Dear Saints,

We have begun our journey through Lent. We are approaching the second Sunday in Lent and reaching the end of the preaching series on the Beatitudes. I pray that all will us this time to examine their lives and reflect on all that you are in Christ Jesus and how Christ calls us to live in the Beatitudes.

I want to make a slight turn in the road here. I want us to look at the Jews as they wandered through the desert under the leadership of Moses, their leader and prophet. Moses had a particular “preaching” style. According to the Old Testament scholar Gerhard von Rad, it consisted of three components: remembrance, interpretation, and exhortation.

Moses called to mind the saving acts of God – remembrance.  “Preaching involves elaboration and application of the Law in concrete situations of the day” (Hughes Oliphant Old) – interpretation. Then Moses urged the people to “obey the law” in their daily lives – exhortation.

I encourage you to read the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5) and the summary of the Law (Deuteronomy 6 – the Shema) and meditate on them during this season all the while remembering whose you are and what God has done for you in the saving grace Jesus Christ.

Have a reflective Lent.