Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Lent: A Time of Reconciliation


Dr. Ron Jacob
Long Island MTC, NY
27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you.”

I recently came across a poster titled, “The Great Lent: A Life of Paradise on Earth; Restoring a life of bible reading, prayers and mediation.” It gives 18 practical suggestions during Great Lent, one of which is to “forgive everyone and let go of all grudges.” Our passage discusses this very notion of reconciliation.

The chapter begins with Isaac seeking a safe haven during a famine. Out of fear for his own life, Isaac attempts to deceive the Philistines by claiming Rebekah is his sister and not wife.  This obviously does not sit well with the Philistine leader. This deception could have caused someone else to approach a married woman, causing that man to sin. Just like the Philistine leader, we too may feel slighted by the deception of others and cling onto that animosity.

Despite this, Isaac and his servants attempt to settle down. They found two different wells of springing water, but the Philistines in the area immediately proclaimed the water is theirs.  Isaac eventually found a final well which the Philistines did not claim. Isaac settled there and prospered.

Abimelech afterwards visited him when he was settled at Beersheba, and expressed a desire to renew the covenant which had been entered into between their fathers because he sees that the Lord was with him. They celebrated over a meal, awoke the next morning to exchange oaths and left in peace.

Will this Great Lent be the time for us to see the presence of the Lord in everyone, even the deceivers in our lives? When we do, we too will be able to experience the same peace as Abimelech and Isaac. 


PRAYER


Our Father, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” 
― Martin Luther King Jr. 

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