Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Opening Scripture

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, as we begin this season of spiritual reflection and personal examination, in consideration of your Son’s death and resurrection, open our hearts and minds to your unending love and transforming power. Stir my heart’s devotion to the Lord Jesus. Prompt my mind’s submission to the Spirit’s leading. Help me to desire your presence above all things. May your loving kindness flow over me and through me to those I encounter. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Reflection  

Today is Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of the Lenten season. We will have an Ash Wednesday Service tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the FBCA Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to participate in this time of singing, prayer, confession, repentance, and the imposition of ashes (created by burning the palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday). Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return. Repent and believe the Good News!

We will use the John’s Gospel as our guide this year on our journey to Easter. John provides a great deal of insight to inform our focus on intentional discipleship. We will give special attention to the role of “shepherding” in our lives. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and, as the Church, we shepherd each other in community.

John was a Jew, a fisherman, the son of Zebedee, the brother of James (Sons of Thunder), part of Jesus’ inner circle, “the disciple Jesus loved”, entrusted by Jesus to take care of his mother Mary, faster than Peter, and a leader in the early church in Jerusalem.

Today’s passage begins with a powerful introduction summarizing the Person and work of the Son of God. John makes it clear that Jesus “the Word” is co-eternal and co-equal to God the Father. The Son is both Creator and Savior. He accomplished what only He could by becoming human, dwelling among us, and dying for us.

John the Apostle introduces John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus. John was the first prophet to speak in Israel in 400 years (since Malachi). His role was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

Flourishing Habit

Character and Virtue

Lent is a 40-day period of reflection, repentance, and preparation leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Historically, the Lenten season has been a time of increased prayer, fasting, and self-examination. These disciplines are intended to develop self-control and spiritual growth, modeled after Jesus’ wilderness testing.

Fasting was extremely normal in Jesus’ time. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells the crowd “when you fast,” not “if you fast.” There seems to be an assumption that followers of Jesus will practice some form of fasting, yet many of us have never tried it.

“Fasting” typically means to refrain from eating or drinking for health or religious purposes. The fasting can be partial or complete, lengthy or brief, and may involve non-food items, such as technology or a favorite activity.

People fast for a variety of reasons, but for spiritual purposes there should be a spiritual focus. While you may receive physical benefits by fasting from food, that isn’t the reason for doing it. That’s why eliminating non-food items from your life for a time may be even more appropriate for this discipline.

Ask God to guide you on your Lenten journey by showing you tangible ways that you can respond in humility, repentance, and obedience to Him.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!