A word from Todd: Greetings on this beautiful March day! Our devotional for today was written by Kelly Lersch! For those of you who might not know Kelly, she is the Campus Minister Intern with RUF (Reformed University Fellowship). Kelly and I started working at TCU around the same time, in the Fall of 2011. Over the last couple of years I have had the pleasure of getting to know Kelly. Her genuine love for God is evident in her care for students, whether that be early morning Bible studies or hanging out with them late into the evenings. By wanting to know the journey that’s led our students here, she has become a part of the journey itself – helping them discern God’s presence in their past, present, and potential future. Kelly’s kind heart and warm smile are perfect examples of God’s presence in our office and on this campus. As her internship is drawing to a close we celebrate what God has done, and will continue to do, through her ministry. In the meantime, enjoy her words for you today and make plans to join Kelly and RUF before the end of the semester! Blessings, Todd
March 12, 2013 By: Kelly Lersch
Reconciling with Obedience
Philippians 2:5-8
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The word obedience doesn’t just roll off my tongue with images of love and faithfulness; I mean I don’t really like it. But Paul tells us in Philippians 2:8 Jesus, “being found in human form, he humbled himself by becomingobedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” The Bible talks about obedience for flourishing not corruption. Jesus in his most human form was obedient to the Father not for an evil end but for our ultimate salvation. Obedience is not how we earn God’s love; it’s how we begin to live it out.
In light of the cross, Lent is a special time to be reminded of Jesus’ perfect obedience. The cross is the darkness that Jesus walked through. His obedience in his human form was not for death, pain, or suffering, it was for salvation, for life. The cross is a great picture of obedience that in light of the whole Bible reviles the faithfulness of God’s promises. He sent his servant to die but also to rise again. Lent is not the time to burden yourself with more rules. Rather allow yourself the chance to reflect and be reminded of Jesus’ death on the cross, to be reminded of a time of darkness that lead to everlasting light. In prayer, mediation, and fasting we remember what God has done to reconcile his people to himself. For Jesus, that meant obedience to the point of death. It points us to Easter and his glorious resurrection!
I pray that Lent would be a season when we can be reminded of the work Jesus has done. That we would prepare our hearts for the coming resurrection on Easter Sunday and the great celebration it will be!
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