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Reflections
Today's Reading: John 12:1-43
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28; Hebrews 2:1-18
“Whoever loves His life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world will guard it unto eternal life.” (John 12:25)
Merry Lent! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Learn today the truth of the Gospel. It’s upside down! It’s so absurd that only the Holy Spirit can enliven you to believe it. Yet it’s the only thing that saves you.
You were conceived into Adam’s sin. Even if you were to do everything right, you inherited the sin from Adam’s fall. You aren’t going to live perfectly in this life—not even close. You do what you shouldn’t do and don’t do what you should. You miss the mark when it comes to God’s Law. You do it daily. You do it much. You can’t save yourself. You
can’t fix your situation with God. You can’t make it better. You can’t balance the scales with the God who made you. Your good can’t outweigh your bad. You are so deceived, so out of whack when it comes to God, that you don’t even know or understand how utterly evil you are. God’s Word, outside of you, has to tell you how you truly are: You are a sinner. That’s the Law truth of today: “Whoever loves his life will lose it.”
Jesus does what you cannot do: He saves you. God shows His love for His creation by sending His Son to go through Lent and Holy Week for you. The spotless Lamb of God is sacrificed for you on the Cross. For the sheep and for you, the Shepherd is stuck on the Cross. He who knew no sin, who never sinned, who couldn’t sin, came to become your sin. He exchanges your sin for His righteousness. He takes on your death and gives to you eternal life. Salvation is freely given and earned solely by the sacrifice of Jesus, for you.
He has taken His life and His Good Friday and delivered them to you in Word and water. Faith, which is born of the gifts of the Spirit, grasps hold of Jesus, crucified for you, and saves you! That’s the Gospel truth of today: “Whoever hates his life in this world will guard it to eternal life.”
Die to your sins. Confess them to God. Receive His Calvary-earned forgiveness through the Word. You didn’t save you, Jesus saved you. As surely as He is raised on Easter morning, you will be, too! Merry Lent! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
–Rev. George Borghardt
Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Holy Monday)
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By Higher Things®Today's Reading: John 12:1-43
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28; Hebrews 2:1-18
“Whoever loves His life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world will guard it unto eternal life.” (John 12:25)
Merry Lent! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Learn today the truth of the Gospel. It’s upside down! It’s so absurd that only the Holy Spirit can enliven you to believe it. Yet it’s the only thing that saves you.
You were conceived into Adam’s sin. Even if you were to do everything right, you inherited the sin from Adam’s fall. You aren’t going to live perfectly in this life—not even close. You do what you shouldn’t do and don’t do what you should. You miss the mark when it comes to God’s Law. You do it daily. You do it much. You can’t save yourself. You
can’t fix your situation with God. You can’t make it better. You can’t balance the scales with the God who made you. Your good can’t outweigh your bad. You are so deceived, so out of whack when it comes to God, that you don’t even know or understand how utterly evil you are. God’s Word, outside of you, has to tell you how you truly are: You are a sinner. That’s the Law truth of today: “Whoever loves his life will lose it.”
Jesus does what you cannot do: He saves you. God shows His love for His creation by sending His Son to go through Lent and Holy Week for you. The spotless Lamb of God is sacrificed for you on the Cross. For the sheep and for you, the Shepherd is stuck on the Cross. He who knew no sin, who never sinned, who couldn’t sin, came to become your sin. He exchanges your sin for His righteousness. He takes on your death and gives to you eternal life. Salvation is freely given and earned solely by the sacrifice of Jesus, for you.
He has taken His life and His Good Friday and delivered them to you in Word and water. Faith, which is born of the gifts of the Spirit, grasps hold of Jesus, crucified for you, and saves you! That’s the Gospel truth of today: “Whoever hates his life in this world will guard it to eternal life.”
Die to your sins. Confess them to God. Receive His Calvary-earned forgiveness through the Word. You didn’t save you, Jesus saved you. As surely as He is raised on Easter morning, you will be, too! Merry Lent! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
–Rev. George Borghardt
Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Holy Monday)