Lent has a way of helping us see who we really are when we enter into the season with repentance and a steady expectation. Repentance for who we are or who we have failed to become and a steady expectation that God is with us. In His grace, we are being transformed into His likeness. 

I think the Apostle Paul gives us some wise words of counsel in verse 12: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” I really like the imagery of the King James here: “Let him who thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” There is a fun adventure ride at Disneyland where all of a sudden you find yourself falling. You know the fall will happen, but when it does there is that moment of panic and screams.

The earlier part of our Corinthians chapter has detailed for us those who had tremendous advantages in terms of following Moses in the journey of deliverance we know as the Exodus. But something went wrong along the way. Their experiences became stumbling blocks. Their new found freedom became their point of failure. Somehow they began taking their eyes off of the spiritual rock that followed them.

There is an obscure rabbinic tradition that describes an actual rock or even a well traveling with the Israelites throughout the wilderness wanderings, kind of like a tumbleweed blowing around behind them. Paul takes up that picture and identifies the wandering rock as Christ. Wherever the people went, the rock followed them. 

Into our conversations and relationships we find Jesus showing up in unexpected ways and in unanticipated reminders. It may be in an obscure way like this tumble-rock reference that Paul alludes to, or it may be someone else holding up a mirror before our actions and attitudes that call us up short of who Jesus would have us to be.

In this new season of Lent, we are invited to look again to the Rock. — to live in humility and repentance before the One who goes with us wherever we might find ourselves — to remember that we stand in His grace. We are invited during Lent to take a hard look at ourselves and an even longer look at Jesus our Rock and to live in the sure hope of His transforming grace. 

Author: David Brown

Other Lenten readings for today:

• Psalm 105:1-42
• Numbers 14:10b-24