The Only Necessary Thing, February 28

"What must I do to be saved?" The Philippian jailer, on his knees in sheer terror, asked Paul and Silas this question when a great earthquake shook the jail that held them. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and you will be saved." What about church membership? How about tithing? Shouldn't he prove himself first before these two men of God offered him salvation? Aren't there certain rules and rites of faith that he should be expected to conform to before salvation is offered? Believe...and be saved; that was the answer to his question.

Lent draws us to the simple message of the gospel. By simple, I don't mean easy or cheap. To live the Christ-life is not to follow an easy path. To believe on Jesus Christ is to be confronted by God's great love, and then, to believe. Those who follow this path are "new creations," according to Paul, who embrace, as the author of the book of Hebrews writes, "...a new and living way." Commenting on this new way, Nouwen writes, "What is new is that we are set free from the compulsions of our world and have set our hearts on the only necessary thing."

A journey toward the cross compels us to keep our eyes on "the only necessary thing." Apart from Jesus, we are no different than before.

JKA

The Descending Way, February 27

The teachings of Christ run counter to the values embraced by our world. I offer no revelation in that statement for the follower of Christ, and yet, it seems that instead of allowing Christ to transform our lives, we seem determined to mold Christ into the Savior we want him to be. We think more in ascending terms...(building bigger and better for the kingdom) while Nouwen reminds us that God's love is made "visible in the descending way." From the incarnation, to the cross, to the way in which God uses the church to carry forth Christ's mission, the Christ-path follows the way of humility and service, dependent upon God's guiding hand. That is indeed revolutionary when we look at what is often claimed as victory in the name of the Lord. As individuals and as the church, we find ourselves scanning God's word for proof text to support our own choices, instead of waiting, watching, and listening for the divine. Nouwen notes, "in our impatient culture, it has indeed become extremely difficult to see much salvation in waiting."

The season of Lent calls us to the descending way...to salvation in waiting. It is not salvation of our own making, but rather, surrender to the way of Christ.

JKA

Choose Life, February 26

"Trusting in the unconditional love of God: that is the way to which Jesus calls us." (Nouwen, p. 16)

It is hard to accept unconditional love. Whether we are cynical about what motivates such love, or perhaps made uncomfortable by our own failures in light of it, we hesitate, sometimes even run from such love. Confronted by the unconditional love of the resurrected Christ, Peter struggled with the demands this love placed upon him. He had denied knowing Jesus, yet the risen Lord did not make his betrayal a barrier to love. Jesus called Peter to feed his sheep. There comes a point in our spiritual journey that we must allow the unconditional love of God to fully envelop us, and as a result, call us wherever God leads. It is a matter of trust and gratitude that enable us to acknowledge "that everything good, beautiful, and true comes from God and is offered to us in love." (p. 18) Deserved? No. Tranformational? Yes...without condition.

JKA

Ash Wednesday, February 25

Henri Nouwen closes his prayer for this day's reading asking God to give strength so that we can, "...be decisive in doing good." Our entrance into Lent speaks of an intentional choice, but to be quite honest, the choice we make to follow Jesus along the Lenten path toward the cross is a choice that we will struggle with throughout this season.

Too often we express our participation on this journey in the context of what we will "give up for Lent," as if these small privations in some way mirror a greater sacrifice. But setting aside certain foods, activities, or pleasures doesn't really get to the heart of Nouwen's prayer.

With brutal honesty, Nouwen confesses before the Lord, "I know that Lent is going to be a very hard time for me. There are no times or places without choices. And I know how deeply I resist choosing you." His words have a familiar ring for me, and perhaps for you. Choice is something we clamour for, yet something we sometimes labor over because of the difficulty of the choice.

The cross was not a last minute choice that Jesus embraced. He had spoken of his death early in his ministry among his disciples, but they either weren't listening, or tried to talk him out of such a choice. It could be said that we spend a great deal of time in such indifference or argument. Yet, the cross calls us to a decisive choice.

Some of us will be marked by ashes on this day. This symbolic gesture speaks of choice, but it is more than the act of a corporate body or religious rite. This is an act of repentance, an intentional act that should mark not only our outward appearance, but more importantly, our souls. Let us choose the path of repentance and confession, and let us be decisive in doing good...in following the way of the cross.

Jim Abernathy

Welcome

The writings of Henri Nouwen have challenged and encouraged people of faith for many years. His humble, insightful manner draws the reader in as friend and confidant, voicing the questions, struggles, and hopes that often mark our human experience. "Show Me the Way," published by Crossroads Publishing, is a compilation from fifteen of Nouwen's previously released works dating back to 1971. These reflections offer daily devotionals which include scripture, Nouwen's reflections, and a prayer.


Beginning Ash Wednesday, February 25th, a response to Nouwen's daily guide will be posted on this blog by 7 a.m. each morning. This is being done to draw our Westwood Baptist Church family into this Lenten journey, but is open to all who will read along and share. Copies of the book can be reserved and purchased for $12 through the church office at 703-451-5120, or you may pick the book up at Cokesbury or through on line sites such as Amazon.com.

Pick up a copy and join us on along the way!

Jim Abernathy