Lent - Day 45 - Forsaken for Us

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025

******************************************************
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Matthew 27:45-61

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” With those words, we hear how Jesus paid for our sins. The very Son of God is forsaken by God. A definition of damnation is separation from God. Jesus takes our sin upon His broken body. He experiences death (brought into the world because of humanity’s sin in the first place). He experiences not just any death but a most gruesome death brought about because the wickedness of men has learned how to maximize the pain and torment. Even worse than all of that however, He experiences being forsaken by God. We and all of mankind are the ones who deserve to be forsaken by God. Instead God turned His back on Jesus while to us He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.” How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.

Prayer:

Jesus, 

        You turn everything upside down. You took a tool of punishment and judgment - the Cross - and turned it into an instrument of grace and mercy. Take our sinful lives and turn it upside down as well, that we too might be an instrument of Your grace in this world and in the lives of others. Amen.

Lent - Day 41 - Scattered and Gathered

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
******************************************************
     Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

     Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 

     Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.'

Matthew 26:26-46

What a trying time. In this chapter, Jesus foretells how the disciples will respond to what they will face on Good Friday. They will see their Lord taken from them and they will be scattered. Yet Jesus also tells them that when He has risen He will go ahead of them into Galilee. 

There, in Galilee, even though they have deserted, even though they have been scattered, the Shepherd once again would gather His sheep. Praise God that He continues to pursue, gather, and strengthen His sheep at all times. By His grace, we have been saved. By His persistence, we are continually brought to repentance. By His determination, we are held in faith.

Prayer:

Almighty God, 

                        We are so grateful that You continually gather and call us to You. Amen.

Lent - Day One - A Family Tree

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025

**********************************

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Matthew 1:1-17

The gospel of Matthew begins by giving the family genealogy of Jesus. But what could be so important about a family tree? God made His covenant promise with Abraham, who would be the father of a great nation and a blessing to all people. From that nation God promised to send the Messiah through the family line of David, bringing hope and salvation to the world. Matthew uses this genealogy to point out that Jesus was born into this family tree because He is the fulfillment of those promises made centuries earlier. But just as important is the fact that the promised Messiah, Jesus, has brought us into His family tree through His death on the cross. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we have been made children of God. We receive all the promises and blessings of being adopted into His family.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, and for bringing us into Your family through His death on the cross. Amen

Easter - Resurrection Hope and Life

Today's post features excerpts written by the late, great Billy Graham.

****************************************

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 NKJV

Easter is a season of great gladness for those who know Christ. But for those who are without “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory” (2 Corinthians 4:6), there is nothing to rejoice over.

Jesus left us with the great hope and certainty that He is going to return to bring a new Heaven and a new earth where, we are told, there will be no more sorrow, trouble, or death for those who have believed and followed Him. There will be trouble, sorrow, and suffering for those who have neglected or rejected Him.

As Christians, our great task is to obey the command to tell the whole world about Christ crucified, buried, yet risen again. My prayer for you during this season of the year, when we meditate on our Savior’s great sacrifice for us on the cross, is that you will be filled with great peace and hope, because “He is risen!” That is the Good News.

***************************************

Prayer:

Father,

           This Easter, we pray a prayer from St. Joseph's prayer book: The resurrection of Your Son has given us new life and renewed hope. Help us to live as new people in pursuit of Your will and purpose for our lives. Grant us wisdom to know what we must do, the will to want to do it, the courage to undertake it, the perseverance to continue to do it, and the strength to complete it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Until Easter and Beyond - Abide

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Kate Meyer is the counseling services manager of Hospice of Holland in Michigan.
*******************************

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:3-4 NKJV

The tattoo on my wrist is a dumbbell with the word abide written on the bar. The word, written in Greek, is also the only part of the tattoo comprised of color: purple and green.

In the liturgical calendar, purple occurs during Advent and Lent. The color is tied to words such as mourning, waiting, and reflecting. Green, alternatively, is liturgically used to represent ordinary time, as well as renewal and new life.

So, when I look at my wrist, I am reminded to abide with God in times of mourning and in ordinary times. When things are great, neutral, or terrible. But, it is also a reminder that the ordinary times will come again; though the times of mourning and waiting appear to far outweigh the rest, we have strength to endure if we but abide.

Abide with God always. Even on this Holy Saturday, this in-between time, trust in God’s steadfast love that does not end in mourning. Rather, God’s steadfast love always, yes always, carries us through to new life. Abide with God and see.

Prayer: 

In all of my in-between times, God, I pray you strengthen me to but abide in trust of Your steadfast love. May I honor You by holding fast and resting in the assured hope of redemption. Amen.

From Now Until Easter - A Song Rises

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Rev. Melody Meeter - the director of the spiritual care department at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn.

******************************************

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning -Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
Psalm 130:5-6 NKJV

Down there in the pit, the psalmist is in despair, not only about his own iniquities, his weaknesses, his sins of omission and commission, but also about the iniquities of his people Israel. The individual sins are entwined with the sins of the nation. But it is also down there in the pit the psalmist remembers something else: “ … there is forgiveness with you,” and “with the Lord there is steadfast love,” and “with him is great power to redeem.” 

There is hope in the waiting for God’s redemption. Twice the psalmist repeats the phrase “my soul waits” and twice repeats the image of the soul waiting for the Lord “more than those who watch for the morning.”

As a chaplain, I get to wait for a little while with souls that are waiting for God to show up. It’s really dark down there. But in the very act of crying out, sometimes a light surprises—a healing, a surrender, a peace, a hope. The song rises.

Prayer:

Dear God,
                Grant us to see Your light though we may be in the depths. Grant us to feel Your steadfast love though we may feel unlovable. And grant us companions with us to wait for You in hope. Amen.

From Now Until Easter - Searching

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Susan Dorward, who has been a chaplain at ECCR for 11 years.
***************************************

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

David wanted to analyze his motives and behavior, asking God to guide him and help him see what thoughts or actions may not align with God’s thoughts. Why would David ask God to do this? Because David knew that his way of thinking might cause a chasm separating him from God, and that was the last thing David wanted.

Many of us are motivated in Lent to ask God to forgive us for doing anything that has offended God. Sometimes, though, don’t our attempts at doing this feel more like empty rituals or dutiful prayers? We say a quick prayer and soon end with “amen.” Then, after the amen, how long do we usually sit around waiting for God to point out anything He found in His search? Do we do this because we are busy or because we fear what God will do after He completes His search?

David knew that he had nothing to fear in allowing God to search his heart. Not because he felt there was nothing offending there, but because he knew that our God is a loving, merciful, and gracious God.

Don’t be afraid to allow God to explore your heart, mind, and spirit. God loves you and longs for a closer walk with you.

Pause. Ask God to search you. Then, sit and wait long enough for God to point out what you need to see and work on. God will lovingly help you transform and will lead you along the right pathway, bringing hope and joy to your journey through life.

Prayer: 

Lord, 

        You know us better than we know ourselves. Search the deepest parts of our hearts for anything that is displeasing to You. Examine our attitudes and actions. Show us what needs to be transformed and help us to change it so that we will not only be closer to You, but will also be able to go where You lead us and do what You are calling us to do. Amen.

From Now Until Easter - Praise!

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Kathy Jo Blaske serving as a long-term care chaplain at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

**********************************************

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:1-6

Praise the LORD! Where?

“ … in his sanctuary.” Not in a bounded place, but wherever we experience God in life—as we gaze from our own yards into the heavens; as we walk barefoot along the shore of a lake; as we listen to a choir from pews or concert hall seats; as we pray in the solitude of our homes or sing in a congregation of worshipers. We praise God whenever and wherever our hearts are inspired to do so.

Praise the LORD! Why?

“ … for his mighty deeds, according to his surpassing greatness!” Praise the Lord for the rain, which nourishes the earth; for the wonder of a sunrise; for the cry of a newborn child; for the inquisitiveness of young children; for healing bodies through the medical community; for comforting hearts as the Lord works through ministers, priests, counselors, and friends.

Praise the LORD! How?

With a diversity of instruments! I’ve employed most of them: a trumpet graced my ordination service. And though 40 years have passed since then, I can still hear the melody of the oboe during productions of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by the first church I served. Now, at the assisted living residences where I conduct worship, we are blessed regularly with harp and piano accompaniment, and frequently we welcome a cellist when he is home from college. I distribute tambourines on occasion to enliven our singing. Liturgical dancers have engaged worshipers. And, I, myself, have clashed cymbals during the singing of “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today!” (Praising God with a lute,[verse 3] however, remains on my bucket list!)

Praise the LORD! Who?

Everything that breathes is to praise God! Breath is a sign of spirit, of life. Let’s all take note of the goodness of God in our lives today. Let’s be instruments, ourselves, and praise the LORD!

Prayer: 

Give us pause, today, O God, to breathe in and out, to look, to listen, and so to notice and celebrate Your goodness. Move us to applause, to song, to prayer, to smiles, to words and acts of gratitude, which praise You with our whole selves. Amen.

From Now Until Easter - Righteous and Merciful

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Darcy Lovgren Pavich, chaplain at Veterans Village of San Diego, ministering among homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.

***************************************

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, save my life!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:1-5

This is a song of gratitude and absolute awe and wonder. The desperation and brokenness experienced by the singer is a lonely and hopeless place. The exact causes of the suffering are unknown, but the anguish is very apparent. Something that is not so clear is that this is a request for mercy, not a simple request for help. Mercy, pardon, and grace are gifts offered to those who have found “sorrow and trouble,” usually by their own actions and choices. Self-defeat keeps them from feeling worthy, and so they continue to follow the pathway into deeper misery and darkness. The way out becomes obscured.

By grace, the word of a friend, the memory of another time, and a glimmer of light appears. A small crack opens in the walls we create, revealing an avenue to venture and a voice of prayer is found. The psalmist remembers a promise and prays: “I implore you. … I beg you to save me.” The prayer is not conditional. It is not “If you save me, I will follow you.” The prayer embraces the assurance that God will deliver salvation. The response to the deliverance is gratitude, a promise to continue to call upon the Lord, a promise to remember, and a wondrous understanding of humility.

The psalmist extols grace and mercy and is suddenly impacted by just how big this is. God is righteous and merciful. How is this possible? Righteousness is often synonymous with justice. Justice is more often associated with consequences and punishment and rarely associated with mercy, grace, and pardon. How great is God who unconditionally forgives, accepts, and restores one who is not righteous or just!

In our deepest, desperate moments of life, the Lord “inclines his ear” to our prayer, reaches toward us, and sets us free.

Prayer: 

Lord, 

         May we be humbled by Your mercy and set free to rejoice in Your grace. Direct this day in gratitude, for the blessings we have received are that we may be a blessing to others and a faithful servant in Your kingdom. Amen.

From Now Until Easter - Lamb Selection Day

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Lori Wilkerson Stewart (M.A. in Journalism, Regent University) -  author of Promises for Prodigals.

****************************************

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" 

John 1:29 NIV

...As Christians, we’re all familiar with Palm Sunday, but did you know that in the time of Jesus, the Sunday before Passover was “lamb selection day?” In other words, it was the day that Jewish families would come to the temple in Jerusalem and choose their “perfect lamb” for the Passover. Then, the family would bring the lamb home to live with them, knowing that within a few days, their new pet would be slaughtered for the Passover meal (Exodus 12:3,5,6).

So, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on lamb selection day, it was as if He was presenting Himself to the people and asking them, “Will you choose me?” And Jesus wasn’t just riding through the streets for attention, He had a destination. As the Lamb of God, could it be that Jesus was headed to the temple to present Himself before His Father and to be approved for sacrifice (Leviticus 1:3)?

As Jesus approached the city, His disciples “began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37). However, when the crowds joined in, the atmosphere changed and became more like a political rally. The people shouted, “Hosanna” and waved palm branches. In Death and Resurrection of the Messiah, author and minister Ray Vander Laan writes:

Hosanna meant “Please save us! Give us freedom! We’re sick of these Romans!” They waved palm branches, a symbol that once had been placed on Jewish coins when the nation was free. The branches did not symbolize peace and love, as Christians usually assume; they symbolized Jewish nationalism, an expression of the people’s desire for political freedom.”

And for the second time in Scripture, Jesus wept (Luke 19:41). The Lamb of God was there, the only One worthy to be slain for the sins of all mankind, yet the people only wanted a political deliverer.

What will your response be on Lamb Selection Day? Will you choose Jesus as your perfect Lamb? Will you believe in the power of the Lamb’s blood, which is able to take away your sins and make you truly free?
**************************************

Prayer:

Father,

           We choose Jesus as our sinless, spotless Lamb and receive His death on the Cross as redemption from all our sin. Help us to never lose sight of Your everlasting goodness and grace toward us. Keep our hearts ever grateful, Father. Thank You for everything. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

From Now Until Easter - Transformed

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Dr. Roger Barrier, retired senior teaching pastor from Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after conference speaker, Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide.

**********************************
Dear Roger, 

               You have preached almost 50 Easter sermons. What Easter principle means the most to you?  Sincerely, Julie 

Dear Julie, 

                Jesus saw people, not as they were, but as what they might become. This is the essence of the resurrection story. 

Who the Disciples Were 

They were a disappointing disaster. For example, the last week of Jesus’ life was not a good one for Jesus’ disciples. We should not be surprised; they didn’t do all that well during the first three-and-a-half years, either.

Philip is panicking in the upper room and unsure over whom Jesus really was.

As Jesus was sharing the bread and the wine at the Last Supper, Luke tells us that the disciples began to fight over who was the greatest. That must have really hurt Him.

They fell asleep and left Him alone during the time of His agony in the Garden.

Peter denied Him.

Judas betrayed Him.

Thomas doubted.

At the cross, all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem—instead, they all go back to the Sea of Galilee and return to their fishing business.

When He needed their support they constantly disappointed Him.

After preaching his most demanding discipleship sermon (John 6), the entire crowd rejected him and departed en masse, except the Twelve.

There’s no doubt this was the most depressing moment of His ministry...He asked His disciples, “You’re going away too, aren’t you?” Expecting the answer to be, “Yes, we’ve had enough.” This was the low point. From this moment on, everything was downhill straight to the cross.

I’d like for you to consider with me how Jesus must have felt when His closest friends misunderstood, criticized, denied, betrayed Him. and left Him all alone at the cross. If Jesus could transform them, He can transform anyone.

Think of how Jesus felt as He was arrested in the garden and Matthew records one of the saddest verses in the entire Bible: “And they all forsook Him and fled.” Talk about rejection, betrayal, disappointment, and hurt! I guess that we should not be so hard on the disciples; after all, by our sin, many of us have done the same.

What the Disciples Became

Most of the Disciples disappear from the Bible early in the first century. But history records what they did. Frankly, they carried Christianity all over the known world.

The disciples did not start out too well—but they ended strong. Such is the impact and care of the person of Jesus Christ. 

James was martyred in the streets of Jerusalem in 45 A.D.

Matthew gave up financial security to follow Jesus Christ. He was slain with a sword in Ethiopia.

Philip was born in a little city called Bethsaida, which means the house of the fisher or the house of the hunter. He went fishing and hunting for men. He was hanged in Phrygia.

Andrew took the gospel to Russia (He is the patron saint of Russia). He was crucified in Greece.

Bartholomew was skinned alive in Armenia, near the modern-day town of Derbend in the old Soviet Union.

Thomas, often criticized for his doubts, left no doubt as to his loyalty to the Savior. He carried the gospel to East India where he was run through with a lance.

Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows in Beirut, Lebanon.

Simon the Zealot, was a member of the Jewish nationalistic party, ready to die for his country against the hated Romans. Instead, he was crucified in modern-day Iran.

Peter got as far as Rome where he, too, was crucified—at his request, upside down. He did not consider himself worthy to die right-side up as did his Lord.

John died in his 90s, exiled on the Isle of Patmos after writing the Gospel of John, three epistles, and Revelation.

How the Disciples Became What Jesus Intended

What happened to Peter can happen with us.

In the presence of Jesus, Peter had great courage. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.

In the presence of Jesus, Peter did the miraculous. He cast out demons.

In the presence of Jesus, Peter said miraculous things. “You are the Christ, the son of the living God."

Then, sadly, in the presence of a little girl by the fire on Thursday night, frightened and scared, Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus.

What happened? What made the difference? ...Peter was no longer in the presence of Jesus.

Astoundingly, in the opening pages of the book of Acts, Peter was once again filled with courage. Threatened with death if he kept on preaching, Peter refused to stop.

Astoundingly, Peter was again doing miraculous things. “Pick up your bed and walk.” The cripple got up and walked.

Astoundingly, Peter was again saying the miraculous. “I’ve come to tell about Jesus Christ-whom you crucified!”

He was doing the same miraculous things that he did when he was standing by Jesus.

What made the difference? At Pentecost, Peter was indwelt by the life and presence of the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Christ.

If Jesus transformed the disciples, He can transform us.

Prayer:

Father,  
           First, we thank You for the resurrection which proved the validity of Christ. Second, we pray to see ourselves from Your perspective. We know that compared to the perfection of Christ, we all need transformation. Third, help us to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we allow Him to live freely in us.  When we think of what the disciples were—then what they became in the hands of both Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are filled with hope and courage when we think of what we are—and imagine what we can become in the hands of both Christ and the Holy Spirit. Father, give us the wisdom to fully understand the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and Your strength to receive the transforming work of Christ in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Day 4 of Lent

For the next 37 days leading to Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Tonight's post features excerpts from What is Lent: Honoring the Sacrifice of Jesus, written by Sarah Phillips, contributing writer to Crosswalk.
**************

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Matthew 4:1-2

It makes sense to set aside time to prepare for the two most important days of the Christian year - Good Friday and Easter. Lent is a time that offers us an opportunity to come to terms with the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from, bringing our need for a Savior to the forefront. Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper so that when Good Friday and Easter come, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing graces God has to offer.

Lent is more frequently observed as a solemn time of preparation for remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday till Lent ends on Easter Sunday, Lent is traditionally a time of fasting or giving something up, known as abstinence. Lent gives us time to prepare our minds and hearts for remembering the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Lent is a time when Christians separate from the world; when we find out our faith is not just a feel-good, self-help religion but one that answers the deepest questions of life and eternity. Those who journey through the Lenten season will enter the Easter season with an increased appreciation for who God is and what He has done for us. And the joy of Resurrection and the promises of eternity will not be soon forgotten.

Philippians 3:10-11 - I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participate in his sufferings, becoming like him in death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Joel 2:12-14 - "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate."

Matthew 6:16-18 - when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites...but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you...

May we remember the gift of salvation in this season...

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
                           Thank You for the gift of this season. Thank You for knowing our hearts and our need for rhythms in our lives, and for drawing us into a deeper communion with You throughout the rest of this season. Help us draw nearer to You and understand You more deeply. Today and every day, may we gratefully receive the overwhelming graces You offer us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Day 3 of 40 Days Until Easter

For the next 38 days leading to Easter, I will be posting from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Tonight's post features excerpts from "Should I Give Up Something for Lent?" written by Denise K. Loock, freelance writer, editor, speaker, and Bible study teacher. She is the founder of digdeeperdevotions.com, a website devoted to helping Christians dig deeper into the Word of God.
********************

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22

For almost 2,000 years, Christians have set aside time for self-examination and repentance during the weeks before Easter. Early church fathers and the Council of Nicea (AD 325) observed days of fasting—from a few days to 40 days—but it was Pope Gregory I (c. 540-604) who established the 40-day season between Ash Wednesday and Easter that many 21st-century Christians observe.

Many Christians view Lent as an opportunity to refocus attention on God’s love for us, so great a love that He sent His son to die for our sins. Neither my family nor the church I attended as a child paid much attention to the Lenten season. Instead, they focused on the joyous celebration of our Risen Savior. [However] giving up something we love—a food or an activity—to remind us of God’s sacrificial love can be beneficial to our spiritual growth, especially if we replace it with a spiritual discipline such as Bible reading, prayer, or fasting. During Lent, we can evaluate our spiritual health—how well the life of the Risen Christ is being manifest in us...

Many Scriptures remind us that physical sacrifices are only valuable if they’re given from a wholly devoted heart. The prophet Samuel told King Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice”  (1 Samuel 15:22). And David wrote, “You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it.…The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit…a broken and humbled heart” (Psalm 51:16-17 HCSB).

The Old Testament prophets consistently spoke out against sacrifices that were futile attempts to cover sinful actions. Jesus also criticized the religious leaders for offering sacrifices that meant nothing (Matthew 23:23-25). The same could be said of any spiritual practice we undertake for the wrong reason, whether it be Sunday morning worship, small-group Bible study, volunteer work, or personal devotional time.

...It’s the daily-ness of sacrifice that most interests God and best reflects our commitment to Him—a 365-day devotion to act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly before God (Micah 6:8).  When Paul told the Romans to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, I think he had in mind the daily-ness of sacrifice (12:1-2). My commitment to Jesus should involve the following:

• Daily contemplation of the price Jesus paid for my sins and my inability to meet God’s standard of righteousness
• Daily commitment to rely more on the Holy Spirit and less on myself
• Daily reflection on the endless supply of God’s mercy and grace
• Daily gratitude for the ways He allows me to be His hands and feet in a hurting world

Motivation is everything. David said the one thing he desired was spending time in God’s presence (Psalm 27:4). He also spoke of daily fulfilling his vows to the Lord (Psalm 61:8). Another psalmist wrote that he thirsted for God like a deer thirsts for water (Psalm 42:1-2). Again, there’s the daily-ness factor. After all, how many times a day does a deer seek water?

The core of the Easter message is the new life available to every person because of the redemption Jesus provided through His death and resurrection. If we’ve accepted Jesus as Savior, we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). And, as Paul told the Galatian churches, “The life you see me living is not ‘mine,’ but it is lived by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (2:20 MSG).

If we spend the weeks before Easter cultivating a spiritual practice that makes our new life more evident to others year-round, we honor the Risen Christ who gave us that life, don’t we?

PRAYER: 

Lord, 

        I pray that I wouldn’t make Lent about myself this year, but instead about Your great love for me through Your sacrifice of Jesus. May I focus on Your love above all else - thank You, Jesus, for giving Your life for mine. Amen

Day 2 of 40 Days to Easter - Evangelicals and Lent

For the next 39 days leading to Easter, I will be posting from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Tonight features excerpts written by Whitney Hopler (Crosswalk.com)
**********************

Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. 

Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. 

We bless you from the house of the Lord.
Psalm 118:25-26

Lent is often overlooked by evangelical churches that eschew the liturgical calendar in favor of following their own themes for sermons and activities. And evangelical churches that do follow liturgy sometimes give short shrift to Lent. Still, many evangelicals do observe Lent, and often do so in ways that they find lead to significant spiritual growth.

Kathleen grew up observing Lent in traditional ways through her Catholic church - such as fasting and attending worship services filled with solemn ritual. Everywhere in church, she was surrounded by reminders of the 40-day season of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter. Yet now that she's a member of an evangelical church that barely mentions Lent at all, Kathleen's Lenten seasons have actually become more meaningful for her.

"Even though it's not called Lent in my church and there are no special rituals, it's a very special reflective time," she said. "Reading the Gospels and concentrating on Jesus' life - how He was both the son of God and the son of man - really puts the heart of my faith before me as I get ready to celebrate Easter and the salvation He gave us."

Every year, members of a church in Virginia, produce an approximately 60-page Lenten devotional filled with their original essays, poems and drawings. Each church member - from children through seniors - is invited to participate. Then a copy is mailed to every household within a five-mile radius of the church - about 28,000 homes.

"The effort has proven fruitful for community and church members alike," said the church's pastor. "In sharing it with the community, it helps us express our faith in a way that genuinely moves other people. And in our own congregation among those who have contributed, I've seen a greater willingness to talk about faith with other people."

Investing the time to observe Lent is spiritually worthwhile. Time is a very scarce resource for many people today due to the frantic pace of life and all the distractions. Lent gives us a way of setting apart time to focus on the cross, and the cross goes to the heart of what our faith is all about. Reflecting on what Christ did on the cross, [reflecting] on our salvation - that's so important to take the time to do...

Lent is an important time for people to discover more about Christ and forge stronger relationships with Him, said one pastor. During Lent this year, his church will host an "Alpha" group for seekers to explore whatever questions they have about Christianity.

"I see Lent as a door - an entryway - for people to connect or reconnect with Jesus," he said. "Our culture is so focused on an event rather than a process. Even as evangelicals, I think we've been trapped by the idea that salvation is a one-time event, like a sale that we've got to close. But often, it's a process in which people ask questions again and again and again and approach God again and again and again to consider faith. We're hoping to use Lent as a way to help people consider Jesus and take the time they need to process all He's done for us, so they can discover a faith that's real."

Unlike the joyless deprivation some people think of when they think of Lent, the season can actually be a quite rewarding and exciting time. There's a sense of preparation, of anticipation, and a sense of savoring what Jesus did for us. The church calendar invites us to take our time and conform it to Jesus' time. We take a season like Lent and we enter into Jesus' life and all that He dealt with on Earth, and then we can better deal with everything in our own lives because we've connected with Him.

One church member advised that no matter how we observe the Lenten season, we should strive to live with attitudes of humility, repentance and thankfulness all year long. "I try not to get hung up on certain seasons," she said. "It's important to remember the cost of Easter, and I try to do that during Lent, but also every day of the year."

Prayer:

Lord,
         Help me to dive into this season of Lent with intentionality and purpose. I want to know You better, love You more fully, and accept Your grace more readily. Draw me closer to You, day by day. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Day 1 of 40 Days to Easter

For the next 40 days leading to Easter, I will be posting from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Tonight features excerpts written by John Stonestreet, host of The Point, part of BreakPoint ministries.

***********************
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time...
1st Peter 5:6 NKJV

In many ways, today is one of the strangest days of the year. Everywhere—at work, the grocery store, shopping, exercising—we’ll see all kinds of people walking around with dark smudges on their foreheads.

Now whether or not their own church participates in this ritual, most Christians will know that the smudge is the sign of the cross, and that today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent.

To the unbelieving world, Ash Wednesday is at best quaint (it’s sort of cool to have traditions, you know). At worst, it’s somewhere between bizarre and even anti-social. After all, to a culture committed to the pursuit of self-fulfillment and feeling good about oneself, this whole fasting and self-sacrifice stuff is an existential smack in the face.

Think of how these words contrast with our contemporary illusions of autonomy and self-determination: I am not my own. And I will die one day. And so will you... 

And here’s the bolder statement still, a way-more-weird and counter-cultural claim... We are sinners. So much so that God became a man and died on a cross in our place. He loved us that much! And then, get this: He came back to life. His body wasn’t eaten by worms in a tomb. He was resurrected from the dead.

What happened on that Resurrection Day, which we’ll commemorate 40 days from now, is the most important event in the history of the world. As Russell Moore has said, “Christians from all over the world, despite all this science and all this progress and all this technology, [still confess] what the earliest believers in the catacombs of Rome cried out: ‘Christ is risen indeed.’”

We confess it because what it says about God, the universe, and us is TRUE. On Ash Wednesday and during the season of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving called Lent, we redouble our efforts to heed Jesus’ call to pick up our crosses and follow him. We meditate and remember with Paul that we have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

Crucified with Christ! Our hopes, desires, politics, intellect, and yes, even our sexuality—crucified with Christ. What a thing to say! Jesus, who redeemed us by His blood, lays claim to all of these things.

This is not the God of what sociologist Christian Smith has dubbed “moralistic therapeutic deism,” a god who demands nothing more than that people take it easy on themselves and be nice and fair to one another.

This is a God who says the two greatest commandments are to love Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. And as Jesus said, to love Him is to obey Him (talk about counter-cultural!) and to believe in the One He has sent. To love our neighbors, we preach the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection and His triumph over sin and death. We feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, take care of the widow and orphans.

Friend, what could be more authentic, more relevant, than to conform our lives to Jesus, who is the Way the Truth and the Life? Jesus did not and will not conform Himself to the culture. Why would we? How dare we urge others to? As Paul says, we were called to freedom in Christ, which is a freedom from conformity and from the desires of the flesh and a freedom to serve one another in love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5). 

Now that’s a lot to swallow, which is one reason that for nearly two millennia, Christians have taken this long season of Lent as an opportunity to repent of our conformity to the world, draw near to Jesus, and prepare ourselves to celebrate the day that changed the universe.

Prayer:

Lord, 

        We are not our own. We are sinners and have fallen short of Your glory, yet You became a man to die on a cross in our place. Thank You for loving us that much, Jesus! In this season, may we be crucified with Christ so we can truly live. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Easter Week Favorite - The Cost

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4 NKJV

What has He asked you for? What have you got? Is there something you're not willing to part with? Why?

Christ gave all that He had for us. This is the week that marks the history of it. What's the value of what we're giving in return? What did it cost us? Can we cry out like David in 1st Chronicles 21:24b, "I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!”

Prayer:

Father,
          We commit to give You everything we are, everything we've got, dreams, hopes, hurts, passions, all of it. It comes with a great price. One You've already paid. Keep us ever mindful of the cost of our redemption. Help us to help others understand the cost. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Holy Week favorites - Cause for Celebration

Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.
Galatians 3:13-14 The Message

This weekend, we celebrate the Death and Resurrection of Christ. 

Have you ever set out to actually celebrate the Crucifixion? The Cross? We don't like to think about the suffering of Christ during Passion Week. We definitely don't like to watch the event either, now that "The Passion of the Christ" has brought it to life in all its horrible detail.

How many of us truly realize that it was because of the beatings, the whipped stripes on His back, the crown of thorns, the nails that pierced His flesh, the spear that ripped open His side that we even have a cause for celebration?!? It is His SHED blood that pays the debt of our sins. It was the stripes that bought and paid for our healing. Isaiah 53:5-6 NLT reads, ...he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

The work that was accomplished and finished on the Cross - Christ's blood spilled out - was the only power to wash away our sin stains. Without His death on the Cross, there would be no Resurrection. The Cross and the love that held Jesus on it are the true causes for celebration. Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Father,
           In and of ourselves, we haven't the words to express our gratitude. Reveal Your Word to us and give us grateful hearts to celebrate what Your Son has done for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It Happened On a Monday

But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
“Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.”
Matthew 21:28-31 NLT

This was Jesus' teaching on the day following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem - what we refer to as Palm Sunday. If we'd heard this exchange between the father and the first son, many of us would have offered our opinion about parenting such disobedience, and how to fix it Texas style - quick, fast and in a hurry.

This is one more illustrated sermon of God looking at the heart of a person rather than what is seen on the outside. I believe He was trying to drive home the point to His disciples before the nails were driven home.

It's not so much what we do when people are watching. If we'd taken this parable at face value with one son saying no way and the other agreeing to go, we'd have gotten it all wrong.

Do we do the same thing? Do our hearts convict us? Do we hear AND obey? Do we reason ourselves into obedience or into rebellion?

It's Monday following Palm Sunday - how does your Monday appear to have gone?

Prayer:

Father,
            Let our hearts and minds be renewed in You so that they ALWAYS override our poor choices - especially those made for appearances' sake. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

To Live or Not to Live

For to me, to live is Christ...
Philippians 1:21a NKJV

Some people define living by how much money they earn, what possessions they have or have accumulated; what they're able to provide for their loved ones. Others define living by what they're able to do, where they're able to go. Still others define living by what they are able to offer. Have you ever thought about it? Scripture tells us in 1st Peter 3:15 to be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you...

There are those who would want to argue about Easter vs. Ishtar, but I don't want to get into a history discussion of all that, because in spite of "all that" - let's not lose sight of the Truth. Whether historically Christ's death, burial and resurrection took place around the Spring solstice or not is irrelevant to me. The Truth remains that there WAS a crucifixion; Christ's body was entombed, and most importantly, there was a Resurrection!! And that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of every born-again follower of Christ (Romans 8:11).

Christ's Resurrection is about life and living it! Raymond Lindquist tells it this way - Christ defeated death in order that life in Him might always live. And it is life that we want, life in Christ. Whether we put it in words or not, our constant thought is 'Life, more life, always more and more life.' Reverend Lindquist goes on to write that Resurrection Sunday [Easter] is Christ's victory over all that would restrict, deny and strangle life.

That victory - the victory Jesus won over death, hell and the grave - provides our definition of what it means to live...truly live.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for all You have provided in Your Son that we may live. Help us to remember with grateful hearts ALL that was done to provide it. Help us to walk in the newness of life You have given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends Favorites - How Heavy Is It?

[Jesus speaking] Look at the fig tree and all the trees; When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near. Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand.
Luke 21:29-31 The Amplified Bible

Here we are the Wednesday before Easter. Did you know that in the Passion Week when Christ walked the earth, there is no record of His activity on Wednesday? Of course, He'd already had a very busy week.

Sunday was the triumphal entry into Jerusalem - what we know as Palm Sunday.

Monday, He cursed the fig tree and cleared the Temple!

Tuesday, they passed back by the now withered fig tree; the priests and rulers challenged Christ's authority in the Temple. He wrapped them up with their own words, then taught the Parables of Warning, publicly humiliated the Pharisees, and as His last act in the Temple, He taught His disciples and anyone listening the value of the widow's mites... Later that same evening (still Tuesday), He gave what is known as the Olivet Discourse, beginning with the prediction of the Temple's destruction. And that's where we pick up the Scripture in the Amplified Bible, leading to today's text.

And they asked Him, Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when this is about to occur? And He said, Be on your guard and be careful that you are not led astray; for many will come in My name [appropriating to themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me], saying, I am He! and, The time is at hand! Do not go out after them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections (disturbances, disorder, and confusion), do not become alarmed and panic-stricken and terrified; for all this must take place first, but the end will not [come] immediately. Then He told them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [II Chron. 15:6; Isa. 19:2.] There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues: malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven. But previous to all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away before kings and governors for My name's sake. This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony.

Resolve and settle it in your minds not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and how you will answer. For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute. You will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and [some] of you they will put to death. And you will be hated (despised) by everyone because [you bear] My name and for its sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish. [I Sam. 14:45.] 

Skip on down a few verses.

...And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity [without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea, Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).  Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near. Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place. The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
*****

We'll stop there. Some will say that's a heavy word - a great load to carry. True, true. It is. But we haven't made it to Friday yet...   I'm not trying to throw guilt on anyone, just trying to get us to think realistically and get past cute bunnies and colored eggs. How heavy do you think it was to carry the weight of all our sins on the Cross?

Prayer:

Father,
           Open our eyes and our hearts to Your Truth and only Your Truth. Let us not be deceived by false witnesses and fakers. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen