Prompt thought of the week:
Oftentimes we believe that we must “deserve” the love we receive. We work, work, work to get approval and to feel like our life is justified — pulling our own weight, thinking that whatever life we create and love we get is only what we ourselves can conjure up. But the scriptures today offer the image of God as our “keeper” — always helping, always present. Nicodemus has followed all the rules and done everything HE can do, and yet he is still looking for love — for tangible connection with God. Jesus says that he must be born “of the Spirit.” It’s not all up to simply “doing the right thing!” It is about allowing the Spirit to help birth love in our lives.
The verse from John 3:1-17 – “You must be born from above… for God so loved the world…” – is wonderful to reflect on during the Lenten season. From this verse and other verses, we have the comfort of knowing that God is with us at all times. Each day we need to realize that we are invited to live life to the fullest, enjoying the simplest of God’s gifts – a beautiful flower, a gorgeous blooming tree, a park filled with God’s accents of living creations. I have never thought about the idea of being invited to life every day. I cannot take credit for this invitation to life because this concept came from a book by Bob Goff, entitled “Love Does”. As we take time during this Lenten season to reflect on how great God’s love is for us it hopefully creates an appreciation of self and our world. Share this gift of God’s love during this reflective season with all you encounter.
Pray for us dear Lord that we may recognize the magnificence of this beautiful world you created.
Kathy Kopecko