Here are the readings for the first day of Lent. If you click on them, it will link you to the text. This should be a fun adventure. I pray that the discussion about the texts takes us deeper into the story of Lent and brings us face to face with the suffering of Jesus and we see ourselves in this story as well.
Amos 5:6-15
Hebrews 12:1-14
Luke 18:9-14
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From the passage in Hebrews, what can we interpret as God's discipline?
I feel like "Endure hardship as discipline" in verse 7 is key somehow.
Trying to see how these passages tie together thematically, I see the concept of rebellion followed by discipline. In Amos, the author makes it perfectly clear what the offense is. I agree with Benny about Hebrews 12:7 being a key verse, but I wonder how we know what we're being disciplined for? Sometimes its obvious, but other times, I feel like I could look at my circumstances and then arbitrarily decide to feel guilty about something. Is the spirit of contrition on the part of the tax collector in Luke a clue to how we should respond to hardship? Recognizing our sinfulness in a general sense and asking for mercy?
There seem to be some common threads in the readings for Ash Wednesday: seeking good, seeking God, and humbling yourself in order to hallow your fellow humans. Today it seems to be such a challenge to live in humility because society constantly pressures us to become more, to be better, to prove how amazing we are, but our worth is not with society. We are to say, while seeking justice, humility, good, and peace, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
For me, Lent is a good time to reevaluate my past year. It is a good time for me to reassess my spiritual life and to make sure I am not seeking myself, my own interests, or what this world can bring me. I have forty-four days to remember that I should be seeking things not of this world. I am an alien in a foreign land. Can other people tell that about me? I have time to think about how to live peacefully. What am I doing about it?
Wondering how "God's discipline" fits in with having alwasys been told, "God doesn't punish us by making bad things happen." I also agree with Elliot, if the hardships are discipline, how do we know what for? More quesions then answers today, but that always seems to be the case.
Sometimes when reading Scripture, we (I) just read it and sort of move on ... it's probably more like most times than sometimes. But tonight is one of those rare times for me when I read the word "you" and I actually realize that it is directed at me, and I should probably listen up and pay attention.
My question is ... was anyone else troubled by the word "perhaps" in the Amos passage. Verse 15 says "Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph." That word "perhaps" really sets me on edge. Do this and MAYBE God will relent. It's also sort of a tall order for a maybe. It also seems to give validity to a more works-centered view and approach to God.
Perhaps the perhaps means that God doesn't have to have mercy just because we do good works? Maybe it indicates that our good works shouldn't seek the reward?
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