Week 1: What's under the ashes? (Feb 17)

There were screams from children and adults alike, and the people who had sprinted from the village stood there and stared in shock. There had never before been a fire at any ELI facility. As the teen boys' dorm became engulfed in flames, children cried, and parents fought back tears. The staff quickly organized for buckets of water that did little to stop the tragedy in motion.

Weeks later—because of the love and generosity of hundreds of friends like you and local villagers in Kenya—reconstruction began. At first the full extent of the damage was not evident; the remaining walls and the foundation had to be removed. Hairline cracks revealed that the huge foundation was no longer stable. Reconstruction had to begin by clearing out the old—as hard as that was—to lay a new foundation. 

As we approach Easter, how important it is to take a look at our own foundations for life. God loved the world so much he sent his only son, who is meant to be the foundation everything else is built upon!

“Each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11

“Those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” - 2 Corinthians 5:15

Today, Ash Wednesday, is a day in Christendom that invites all people to pause, fast, and take an in-depth look at the foundations of our lives—to sift through the rubble of our busyness and embrace Christ as our foundation that gives us meaning and hope for now and eternity.  

When I think about that fire and the current reconstruction of this special home for the boys in Africa, I find myself reflecting on my own life. Please take a moment right now and consider these questions with me:

Where is there rubble in my life that might be hiding cracks that could lead to disaster later? 

How can I more fully grasp the reason God gave his only son Jesus and more fully embrace the truth that he died for me?  

Is the abundant life Jesus came to give something I am genuinely hungering after each day? 

What foundation am I building my life on? Is it the right foundation of who he is and what he has for me?

Allow me to offer a prayer on this Ash Wednesday that may help guide us to answers as we look to the master-builder:

Lord,

You said that you came to seek and to save that which was lost. I'm raising my hand and lifting my heart to you today because . . . I need you! I need your love, grace, healing, and forgiveness—today and every day. Forgive me for all the ways I've been building on anything but your truth, presence, and love for me. As I surrender to you today and think about the pain you endured on the cross, I am humbled to hear your Spirit say, 

"You are forgiven, you are loved, you are mine."

Amen

 
Devotion written by Don Rogers