35 What does it mean to live in the world with a truly compassionate heart, a heart that remains open to all people at all times? It is very important to realize that compassion is more than sympathy or empathy. When we are asked to listen to the pains of people and empathize with their suffering, we soon reach our emotional limits. We can listen only for a short time and only to a few people. In our society we are bombarded with so much “news” about human misery that our hearts easily get numbed simply because of overload. But God’s compassionate heart does not have limits. God’s heart is greater, infinitely greater, than the human heart. It is that divine heart that God wants to give us so that we can lo

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT Temptations He was in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan…Mark 1:13 Yes, there is that voice, the voice that speaks from above and from within and that whispers softly or declares loudly: “You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.” It certainly is not easy to hear that voice in a world filled with voices that shout: “You are not good, you are ugly; you are worthless, you are despicable, you are nobody – unless you can demonstrate the opposite.” These negative voices are so loud and persistent that it is easy to believe them. That’s the great trap. It is the trap of self-rejection. Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity and power can, indeed, be a great temptation, but their seductive power often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY Giving What Has Been Given Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. Psalm 86:4 In solitude we can slowly unmask the illusion of our possessiveness and discover in the center of our own self that we are not what we can conquer, but what is given to us. In solitude we can listen to the voice of him who spoke to us before we could speak a word, who healed us before we could make any gesture to help, who set us free long before we could free others, and who loved us long before we could give love to anyone. It is in this solitude that we discover that being is more important than having, and that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but is a gift to be shared. It’s there we recognize that the healing words we speak are not just our own, but are given to us; that the love we can express is part of a greater love; and that the new life we b

FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY Living With Interruptions Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8 While visiting the University of Notre Dame, I met an older experienced professor who had spent most of his life there. He said with a certain melancholy in his voice, “You know, my whole life I have been complaining that my world was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions were my work.” Don’t we often look at the many events of our lives as interruptions? But what if our interruptions are in fact challenges to an inner response by which growth takes place? What if the events of our history are molding us as a sculptor molds his clay, and if it is only in a careful obedience to these molding hands that we can discover our real vocation and become mature Christians?” Lord, you come secretly into my life in so many wa

  THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY Joy, Even in Suffering The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Luke 9:22 The deep truth is that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we so desire, but can become, instead, the means to it. The great secret of the spiritual life, the life of the Beloved Sons and Daughters of God, is that everything we live, be it gladness or sadness, joy or pain, health or illness, can all be part of the journey toward the full realization of our humanity. It is not hard to say to one another: “All that is good and beautiful leads us to the glory of the children of God.” But it is very hard to say: “But did not you know that we all have to suffer and thus enter into our glory?” Nonetheless, real care means the willingness to help each other in making our brokenness into the gateway to joy. When I am tempted this Lent to worry ab

During the Season of Lent I will be posting Devotions from the writings of Henri J. M. Nouwen -  Renewed FOR LIFE ASH WEDNESDAY God’s Mercy Renews Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1 Our temptation in Lent is to be so impressed by our sins and failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in a paralyzing guilt, a guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God. It is guilt that becomes an idol and form of pride. But Lent is precisely the time to break down this idol and direct our attention to our loving Lord. The question is: “Are we like Judas, who was so overcome by his sin that he could not believe in God’s mercy any longer and hanged himself? Or are we like Peter, who returned to his Lord with repentance and cried bitterly for his sins?” “You are dust, and to dust you will return.” This ancient formula will be heard by millions of

Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings as eagles; they will run and not be weary; and they will walk and not faint ~ Isaiah 40:31 Our strength comes from the Lord! I have not always lived my life with the Lord as a part of it. I have tried to do things by my own power, I have sought ways to make it alone through difficult times (actually, that is still a struggle), and I have known how defeating that was. Without the Lord in my life, I was lost and hurting, and very weak. I now have the Lord and I wonder how some people go on from day-to-day carrying their burdens on their own. It is hard and wearying. Jesus told us to give our burdens over to him and he would help us carry them. He does not lift them right off our shoulders, but he does walk with us through them and makes them light enough that we can take a step forward. Eventually, the burden will become so light we will fly. With God at our side, our burdens will work out with his p

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres ~ 1 Corinthians 13:6, 7 Love really does conquer it all, if only the world would see that! The world lives in a semi-comatose environment, seeing everything through tainted eyes and a hurting heart. Hatred, anger, loneliness, prejudice, lies, all stem from hearts which are full of rejection, hurt, distortions, and verbal slings. These are hard to overcome, hard to work past when the only images around have the same defeating vices to mirror. We live amongst a world which can find no peace, joy, or love. It longs for it, yet it also rejects that which would bring it – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We in the church love with the love of Christ because we have known His love. It is above all we have sensed or touched before. The love of Christ shows clearly what is truth, protection, trust, hope, and perseverance. Christ walked the trail from the cradle to the cros

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5 Most people hear this scripture pronounced at weddings. It is the “Love” scripture, and even if you are not a practicing Christian, you have heard these verses simply because they are popular during a wedding ceremony. They were not written for a wedding though, they were written to encourage a Christian church to love each other. The saddest thing I have ever run into is a church which does not know how to love each member. We all have different gifts and qualities. Not one of us comes from the same background, and even those who do, still come away with different thoughts and ideas. To love others in our Christian family always means we put their care, their importance above our own. We do not diminish ourselves to the point of not being and self hatred. That is not wh

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 I think we all get the idea here is that love is above all other qualities we may have. We have all known eloquent speakers that can lead a group of people and gather them in a common interest. These speakers are powerful people with their words, and can make changes in the world that others only dream about. Whether those changes work for good or evil depends on the love they have in their heart. This love, though, is not just a love for self, it is a love and concern for those around them. One can love oneself and still work evil in the world. Other people may

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul was an encourager to his little flocks. It mattered not where they had been planted, or how long he had been away from them, he continued to pray and encourage them to grow and be stronger in the ways of the Lord. Thanks to God for the ones in our lives is a great way to start the day. We have not only our loved ones who are tied to us by birth and familial relationship, but we have been given brothers and sisters in the name of Jesus Christ. Our church family is exactly that – an extension of our close relationships with new brothers and sisters. And we together are the adopted sons and daughters of God. In this moment, thank God for those he has given to you, as encouragers, as supporters, as comforters, for together we are made strong in Him. Paul next compliments the faith the

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor ~ Proverbs 21:21 W hat interesting virtues to place beside the other. We all have many opposite virtues within us – energy and patience, determination and passivity, gentleness and strength. They, when in balance lead to a good life. If one had the quality of justice alone, they would be a trustworthy person, but not a loveable person. They would in fact be hard and judgmental based on the law. This was a problem Jesus found in the Pharisees and Sadducees. They knew the law, but their hearts were hardened toward perfectionism, lacking mercy. The opposite problem arises when one displays too much love, for this would make one weak. Love often lacks the ability to challenge when one is wrong, and when one overindulges another. This creates a person who is co-dependent and undisciplined. So we can see that too much righteousness or too much love cause an imbalance in a character. Jesus was a perfect balance of the t

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love ~ Psalm 33:4, 5 The word of the Lord is the only word we can trust. There are abounding around us conspiracy theorists etc. which make up their own truths based on no foundational thoughts, and as I have written before, truth in our time has become “whatever I believe”; that then is what truth is. God’s word never changes with the times, it is unfailing and irrevocable. His word cannot be interpreted through the lens of society, for it is independent of our society. His word does not contradict itself; it is righteous from beginning to end. And, his world is full of his unfailing love, though we may have to look away from the tabloids and news media to find it. We live in a world which finds its sensationalism in the word of the media, which pronounces only the bad news, the hyped up news, and the controversial news. But still, t

Salvation is found in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved ~ Acts 4:12 There is only one God and only one Saviour for our soul. That Saviour is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Only by his grace and mercy can we find salvation. People search for salvation from their drudgery in many ways, whether that is by alcohol, or drugs, or some other type of high. Some people find their salvation in human power and manipulation. Others look to possession and prestige for salvation. All these lead to emptiness and heartache. None of them lead to peace and inner joy and satisfaction. Our soul naturally hungers for salvation. We long to belong, to be a part of, to find the higher way; it is a part of being human. Our only way of truly coming into what and who we were created to be is to look to the Christ. Only in him can we find what it is that we long for. The scriptures say “my soul thirsts for you; my flesh fai

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble ~ Psalm 59:16 Praise be to the Lord God! The psalmist arose in the morning light and blessed the Lord for all he has done. The strength of the Lord is independent of the song of the psalmist, for it is not due to his own worthiness, but due to the worthiness of his God. The hand of God was upon him for good, and not evil. And thus, the psalmist had succeeded in all his projects and works. When we think of the strength of the Lord, we think of one whom has been rescued from something which had him entrapped, and this is possibly so. The psalmist had been rescued from danger, and therefore sees the hand of God in his life working for him. How blessed we too are, for the hand of God works on our behalf. We are never alone in our dangers and toils. God’s power is used on behalf of his people. And, when the morning arrives, when the light shines in place of the

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9 Paul has taken these words from Isaiah 64:4, not in direct quote, but most certainly in thought. We have no conceived thought about what is in store for us, not on this earth nor in the heavenly realm. Once we offer our life to the Lord and come into his favour here on earth, we come into a blessedness above what all others find and enjoy. It results from the communication from our soul which is now tapped into the heart of God. Discernments and wisdom are granted to us through his Holy Spirit to sense and to know what others cannot. What God offers his people here on earth is the gospel and its wisdom. Our soul is pardoned from sin, and justified by faith. The world cannot understand the ways of God, but to us who have entered into his presence, it is granted to us. We are free in Christ. We serve a won

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength ~ Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 This commandment Jesus spoke, adding that we are to love each other as we would love ourselves. We need to hear these words in this day. The world has left God behind in its living. We no longer pray to God in the schools, our children are no longer taught about God. Our government has been closing down more and more on biblical ideals and values in our world and in its laws. Nations are full of anger and hatred. Yet, still our God is a living God and sees all that is happening. He is distinguished from the dead idols by the word, “Living.”. He is the fountain of life, as he has all of life in himself. He is the true God distinguished from all fictitious gods. Our God is a faithful God. And no matter how the world tries to leave this God behind, He will not be. He is above all, and those who leave Him behind will find tha