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“Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.”

April 13, 2022

Isaiah 50:4-9a | Hebrews 12:1-3 | John 13:21-32 | Psalm 70

These scripture readings were a bit of a struggle for me to put together. Such a mixture of emotions from hostility, insults and spitting to rejoicing in being delivered. I am reading this against a background of the war in Ukraine where so much atrocity is happening – the epitome of suffering; our democratic republic is beset by the attacks on voting laws, climate change, the effects of slavery and racism. These threats are from within. I worry that our country is stuck and that we are not able to stand up together for good.

God is willing to help us through our trials, and these trials are necessary to build strength to fight off evil and follow God’s way. We look forward to new beginnings at Easter, but lots of new beginnings will be needed to overcome our constant backsliding. Thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us. His support makes it possible for us to lay aside our sins and run the race set before us without wearying or losing heart. Our example is Jesus on the cross who will be at the right hand of God after enduring his suffering for our sake.

Carol Stevens