Lent 6: Supplication

-
I don't know if any of you noticed but all of our themes throughout Lent have started with the letter “S”. Now that we've reached the last week of looking to Jesus as an example of spiritual disciplines during this season of repenting, I wanted to finish off with one more “S”..... Supplication. What it is?

According to the Webster's Dictionary, supplication is “the act of supplicating”. Well, that doesn't help too much. Let's keep digging. “Supplicate” is “to entreat; to beseech; to implore; to petition with earnestness and submission.” Now we are onto something. Supplication is praying... or maybe more specifically, it is asking. I chose to write about this today because the fact that Jesus prays frequently – in the dark of early morning, in the garden in the evening, on the cross, etc – stood out to me as I've been reading the Gospels.  It's important for us to consider how we pray.  Do we ask or demand?  Are we flippant or sincere?  Are we willing to submit to the answer to our request or not? And it is even more important that we do pray.  The intensity of Jesus' prayers - "his sweat was like drops of blood" (see Luke 22:39-46) - are an example to us of earnestness and submission.

As you go through Holy Week, let me encourage you to:
1. notice the prayers of Jesus as you read/hear the Gospels
2. follow His example and bring your petitions to the Father

May the Lord be with you throughout this significant season.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Third Week of Advent: Winter Joy

-
“How am I ever going to do that?” I asked myself in the fall when we started our 6 am Winnipeg Free Press paper route. I was thinking about the future – the dark, cold, windy winter mornings ahead – and wondering how I would be able to handle the paper route then. Since I am a person who loves warmth, sleep, and daylight, I just couldn't imagine it. So this last Saturday morning when the thermometer read -30º C and I was joyfully trudging along on the route, I remembered that question and asked myself another one, “How am I doing this?” Three things came to mind: By God's grace : When I go to bed at night I usual think I won't be eager to get up in the morning but when I'm awaken by my alarm, I get out of bed quite easily for me. It never ceases to surprise me since I was not a morning person. How do I explain this? It is a gracious gift of God. Nothing I deserve. It is a specific, practical way that God is blessing me in this season of my life. By God'...
Read more

Christmas Eve Sermon

-
Merry Christmas Everyone! As I was preparing for my Christmas Eve Children's Sermon for this year, I found the one from last year.  I really enjoyed thinking about the importance of shepherds in God's revelation of Himself to us so I thought I would post the sermon.  Remember: it is a children's sermon!   Here we are: it is Christmas Eve... the time we celebrate the greatest gift from God – Jesus our Saviour!  Now on such a special evening we could talk about so many interesting and wonderful things: We could talk about Mary: and how this young woman became the mother of God’s Son We could talk about Joseph: who took a very pregnant Mary to Bethlehem to be counted with his family We could talk about the angel: who appeared in the night sky proclaiming “good news of great joy for all people.” But... they are not going to be our focus today – as important as they are all. This Christmas Eve, I want to talk about some very ordinary people. Men who were just livin...
Read more

The Time In-Between

-
We are living in the time in-between.  When I think of that with regards to Christian theology, it is the time in between the first coming of Christ (the Incarnation) and the second coming of Christ (the Parousia).  Today, however, I am thinking of the time in-between when covid-19 drove us into our homes and when we will be free to socialize and work normally again.  The time in-between in both cases is a time of uncertainty.  Of waiting.  Of trusting.  Of hoping.  Of praying. These are very unique and challenging times.  I think that is what motivated me to blog today.  Thinking of all of you living your lives under the stress and strain of the corona virus pandemic and wanting to reach out to let you know you are not alone.  Truly not alone - God is with you. Zephaniah 3:17 comes to mind: "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he w...
Read more