Rev. Richard Smith
Mark 1:9
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
These words from the Gospel of Mark encompass the earliest historical record of Jesus coming forth to begin his public ministry. After 30 years of growth, spiritual development, and missional discernment, Jesus walks from Nazareth to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
After the baptism, God’s Spirit sends him into the desert to spend private and personal time reviewing with God all that lies ahead. He then begins his preaching ministry, calls his first four disciples, and performs some miracles.
The simple call to Peter and Andrew, James and John is, “Come, follow me” (1:17). Of course, it’s not that simple after all, is it? To follow Jesus would mean for them then and means for us now that we seek to really know the Master, commit again and again to growing in his call, and explicitly living as he would have us live.
Lent 2022 begins this Wednesday, March 2. Lent is a spiritual exercise when we get serious again about trying to be all that Jesus would like us to be. We come every year into this holy season knowing that we’re not who and what we are called to be in faithfulness to Jesus’ call upon our lives. Every year we have a renewed opportunity to step forward in growth and Jesus-likeness so that this year we’re further along the journey of commitment than we were last year at this time.
If one wants to grow in faithfulness in Jesus this Lent, then, as with each holy season, we need a goal toward which we can move and at the end of Lent which we can assess. One could, of course, use the Sermon On The Mount (Matthew, chapters 5-7) as the foundational study for our Lenten focus and desired commitment. Here we have the clarion teachings of Jesus about Kingdom living and being.
I would offer you another opportunity; a more condensed and more easily understood measuring tool…Romans 12. Here the Apostle Paul offers in concise and clear fashion the premier qualities and attributes of those who are dedicated Jesus followers. It is Paul’s summation of a life transformed in Jesus. It’s what our lives look like when we truly are praying, seeking, growing, moving toward greater faithfulness as followers called to like him.
Here now is the core of Romans 12 from the NIV version.
So as not to feel overwhelmed, take 2-3 verses a day as a foundation for prayerful reflection and then start over again as end the full text. By the end of Lent, we will clearly be more deeply immersed in the Jesus lifestyle.
- Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (9)
- Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (10)
- Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (11)
- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (12)
- Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (13)
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (14)
- Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (15)
- (17)
- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (18)
- Do not take revenge, my dear friends…(19)…
- If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. (20)
- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (21)
