Dear God, I want to start by saying thank you. I was carrying some significant weight on my shoulders yesterday morning, and I was praying hard. I know my wife and a couple others were praying for me and the situation as well. It was one of those times when I could feel you answering my prayers. I could feel the Holy Spirit supporting and guiding me. I needed you and you were there. Thank you.

As I start this 15th day of Lent and read the passages prescribed in Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer, I also want to thank you for this journey. I remember the message I was getting during the first week was “wait.” I have some things in my life that still vex me and cause sorrow. I would love to have them resolved now. But the word I get is “wait.” Okay, but I’m still going to bring them to you on a daily basis. I’m going to trust in your timing.

Here are the passages Sacred Invitation has for today:

• AM Psalm: 72
• PM Psalm: 119:73-96
• Jeremiah 3:6-8
• John 5:1-18
• Romans 1:28-2:11

Psalm 72 – This is one of those psalms I don’t particularly like or agree with, but there are some interesting things about it. First, Solomon wrote it. I don’t read psalms Solomon wrote very often. I can’t remember how many of the 150 psalms recorded here were written by Solomon. Second, is he writing this as his father dies? It starts with, “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.” Now he could be referring to himself as both the king and the son, but then the last verse says, “This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.” So this is in interesting context to put all of these other words in. I don’t know what it’s like to feel the pressures of a national leader like a king, so it is hard for me to pray about my enemies licking the dust, but perhaps the view is different from that vantage point.

Jeremiah 3:6-8 – When I read this passage I think about Christian nationalism and how someone with that perspective would take these verses and say, “See, we need to call this nation back to God like Jeremiah had to do.” And I don’t disagree with that statement. I think it’s the tactic that bothers me. The church should not take over the government and mandate Christianity or Christian principles. It has to come from the bottom. The grassroots. It has to come through prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. Not top-down power. Top-down power will only drive people away and leave Christians worshipping the idol of political power instead of you.

John 5:1-18 – I want to take a little bit different tack on this story. Law vs. persuasion. I just mentioned this with Jeremiah, but now I have it here in this story. “…the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.'” Admonishing through the law. Judging without knowing the situation. There is nothing of you in these words. Jesus, however, said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Persuasion. He healed him (before any admonishment or forgiveness of sin) and then told him to stop sinning. Love and context vs. judgment and legalism.

Romans 1:28-2:11 – Judgment of others seems to be the theme this morning. Talking about the evil things we do and then judge others for doing. How much does our judging of others only feed the darkness in my own heart. “Be curious, not judgmental.” A quote unverifiably attributed to Walt Whitman. It’s a good one nonetheless.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am here for you today. Please help me to walk in you. Help me to be curious and not judgmental. Help me to represent you in the world around me so that your glory might shine everywhere.

I offer this to you in Jesus and with the Holy Spirit,

Amen