February 28, 2015

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for February 28th: Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9; Theme: service , Song: There is a Balm in Gilead UMH 375 Isaiah: Fasting is a major part of the Lenten experience. Some of us are hesitant to deprive ourselves of something. Fasting is more than doing without. It is anticipation of what is to come. It is preparing yourself for a feast. These words are preparing for a feast, not doing without. There are lot of people who really don’t have what they need. There are people who are really thirsty. Isaiah is assuring people that when God comes, everyone will have all that they need. This verse is a song that would have been sung. The last words say that our ways are not God’s ways. We cannot speak for God. We can work for God, but God is still in control! But we can celebrate that God’s plans are for us to have the best life possible in this world and the next! Let’s get ready to party! Luke: This verse continues our themes for lent, fasting, repentance, service. Jesus is told about those who Pilate killed while they were offering sacrifices. Jesus sympathizes, but also reminds us that the same fate is in store for us as long as we are sinners. We have to not only repent, but we have to change our lives in order to be prepared for the great feast. We don’t have to look at this text as a threat. Jesus continues to talk about a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Jesus destroyed it in favor of the fig tree that was able to produce. If we are faithful in our hearts and souls then we will always produce fruit. If we are faithful with just our mouths, then things will not turn out so well. Fasting is to help us to get in touch with what is going on in our souls, so that our hearts can produce fruit. Questions: Why is it so hard for you to fast? What can you do to get better at it? What is it that you thirst for in your life? How can you prepare for God to quench that thirst? How are you producing fruit in your life? What do you need to repent of in our service to God?