Lenten Devotional - Fifth Sunday in Lent

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

“To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:22-23)

  In 1939 the story is told about the Nazis’ moving into the Netherlands. Dutch theologian, Henry Kramer was asked by a group of Christian lay people, "Our Jewish neighbors are disappearing from their homes. What must we do?"

  Kramer answered, "I cannot tell you what to do. I can tell you who you are. If you know who you are, you will know what to do." Later, these people became part of the Dutch Resistance Movement.

  During our moment under the sun, we are called upon to remember who our God is and that we are God's people. How we respond during the defining moments of our lives will determine and define our conduct and personal relationships. Walter Brueggeman once stated, "What God does first and best and most is to trust his people with their moment in history. He trusts them to do what must be done for the sake of his whole community."

  As we look around our communities, hear and read the reports of heroin overdose deaths and the social disruption due to other alcohol and other drug usage, we are being called to remember who we are. We could look around and declare, like the writer of Ecclesiastes, “I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.” (Eccl. 1:14) Or we could declare the same as Paul, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:23)

  If we had a choice to pick which social problems to solve, we might select something easier than AOD problems, but in our moment under the sun, this is the problem that God is trusting us to do what must be done. How do you feel about God entrusting you with your "moment in history?" What does this mean to you?

  We are called to “do it all for the sake of the gospel,” and like Paul, we are to search and find whatever means works to achieve our mission, so we “might by all means save some”. God is trusting us with our moment in history.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: To know who we are as God’s people, which leads us to doing what is right.

Click Here PDF - Fifth Sunday in Lent Devotion

Informational Resources

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® - January 22–28, 2018

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week