The Days After Parents’ Evening

Monday 22 March to Sunday 28 March

A large brooding dark cloud hung over our house.  My poor unsuspecting parents had been ambushed again by my irate teachers at the parents’ evening.  They had asked cheerfully before setting off if there was “anything that they should know”.  But what to tell them?  If I told them everything that had gone on they would be stunned.  My flawed logic was that the teachers would probably tell them around 70% of what had gone on and, in that event, they would be 30% less stunned than if I revealed all.  I kept my own counsel, for their sake of course….. 

My sister told me recently that she always hated those days after my parents’ evening at school; people nervously tiptoeing around the house waiting for the inevitable day of reckoning when I was confronted with the truth exposed by my teachers.  The predictable uncomfortable questions tumbled out - Why didn’t I tell them?  (see above!)  Had I ever been to the fencing club or was I always in detention?  How could we prevent this from happening in future?  Who made me do it?  Was I happy?  It took a while for the sun to break through the awkward clouds and for peace once again to return to our family home.  That is until the next parents evening loomed……

By rights our whole lives should feel akin to my childhood home in the days after parents’ evening.  As we discovered last week we have all done things that rock our relationship with God.  We expect him to be angry with us and mete out some well deserved punishment or at the very least make us squirm for a bit.  It is only reasonable, just and fitting for the crime.

There is a great verse nestling at the start of Romans 5 which goes “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”    

Paul tells us in this verse from Romans that we have peace with God – it doesn’t feel awkward; there is no sense of impending punishment and rejection, only acceptance….…peace.  This happens, the verse tells us, when we take God at his word; when we have faith to believe that the God of justice counts nothing against us because Jesus took the full sentence that our crimes deserved when he died in our stead on the cross.  The verse also tells us that there is nothing we can do to earn this we simply have to walk through the doorway of faith, fashioned in the shape of the cross, to stand by grace, blameless before a holy God.

Jesus has got us a triple A pass (access all areas) to the gig of a life-time.

Exercise

Sometimes we find it difficult to accept that we are forgiven.  It offends our sense of justice.  We want to do something to make amends.  The truth is that there is nothing more we can do because Jesus did it all…. End of story.

In your times with the Lord this week as you ask the Lord for forgiveness imagine the things you have done wrong being completely destroyed; so utterly obliterated that no one would even know that they had been there, let alone what they were.

Next imagine the smile of the Father as he turns towards you in compassion and love.

Hear the words of Jesus ….. "Neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go on your way and from now on don’t sin." – John 8:11 (paraphrase)

Let go of the feelings of guilt – that was dealt with on the cross too.

Bible Verses to Ponder

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. – Psalm 103:8-13

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:15-16

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" - 2 Peter 1:3

Prayer for the Fifth Week in Lent from the Church of England

Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved mankind: grant that by faith in Him who suffered on the cross, we may triumph in the power of His victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse to Remember

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; - Daniel 9:9

Things to do

Keep on fasting once or twice this week, in the way you have figured out that works for you.  Building again on our fast; this week consider cutting out red meat and alcohol.  Again if you are feeling bold cut them out and leave them out of your diet until after Easter – only two weeks away now.  Remember that you end your fast on a Sunday….  but that isn’t a licence to go bonkers with steak and several bottles of wine!

Why not leave your wallet at home on one day this week and don’t buy anything – a fast from consumerism if you like!

Take time out each day this week to really listen to someone.  Give them your full attention and a listening ear.