Lent: With One VoiceSample

‘YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED, WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.’

British author Samuel Johnson observed, ‘People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.’ Our text today reminds us of two truths, which I find especially relevant for life in Hong Kong. One: our identity is not found in what we achieve or acquire, but in our relationship with God. In a performance-driven world we can forget this. Ultimately, we are not bankers or teachers or lawyers or caregivers or students or pastors or whatever – we are the ‘beloved sons and daughters of God’. Two: our true worth is not in what others think of us, but in God’s estimation. Before Jesus had done anything of note – before the amazing miracles, teaching and the cross – God affirmed, ‘With You I am well pleased.’ Other voices internal and external will link our identity and self-worth to our performance; may we hear God’s voice above all others today.


FOR REFLECTION
• If God needed to verbalize His love to His Son, and His Son needed to hear it, we also need to speak and hear words of love.
• Who do you need to tell, text or write to today to affirm your love for them?
• Pull aside for a few minutes today, and listen to some music that speaks of God’s love for us, e.g., David Crowder’s ‘How He Loves’. Then silently rest in God’s empowering love for you.

PRAYER
God, on this first Sunday in Lent, may we hear and speak, give and receive Your love. Amen.