Lent...time for some forgiving...

25 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, 26 ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions” Luke 14:25-33.

Today we hear some very sobering words from the Lord: “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” Luke 14:26-27. If truth be told, family fights and broken relationships are very common. Many last a lifetime. Most remain silent, hidden, while everyone continues on in silent misery. And yet, broken relationships are part of the cross Jesus instructs us to carry in our life as we follow Him. In other words, we cannot just let broken family relationships fester and limp along. The longer fights continue to fester among close family and friends, the harder it is to heal.

Friends, this may be one of the most difficult and challenging crosses we bear in life. And so often we think we do not share the blame. It is always someone else in the family or in our relationships with others. So today is a call from the Lord to look in the mirror and be honest with ourselves. This is one of the reasons we have Lent — to deal with issues like these, once and for all, and prayerfully ask the Lord for help. Today, make a choice to heal.

One of the fatal starting places, one of reasons why our sin just continues on and festers year after year is our starting position: I AM RIGHT! Actually, when you think of it, that is a non-starter! In fact, that is a killer start! “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and His word is not in us” 1 John 1:8-10.

So, today the Lord is inviting us all to look in the mirror and be honest with the person we see. Then do some praying, begging the Lord for His more-than-sufficient grace to help you to heal with those you have sinned against. These 40 days of Lent are here to help each of us to pick up a spade, dig a hole, and bury our residual, festering sins once and for all. Prayerfully ask the Lord for forgiveness and help.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me a sinner.