Lenten Devotional (20) and Head-Coverings

Forsaking the Thing you Love

We have now reached the middle of Lent. The middle of anything can be a form of death or disorientation. You are far removed from the beginning but the end is not in sight.

Sometimes when you are in the middle of a loss, it can feel hopeless. Hopelessness is a form of death. Death is painful, but you know what is more painful–going through death trusting a false god.

In the book of Jonah, the pastor’s theology comes through in this prayer of repentance inside the belly of the creature (Jonah 2). And it does come right in the middle of the book; in the middle of his journey. He is trying to obey God while leaving those he loves. The journey of leaving that thing is painful and the middle of it can feel deathly painful.

But the prophet knows that the Ninevites pay regard to vain idols. He knows that without Yahweh their death-experience will be filled with misery. He knows that their death will have no resurrection to life. He sees his life and his desires as more worthy to be sacrificed than the pain of others. And by living in such a way, Jonah could see that the Ninevites needed something that he could give. In the middle, Jonah is hopeful, and Yahweh remembers Jonah in his affliction. And Jonah remembers God.

“Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.”

Lent ought to bind our lives to the steadfast love of God. Idols cannot bind us to true love. Any earthly possession can be lost, the thing we love can be put behind for the sake of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Jonah sought out an unwavering love in his deep distress, in the middle of his Lent, and love rescued him.

Prayer: O God of love, too often I do not seek you in my affliction. Too often I seek refuge in vain idols to cheer me up or to reward me. But I know I am never content apart from your steadfast love. Do not leave me, O God, but in my affliction, I will pray to you and seek your favor through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

~~~~~

Notations:

*Barabbas, whose name means “Son of the Father” was not a petty thief. He was, as the language suggests, an insurrectionist—a murderer. Revolutionaries play a major role in Mark’s Gospel at the beginning and the end of the book. The paradox of the Gospel is that the son of the father of lies goes free while the Son of the Father on high gives freedom in death.

**My friend Larson Hicks interviews one of my closest friends, Rich Lusk, on the topic of head-covering. I will be addressing this issue soon, but this was a great ten or so minutes of this discussion. It will be very informative to those who have come across this topic and may be wrestling with it.

***A few weeks ago, John, Steve, and I got together and sang, and it was grand: