Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Like self-control, patience is another thing we want…but we don’t. There’s a reason why we all desire patience but don’t like what it takes to develop it. It’s tied into the relationship between our will and time, accepting those seasons of our lives for the time they require.

Self-control focuses on limiting our will and desires over a period of God’s time.

Patience focuses on removing the limits we place on God’s time while He makes our will and desires conform to His own.

Patience doesn’t mean we won’t eventually have our desires fulfilled, only that we must wait upon God to fill them. Such a thought gives today’s passage deeper meaning. Time is the undercurrent of hope, patience, and faithfulness. Our faith in God is what gives our hope a joyful outlook, cultivates patience in both affliction and good times, and prompts a consistent prayer life whether times are good or bad.

Consider what the Apostle Peter has recorded for us: 2 Peter 3: 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation

Give it up for Lent: thinking that time is our resource rather than God’s

Questions for Romans 12:12 and 2 Peter 3:2-15

1. How can patience with God’s timing help us to remain joyful and faithful?
2. What is God’s purpose in using time?
3. What happens when time runs out? What’s the difference between God’s patience running out and His time coming to fulfillment?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

In his discussion of living as Christians who represent Jesus wherever they go, the Apostle Paul turns to characteristics to clothe ourselves with and ones we need to put away once and for all.

Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Paul says your old dead life is gone and it needs to stay that way. It’s like an ugly coat of death that no longer fits the Christian looking forward to eternal life.

Give it up for Lent: the old self and all its practices

Questions for Col 3:1-15

1. What is our primary reason for not going back to the old self?
2. The whole person is involved. In verses 1-2, we are supposed to set our hearts and our minds on what?
3. Why must a person rid themselves of things in verse 8 in order to clothe themselves with things in verses 10-15?
4. What about the items in verses 8-9 make them incompatible with a godly life?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Kindness—brotherly kindness—is the link of a chain of virtues onto which the greatest virtue, love, naturally hangs.

Take a moment to picture a chandelier hanging from the ceiling by a chain. Foundational to the lights of the chandelier working is the electrical plate plugged into the ceiling. That’s like faith in Christ. It’s His divine power which is the light of the world. The power travels down the cord and sure, the world may observe a Christian’s goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and even godliness, but where it first touches the world–the electrical connection inside the light–is our brotherly kindness, a visible expression of love for our neighbor.

2 Peter 1: 3 [Jesus’] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Maybe you’re heard the old saying that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Do you want to be a light for Christ? Show a little kindness.

Give it up for Lent: unproductive Christianity that is selfish at its core.

Questions for 2 Peter 1:3-11.

1. Where does the power to live as godly people come from?
2. What does it mean to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world?
3. Why do you think Peter begins with faith and ends with love?
4. What does he mean when he says to make your calling and election sure?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus gave thanks to the Father a lot? At the Last Supper, when multiplying the loaves and fishes, outside of Lazarus’ tomb (John 11), etc. Oh, it’s not always the words “thank you” but it’s always the meaning.

Jesus’ heart was one in which gratitude made its home. Gratitude didn’t get banished to the back porch or storm cellar Monday through Saturday as it often does for us. We show up on Sunday and thank the Lord. Monday through Saturday, how many of us show up pretty thankless except for maybe a tiny prayer here or there?

How do we rekindle gratitude?

Here are some ideas:

• See the world through the eyes of a child. Everything small and curious, wonderful and fun, tasty and sure to make you smile … is a gift. Children are dependent upon the giver and every gift is a new discovery. What about you? Upon whom do you depend?
• See your sufferings through the eyes of God. Even hardships are bringing you closer to His heart and conforming you to the likeness of Christ.
• See gratitude as a key for God to unleash His power to do the miraculous. If we remain ungrateful for everyday miracles, why should God do the spectacular on our behalf?

Give it up for Lent: Sunday-only gratitude

Questions for Colossians 3:15-17

1. How are peace with God and gratitude connected?
2. How are you and I connected in this passage? How does it change your perspective to know that the word “you” is plural (all of you)?
3. How do we give thanks to the Father through Jesus?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

When life is a struggle, the quickest and best cure is rekindled gratitude. 

How is that possible, you ask?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

Give thanks in all circumstances.

Not just good ones. Not just comfortable ones. Not just happy ones.

All circumstances.

Does anyone besides me find that really hard to do?

I have bad days. Probably more bad ones than good if I stop to think about. Probably not as bad as other people’s if I stop to think about it some more. In fact, I know that some people would trade everything to be in my shoes and it’s only my inherent selfish first-world-attitudes that view my life as anything but wonderful.

So why do I find it so hard to give thanks?  What about gratitude is so hard?

I am guessing it has something to do with rebellion against God. Resenting that this is the best He has for me. Comparisons I’m making between my life and someone else’s and their grass being significantly greener. So, why not me?

Today’s passage is a good reminder that God’s will is…God’s…will and every day I do His will is better than any day I don’t. Bloom where you’re planted as I just spoke about at the Lenten retreat over last weekend. Rekindle that gratitude. If I hold onto what is good and avoid every kind of evil…if I am content in God’s hands because that’s the best and safest place to be, I will find it easier to show the very thing that is God’s will: being joyful, prayerful, and yes….grateful.

Give it up for Lent: Any comparisons that lead us to ingratitude.

Questions regarding 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.

1. What items are we supposed to do? What 3 items are we not supposed to do?
2. What types of things put out the Spirit’s fire?
3. What does it mean to treat prophecies with contempt?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I love that!  We have a hope that does not disappoint us. 

We have a fountain of hope because God, whose resources and love are beyond all measure, is pouring His love into our hearts through His living Spirit.  Yes, it’s once-and-done in receiving this deposit, this guarantee of our inheritance, but it’s more, too!  It’s an ongoing pouring because the Holy Spirit is God, He is alive, and His Word is alive.  He is our fountain of hope, constantly pouring into our lives.

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

To have a rekindled hope, we need to think about in whom we must have our hope. Especially in times of suffering when it’s easy to look at our circumstances (which can be awful and constantly changing).  But God is love and is forever unchanging.  Therefore, if our hope is not in our circumstances but in God Himself, we can find a constant fountain of hope because God Himself is faithful.  And Jesus showed it all the way to the Cross.

Give it up for Lent: Hope grounded in your circumstances.

Questions for Romans 5:1-5 and Hebrews 3:6

1. We see the salvation process in Romans 5 but it’s more like a rewind to remind us of our hope. At the end of verse 2 we have the hope of the glory of God. What had to happen for us to experience that?
2. Rejoicing in suffering seems pretty perverse if it’s gratuitous suffering. Suffering for no reason whatsoever. But verse 3-5 tells us why suffering isn’t pointless for the Christian. Why isn’t it?
3. Is this hope already there? (v. 5) How did it get there?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Isaiah 45:1 “This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: 2 I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. 5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Tomorrow we resume ReKindle, the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Hope doesn’t save. Hope joins the party hosted by Grace and Faith. And no, this isn’t a sorority event, it’s how salvation works. Grace is God’s action shown to all mankind in Jesus Christ and His offer of forgiveness. Faith joins in and is our part even if it is a gift of God for us to believe. Hope is what we receive as a result of God’s grace working with our faith.

Do you realize that all of this (except for God’s grace) is invisible?

Faith, you can’t see it.

Hope, you can’t see it, but grace?  It was visible.  The grace of God in Jesus Christ is seen every time we remember the Cross and His death for our sins.

Do you want to rekindle your hope?

As the hymn goes,  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Give it up for Lent: Graceless Hope

Questions for Romans 8:18-25

1. Consider all the seen and unseen things in this passage. Our sufferings are very real and visible. The glory that they’re producing in us won’t be revealed until later. Is it already there but invisible?
2. The creation groans. We groan. But someday what happens? (v. 21)
3. This passage teaches that our bodies, too, will be redeemed. Our bodies will be resurrected and that is a hope we someday will experience. How does the hope of glory to be revealed differ from the hope of resurrection?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Courage rekindled is the antidote to fear.

I listen to the Apostle Paul encourage the believers at Corinth: 1 Corinthians 16:10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. 12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. 13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

It might surprise many of you to learn that on a daily basis, I’m pretty discouraged. Carrying on the work of the Lord basically draws a target on your back, and the more faithful you are, the more you witness, and the more you stand firm, the bigger the target gets and the more the insults, rejections, and failures will try to chip away at one’s confidence and courage.

Being female, I get an expanded target inside the Church as well. I’m getting used to it but I still don’t like having a target at all.  It’s just one of those things that people don’t tell you when you go to seminary with a call of God on your life: you’ll get a target on your back that only grows bigger if you do the work of God properly.

I can resonate with King David. 1 Samuel 30:1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured– Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Q:  Who was talking of stoning David?

A:  Chosen people he had the task of leading. That is who was turning on him.

Q:  Where did David turn for courage rekindled?

A:  The LORD his God.

Give it up for Lent: Reliance on man for your strength and joy

Questions regarding 1 Corinthians 16:10-14 and 1 Sam 30:1-6

1. In 1 Cor 16, why does Paul feel it is necessary to circle the wagons around Timothy? Why might the believers there not have accepted him? It might help to read 1 Timothy 4:12 and 2 Timothy 1:7-14
2. What is particularly discouraging about being rejected by fellow believers?
3. In 1 Corinthians verses 13 and 14, there are 5 commands for the Christian, with courage as the centerpiece. How is our courage rekindled?
4. In 1 Samuel 30:1-6, everyone wept. How did fear and bitterness turn the brothers to thoughts of stoning David? How did David deal with the same feelings?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Let’s turn now to rekindling our courage.  We need to have sufficient courage to face each day.  And I don’t know about you, but sometimes courage is pretty hard to find, especially when the obstacles seem awfully big.

Philippians 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved– and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

In the Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion has a monologue about courage:

Cowardly Lion: Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman: Courage.

Cowardly Lion: You can say that again!

It’s easy to have our courage fail. When the Wizard of Oz says that the Cowardly Lion is a victim of disorganized thinking, that the lion is confusing wisdom with courage, the Wizard is actually saying something pretty profound.

Courage without wisdom is genuinely foolish. It’s putting yourself at risk for no apparent reason and for no real gain.

True courage, however, is standing firm—in full awareness—and standing firm because it is right and because you must. In our day of political correctness, many of us shrink from the public square. We don’t talk about Jesus because He’s so 1^st century and religion and politics of our modern era don’t mix. Hogwash.

I submit to you that we shrink back because we’re scared.

We know what we should do and what is right, but we’re too afraid of being notorious or labeled a whacko, a religious nut. So we shut up. We go off to our little Bible studies and our Christian coffee klatches to huddle for sympathy, but we do not stand firm out where it really matters. Out where it witnesses!

Lord, rekindle our courage!

Give it up for Lent: Shrinking from speaking up for Jesus

Questions regarding Philippians 1: 15-30:

1. How does Paul describe courage? (vv. 20-21)
2. What does Paul expect of his fellow believers? (vv. 27-30)
3. What areas of your life need a little rekindled courage?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.