February 19th, 2026
Thursday, February 19
Wherever I send them, all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life, declares the Lord Almighty.’ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.
I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.
~ Jeremiah 8:3-7
Wherever I send them, all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life, declares the Lord Almighty.’ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.
I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.
~ Jeremiah 8:3-7
It’s very difficult for us to actually face up to the specific ways we prefer the ways of death. Of course we all admit we are sinners. But, let’s be honest: that’s a safe move. How about really naming the specific ways you advance the ways of death in your life and to those around you? And how about courageously admitting to it to others? Now we’re really talking about dealing with death.
God’s not afraid to call out the ways his people participate in the ways of death. But they’re not interested in hearing it and admitting to it. That is what’s going on in the reading from Jeremiah. Think of the last time someone pointed out the ways you bring death into your relationships. Maybe you got defensive. Maybe you even justified yourself. Explained it away.
This is especially tough when we think we’re on the side of doing good things for Jesus. Or if we think we have respect or authority to lose. Somewhere in the process, our pride gets mixed up with it and…oops. Death comes in. Through us. And it affects others.
We can excuse it and say, “Well…I’m not perfect. It’s just…who I am.” Not according to Paul in Romans 6. In baptism and uniting with the Spirit, Paul says, sin and death should no longer hold power over us. The power of the gospel is that God destroys death in all its forms, not just that God saves us from the sting of death in the future.
Lent is about repentance – about turning from our ways. It’s about dying to the ways we participate in death. And it’s about making space and taking time to make this a habit. This is central to the new life in Christ. A door has been opened to us that was not previously there: freedom from sin and death.
This means that Israel’s story is not our story. The promises for humanity have been fulfilled, and now we live according to the Spirit, with new hearts because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts to transform us (Ezekiel 36:26-29; Romans 5-8). But Israel’s story is there to remind us: the ways of death remain in the world. And they can distract us. Recognizing how we still participate in ways of death becomes important so that the Spirit of Christ can uproot it from our lives. When we recognize and repent, we create the space for the Spirit of God to destroy sin & death in us.
For reflection:
Prayer:
Lord of life, you have destroyed the power of sin and death in Christ. By your Spirit give us faith to believe that your Spirit works in us to die to sin and death. Open our eyes to the ways we still give in, so that we might be free. Amen.
God’s not afraid to call out the ways his people participate in the ways of death. But they’re not interested in hearing it and admitting to it. That is what’s going on in the reading from Jeremiah. Think of the last time someone pointed out the ways you bring death into your relationships. Maybe you got defensive. Maybe you even justified yourself. Explained it away.
This is especially tough when we think we’re on the side of doing good things for Jesus. Or if we think we have respect or authority to lose. Somewhere in the process, our pride gets mixed up with it and…oops. Death comes in. Through us. And it affects others.
We can excuse it and say, “Well…I’m not perfect. It’s just…who I am.” Not according to Paul in Romans 6. In baptism and uniting with the Spirit, Paul says, sin and death should no longer hold power over us. The power of the gospel is that God destroys death in all its forms, not just that God saves us from the sting of death in the future.
Lent is about repentance – about turning from our ways. It’s about dying to the ways we participate in death. And it’s about making space and taking time to make this a habit. This is central to the new life in Christ. A door has been opened to us that was not previously there: freedom from sin and death.
This means that Israel’s story is not our story. The promises for humanity have been fulfilled, and now we live according to the Spirit, with new hearts because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts to transform us (Ezekiel 36:26-29; Romans 5-8). But Israel’s story is there to remind us: the ways of death remain in the world. And they can distract us. Recognizing how we still participate in ways of death becomes important so that the Spirit of Christ can uproot it from our lives. When we recognize and repent, we create the space for the Spirit of God to destroy sin & death in us.
For reflection:
- Read Romans 6. Do you believe that the Spirit of Christ has the power to destroy sin and death in your life, as Paul says, or do you believe that sin and death are more powerful than the Spirit’s work?
- As part of “undoing” sin and death, we need to recognize and name it. Make a list of the ways that you know you participate in the ways of death in the world. Find your spouse, child, close friend, or parent and share them.
- For those with kids: talk openly about how you still struggle to be like Jesus. Maybe invite them to do the same. Remind them that God is turning us into people like Jesus, and sin is not too much for God to overcome!
Prayer:
Lord of life, you have destroyed the power of sin and death in Christ. By your Spirit give us faith to believe that your Spirit works in us to die to sin and death. Open our eyes to the ways we still give in, so that we might be free. Amen.
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