Scripture Readings: Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1: 9-15
Prayer
Good and gracious God, we come before you with grateful hearts filled with much
anticipation. We thank you for the privilege of gathering us together for worship.
As we look into your Word, we ask for your presence to be evident among us.
Open our hearts and minds to receive your truth and wisdom. May our time
together continue to help us in our spiritual growth and transformation. In Jesus’
name we pray, amen.
Good morning again people of the resurrection
Welcome on this First Sunday in Lent, here, to be fed and nourished by the Word,
Bread and Cup, empowered to serve God by serving others.
In all things, we know that God is good
God is Good…
God is faithful…
People of the resurrection in our gospel reading in Mark this morning, we
encounter a series of pivotal events in the life of Jesus the Christ. It begins with His
baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
This event serves as a powerful symbol of inauguration, signaling the beginning of
Jesus’ public ministry and the unveiling of God’s divine plan for the restoration of the
human race.
Keep in mind that baptism serves as a public declaration of our allegiance to Jesus
the Christ and our willingness to walk in His footsteps.
In this act of baptism, we see Jesus, publicly, declaring His commitment to
fulfilling God’s will.
Following his baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He
faces temptation from Satan. For forty days, Jesus fasts and prays, demonstrating
His reliance on God’s strength and victory over the powers of darkness.
You see, the wilderness represents a place of testing and refinement, where our
Faith is tried and strengthened.
Just as Jesus resisted temptation by relying on the Word of God, we too can
overcome temptation by clinging to God’s promises and seeking His presence at all
times especially in times of trial.
The temptation of Jesus reminds us that, spiritual warfare is real and ongoing.
Like Jesus, we will face temptations and trials in our Christian journey.
As disciples, we must cultivate a habit of prayer, fasting, and meditation on God’s
Word to fortify ourselves against temptation and draw us closer to God.
You see, our ability to resist temptation depends on our intimacy with God and our
commitment to following God’s ways.
So, through prayer, fasting, and a deep dependence on God’s Word, we can emerge
victorious over the schemes of the enemy.
Our wilderness experiences can become opportunities for growth and spiritual
maturity.
In addition, the wilderness experience reveals the importance of spiritual discipline
in Christian discipleship.
Jesus’ response to temptation, underscores the power of Scripture, as a weapon
against the enemy’s lies.
Finally, Jesus begins His ministry, proclaiming the arrival of God’s Kingdom and
calling people to repentance and belief, by inviting them to participate in the
Kingdom’s unfolding reality.
You see the Kingdom of God represents a new way of living, characterized by
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ message challenges the status quo and invites people to turn away from sin
and embrace God’s saving plan.
The call to repentance is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of
transformation as we align our lives with God’s will, and purposes.
The proclamation of the Kingdom reminds us of the urgency of the Gospel
message. Jesus’ call to repentance is not a message of condemnation but of hope
and restoration.
As disciples, we are called to embody the values of God’s Kingdom and to share
the good news with others. Our lives should reflect the transformative power of
God’s love and grace, thus drawing people into a relationship with God.
You see, the proclamation of the Kingdom challenges us to examine the priorities
and values of our lives.
Are we living in alignment with God’s Kingdom purposes, or are we caught up in
the pursuits of this world?
As disciples, we are called to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, trusting that all our needs will be provided for, in our continual
journey of surrender, and obedience to God’s reign in our lives.
Our gospel lesson this morning serves as a foundational narrative, illustrating
Jesus’ obedience, resilience, and mission to reconcile humanity to God.
As we reflect on the profound truths found in our gospel reading in Mark this
morning, during this Lenten season, let us remember the call to repentance, belief,
and discipleship, which Jesus extends to each of us.
We are invited into a deeper relationship with God, especially during these 40 days
of our Lenten journey. We are urged to embrace obedience, resilience, and the
transformative power of the Gospel.
You see, moving forward in our Christian lives requires a steadfast commitment to
following Jesus wholeheartedly, cultivating spiritual disciplines, and living as
ambassadors of God’s Kingdom in a broken world.
During this Lenten Season and beyond, may we be encouraged by the example of
Jesus faced temptation with unwavering faith and proclaimed the arrival of
God’s Kingdom with boldness and compassion.
Let us press on, knowing that God’s grace sustains us, and God’s Spirit through
Jesus Christ empowers us, for every step of the journey during this Lenten
season and beyond.
May the Holy Spirit continue to work in our hearts, guiding us in the path of
righteousness and leading us closer to God.
May God give us the strength to resist temptation, and the courage to proclaim His
Kingdom, and the humility to walk in obedience to his will.
May God’s love shine through us, drawing others into his embrace. May we
commit ourselves afresh to following Jesus the Christ, and making Him known in
all we do, throughout our Lenten journey and forever. Amen.