Healing Rays of Righteousness

Next Wednesday is “Ash Wednesday” which begins the annual 40 days of “Lent” during which we journey with Jesus as He walks toward His death and resurrection on “Easter Sunday.” 

This journey with Jesus is a time for us to listen and reflect more carefully to His teachings and to witness His sufferings and death in our behalf.  It is also a time for acknowledging our mistakes, repenting of our waywardness, and renewing our commitments of love and loyalty to God.

The days of “Lent” are marked on our calendars for the purpose of an intentional and sincere self-examination of our relationship with Jesus, who claims to be the Messiah, “God with us.”

Am I living and growing more in love with God?  Have my attitudes and behaviors become more like Jesus?  Have I always done my best toward being a Jesus-person in my world?   

Former President Jimmy Carter tells this story about himself.   As a young man, he graduated from the Naval Academy and served as an officer on a nuclear-powered submarine.  However, before he was able to assume that position, he had to have a personal interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, the man considered to be the father of the nuclear navy.

Carter was understandable nervous, knowing how much was at stake and that only the best, most disciplined officers were chosen to serve in this prestigious force.  As he stood before Admiral Rickover, it was soon obvious to Carter that the wise admiral knew more about every subject discussed than he did. 

Finally, Admiral Rickover came to the last question on his list –  “Where did you finish in your class, young man?”  Pleased with his accomplishments and thrilled to finally be presented a question he could easily and proudly answer, Carter informed the Admiral that he had finished 59th out of a student body numbering 820.  Then he waited for a commendation from the old sailor – but it never came.

Jimmy Carter recounts the incident this way.  The question that broke the uncomfortable silence between the two men was, “Did you always do your best?” 

Carter says that he thought a moment and then cleared his throat and hesitantly replied, “No sir, I did not.”  At that point, Admiral Rickover turned he chair around, signaling the interview was over, and asked, “Why not?”

That is a good question to ask ourselves during these 40 days of self-examination regarding our spiritual health.  Did I always do my best as a disciple-learner and follower of Jesus?          

A prayer hymn that I love to sing, because it expresses the deep desire of my heart and I hope of your heart as well, is “Lord, I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing.” It was written by Elisha A. Hoffman and published in 1902.  I suggest you also choose it as your prayer for this journey with Jesus during these 40 days of “Lent.”

“Lord, I am fondly, earnestly longing / into thy holy likeness to grow, / thirsting for more and deeper communion, / yearning thy love more fully to know.”

            (Chorus) –  “Open the wells of grace and salvation, / pour the rich streams deep into my heart. / Cleanse and refine my thought and affection, / seal me and make me pure as thou art.”

“Dead to the world would I be, O Savior, / dead unto sin, alive unto thee. / Crucify all the earthly within me, / emptied of sin and self may I be.”

“I would be thine and serve thee forever, / filled with thy Spirit, lost in thy love. / Come to my heart, Lord,  come with anointing, showers of grace send down from above.

I think most of us deeply desire to do and be better persons.  And God offers that to each of us.  “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent. Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:19-20).

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 23, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley