Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang
0
LENT_WEBSITE_BANNER-01.jpg

Lent Devotion

LENT_WEBSITE-01.jpg
 

"At the Foot of the Cross" is an annual Lenten devotion written by clergy and lay leaders in the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. This devotion has been faithfully produced since 1992 and this year's theme is on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Join us as we journey together towards the foot of the cross.

 
 

18 February - Faith, Love and Hope

 

“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

 

Do you sometimes feel burdened and heavy-laden by the work that the Lord has called you to? Instead of hopeful, you may be feeling hopeless; and instead of faith, you may be feeling fear. In this letter, St Paul writes to a community of believers who could probably relate to the emotions that you may be feeling. The Christians in Thessalonica were at the time facing persecution. Paul, impressed by their faithfulness, affirmed them for their work produced by faith, labour prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in Jesus Christ. 

While we may not face the same type of challenges as the church in Thessalonica, we can take comfort in Paul’s timeless words of encouragement in these verses today. 

Firstly, we can have faith in a God who is always faithful, even when we lack faith. God’s character is consistent, and his promises are true. As we put our faith in God, we can know that our foundation in him is secure. What we believe informs how we behave. And as we continue to put our trust in him, he can transform our beliefs so that we begin to see ourselves the way he sees us. 

Secondly, we can continue to labour in love as the Spirit enables us. Paul uses the word ‘labour’ to describe the work of love, suggesting that there is a kind of exhaustion, toil, or even brokenness that comes when you love someone deeply. You may feel broken by the events of the world, or the pain of a loved one. But the mystery of God’s kingdom is that God can do more with broken hearts than with mighty hands. Psalm 34 reminds us that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. We can know this love and share it with others today. 

Finally, we can remain steadfast as we persevere with hope. As we look towards Easter Sunday, we have the assurance that Jesus won over death. And because we have seen victory in the future, we do not need to worry. Without hope, pain and suffering might feel like the end. With hope, suffering is only a comma to the sentence; it doesn’t have the final word. As we ground ourselves in the hope of the resurrection, we can take comfort that in Christ we have the victory. As we fix our focus on Jesus, we can continue to follow him, to run the race marked out for us, and to be transformed more and more into his likeness.

PONDER

How can I have a faith that empowers me for today, a hope that strengthens me for tomorrow, and a love that makes it more than me?  

PROMISE

Psalm 34:18 promises us that “the Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”. 

PRAYER

Jesus, I thank you that through your death and resurrection on the cross we can have victory. Holy Spirit, would you empower me today to live a victorious life. Please sustain me with enduring hope, so that I can share the love of Christ with those around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Article by Deaconess Jacintha Cheah of Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Jacintha is married to the Reverend Abel, and together, they serve as the 5pm service pastors. 

HTBB