March 1, 2023

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Some years ago, I was shuffling the stuff in my cluttered study, and counted five empty coffee mugs, two empty coffee carafes, and a Styrofoam cup half full of coffee.

“I think I’ve had a lot on my mind, lately.” I thought.

So, I began sorting and tossing. I found few things I had forgotten about, a couple of things I had been wondering about, and an old treasure I was sure had been lost.

The Bible is full of stories like that.

There’s Joseph, who was sold down river by his brothers, thrown into jail for no good reason, and ended up saving his brothers from starving to death.

There’s Israel waiting four hundred years God to hear their cry, remember his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and set them free from their bondage.

There’s Jonah lost at sea, swallowed by a whale, and three days later preaching the whole city of Nineveh away from its evil ways.

There’s Jerusalem going into exile and waiting seventy years before coming home from Babylon.

There’s Esther hidden away in the comforts of a palace being right where God needed her to save his people. 

There’s the father who saw his long lost, gone for no good son coming up the driveway, and ran out to give him a hug, a house key, and homecoming party.

There’s the thief lost to life on a cross who is told that he will be with Jesus in paradise.

All through the Bible, the story goes that God keeps the light on for people who forget to stay in touch with God, because in God’s eyes, we’re all treasures in waiting.

All of us have too much to do. All of us have had a lot on our minds. Things happen. Days go by. At long last, we sit down to sort out the clutter, find a long, lost piece of life called faith, and wonder if we are lost on God.

We aren’t. God is always willing to meet us where we are. The Lord is even more willing to lead us into the life he has prepared for us. There is, as the old song says, room at the cross for every one of us.

Lent is a good time to live into the love of God again. Lent is a season for opening our heart to the treasure God is waiting to give us. Lent opens our hands so we may receive the bread God has for us each day. Lent brings us to where God hugs us and welcomes us home.

Your Pastor,

 

Skip Spangler