Lenten Devotional: Day 29

The Set Up: On Good Friday, we recognize the death of Christ, as he sacrificed himself on the cross for each and every one of us. And on Easter Sunday, we celebrate his resurrection, as Jesus’ deity and power over death assure us of the hope we have in him. But between Friday and Sunday, there is Saturday. There is waiting.

There are a lot of emotions that we connect to waiting. Sometimes we wait in anticipation, like young children trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, as they think about the presents under the tree. At other times, we wait with dread because we fear what tomorrow may bring, like when your boss says, “I’d like to see you first thing in the morning.” There are even times we wait with uncertainty, wondering how we did in the job interview or how the weather will turn out for our outdoor wedding.

On that Saturday between Christ’s burial and the resurrection, there were a lot of different moods among the people. The disciples waited in defeat, thinking that the One they had hitched their futures to was dead and they were next. The Jewish religious leaders waited with a mixture of victory – they had gotten rid of their nemesis – and worry – what if there is an empty tomb tomorrow?

Today, as we wait for Easter Sunday and the celebration of the resurrection, let’s not rush past Saturday, and the waiting. Saturday is a chance for reflection. A chance to remember Christ’s sacrifice for our sin, even as we anticipate the power of his resurrection.

Biblical Passages to Read: Matthew 27:62-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-52; John 19:38-42

Reflection Questions:

• When is the last time you were waiting to see how something was going to turn out?

• What do you think the disciples were thinking on Saturday? What about the crowds of people?

• How do you think we can grow in our faith during times of waiting?

Prayer Focus: Lord, on Saturday, it looked like you had been defeated and death and the grave had won. But then Sunday came and everything changed. In the Saturday moments of my life, when it looks like everything is over, remind me that you are able to resurrect those areas of my life that seem hopeless. In your name, amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 28

The Set Up: In his writing on emotional intelligence, author Daniel Goleman talks about the gap between what we expect and what we experience. As we navigate life, there are going to be many times that our expectations (what we hope for) and our experiences (what actually happens) are miles apart. Here’s what I know about me, and maybe about you too. When I don’t meet other people’s expectations, I tend to find an excuse or justification. But when other people don’t meet my expectations, I tend to question their character or their competence. I give myself a break while giving another person blame. It’s in my nature, but I am working on it. We can tend to take that same attitude when it comes to our need for a savior and what Christ has done for us.

The brilliant Bible scholar Mark Allen Powell did a study on who we identify ourselves as when we read Scripture. He found that pastors, teachers, and long-term Christians almost always identified as Jesus when reading the Bible. His conclusion? The more familiar we are with God’s word, the more we begin to think we are God.

While becoming like God is the goal, thinking we are Him is a trap from the enemy that disassociates us from our sinful nature and God’s amazing grace. As we dive into Friday, from midnight to crucifixion eve, don’t let the trap of relating to our merciful, gracious, self-sacrificing, life-giving Savior distract us from who we are in the story.

If we re-read Friday’s events in our rightful place, we see ourselves as betraying, overzealous, inattentive, vengeful, dishonest, arrogant, abusive, misleading, comfort-seeking, relationship denying, people-pleasing, lying, deflecting, murderous, easily swayed, sinful people. Starting to see why it’s easier to read as if we’re God?

Despite all of this, Jesus was willing to go to the cross and die for us, even while we were all the terrible adjectives above. Talk about amazing grace! When we’re in our rightful place, and Jesus is in His, we read Scripture with a clear revelation of God’s indescribable grace, and our desperate need for Him. It is in this space that we become more like Him without confusing who we are.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”

Biblical Passage to Read: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Reflection Questions:

• Some people tend to blame themselves and give others grace, while some tend to give themselves grace and blame others. Which are you more likely to do?

• What does it mean to you that Jesus died on the cross for YOUR sins? How do you think you should respond to that?

• What is the aspect of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, punishment, and death do you think was the hardest? Why do you think that?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, the Scriptures tell us that God demonstrated his love for me in this way: while I was a sinner (an enemy of God) you gave your life for me. Thank you for the cross and for the gift of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 27

The Set Up: Have you ever felt the sting of betrayal? Maybe it was during high school when a rumor started going around about you, and you found out it was your best friend who started it. Maybe it was when you and a bunch of your friends were pulling a prank and when you got caught, they all let you take the fall. Maybe someone swooped in and stole a client or a commission from you at work. Maybe it was when you found out that your spouse or someone you were dating was unfaithful to you. Betrayal cause us to feel angry, embarrassed, ashamed, and hurt.

Today is Wednesday of Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. The focus of today is Judas’ decision to betray Jesus. In the Gospels we learn that he received thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal and that he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. But was it pure financial greed that motivated Judas? In John’s Gospel we read, “Not that he [Judas] cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself” (John 12:6). So, it’s possible, even probable that when Judas could trade the “daily bread” existence of a disciple for a large sum of money, he took the deal.

Another theory about why Judas betrayed Jesus was that he was trying to provoke Jesus to finally step up and become the Messiah he hoped Jesus would be. Judas had been following Jesus for three years and heard lots of teaching about Jesus’ kingdom. As a Jewish man, Judas had grown up hearing about the Messiah that was going to come and establish Israel as the world’s superpower. But Jesus wasn’t making any power play moves. He wasn’t recruiting an army or using the power that had done many miracles to overthrow the Roman Empire. So, the theory goes, maybe Judas wanted to stir the pot. He figured when they came for Jesus, he would be forced to demonstrate his power. “Maybe,” Judas thought, “I can jump start the process.” And, Judas could go along for the ride.

Whether Judas’ motivation was greed for money or greed for power, the reality is that Judas betrayed Jesus because he wasn’t doing what Judas wanted him to do. That’s the part I can relate to. The times where I have betrayed Jesus or distanced myself from him have been the moments when I didn’t think he was going to do what I had hoped he would do. Sometimes it is greed on my part. I want what I want for me. Other times, I realize God’s agenda for my life and my agenda are not the same. Can you relate? Is there a time when because of pressure from the outside or desire on the inside you have betrayed Jesus by your actions? I have. And maybe you have too. The good news of Easter is that Jesus loves and gave his life for us anyway. The bible tells us that even we are unfaithful toward God he remains faithful toward us. What a gift! We can repent, ask for his forgiveness, and we can receive it. That’s what’s so amazing about Easter!

Biblical Passage to Read: Matthew 26:1-16

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? How did that make you feel?

• What do you think Judas was thinking when he sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver?

• Is there an area where you are ‘betraying’ Jesus in your life? What would it take to change that?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, you loved Judas, your betrayer, to the end. You gave your life for him on the cross. I thank you that even when I have betrayed you by pursuing my agenda instead of yours, you gracefully offer mercy and forgiveness. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 26

The Set Up: When someone tells you, “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news, which one do you want first?” what do you usually say? Most of us choose the bad news. Get it over with, right? We would rather end on a positive note than have cold water thrown on our hopes.

Today is Tuesday of Holy Week (the week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday), and traditionally the focus of this day is what is called the “Olivet Discourse.” It is called this because it took place on the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem, and because Jesus gave a teaching, or discourse to his followers.

The teaching starts when some of his closest disciples ask him, “what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) Jesus tells them not to get caught up in rumors or trying to interpret world events looking for a sign. He tells them many people will claim to be the Messiah, but don’t believe them. That there will be wars and rumors of war, but don’t be alarmed. There will be famines and earthquakes and other catastrophes, but those are like the beginning of birth pains, not the delivery.

Then, he tells them there is something that will happen before his return. It might not shake the world like an earthquake or get all the attention of a war, but it is the key to his return. He said that when the gospel of his kingdom has been preached in the whole world (every nation, tribe, and tongue) – then the end will come. Jesus’ heart and his plan is for everyone to hear about him before he returns.

As I read today's reading, it felt eerily like the season our world is in right now. Wars, rumors of wars, nation against nation, famines, etc. Yet what does Jesus say Matthew 24:14? “But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.” I can’t imagine how timely this word must have been for Jesus’ followers, and I think it’s just as timely for us today.

The world might be going crazy, but Jesus has overcome the world. So don’t get lost in the headlines. This is our opportunity! As we prepare for Resurrection Sunday remind yourself of the opportunity in front of you. People need to hear about Jesus, and the chaos is a setup for our opportunity. That’s the good news!

Biblical Passage to Read: Matthew 24:1-14

Reflection Questions:

• Has there ever been a time in your lifetime when you thought, “This has to be the last days before Jesus returns?” What made you feel that way?

• If the gospel being shared throughout the whole world is key to Christ’s returning, how do you think Christians individually and collectively as the church should live?

• When is the last time you have prayed for people in other parts of the world to hear the gospel?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, thank you for the good news of the gospel and for teaching us that sharing that good news is your mission for your church. Help me not to get caught up in and overwhelmed by the news and events going on in our world today. Help me instead to focus on making you known this Easter week and every day of my life. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 25

The Set Up: Paul tells the church at Philippi, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Sounds simplistic, right? Isn’t worry a natural response to life’s challenges? I mean, how else can one react to news events of our day?

Yet Paul tells us how to react in a much more productive way than worry. He tells us to pray – about everything! Once you have brought your concerns to the Lord you can be sure He will take care of them. And if worry tries to sneak its way back into your mind, replace the “what ifs” with that which is “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” It’s our choice. Do we trust God or not?

Passage to Read: Philippians 4

Reflection Questions:

1. What are you scared of? Have you talked to God about this issue?

2. What kind of input do you allow into your mind? Are you a news junkie? Do you allow yourself to get upset by what you read on social media? Do you take the time to meditate on God’s Word?

3. How often do you take the time to thank God for answered prayers or other blessings?

Prayer Idea: Spend time thanking God for His blessings, even if at first they may seem basic (such as food, air, a job). Cultivate a grateful heart by focusing on God’s blessings and His attributes. Keep them in mind when bringing requests to Him, knowing He is well capable of meeting your needs.

Lenten Devotional: Day 24

The Set Up: In the Broadway play Rent, there is a song called, “525,600 Minutes” that describes the number of minutes in a year. It’s a reminder that every minute matters and how we use every moment matters. In Psalm 90, Moses, the man that God chose to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt, prays, “Lord, teach us to number our days, that we might grow in wisdom.” Moses realized that when we consider the brevity of life, we will live wisely, and live each day like it matters. This is a bold prayer that we can pray each day, asking God to help us to make the most of today.

Passage to Read: Psalm 90

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you think Moses meant when he said, “Teach us to number our days so we can grow in wisdom”? How can thinking about the amount of time we have left cause us to live differently?

2. How often do you pray that God will help you to live your life in a way that pleases Him and makes a difference?

Prayer Idea: As you pray today, ask, “God, will you show me how to make my life count today in a way that points people to you and makes a difference? Not just a difference today, but tomorrow and for eternity."

Lenten Devotional: Day 23

The Set Up: James, who was the half-brother of Jesus, told the church that they should pray for each other. Those prayers, James said, are, “powerful and effective.” In actuality, the Greek words that James used are better translated, “powerful, having been made effective.” Our prayers are powerful because they have been made effective. What makes your prayers and mine effective? The resurrection of Jesus. It’s not how articulate we are when we pray. It’s not using special words or phrases. It’s praying in the name of Jesus, who died and then CAME BACK TO LIFE, that makes our prayers powerful. And when we pray for each other in Jesus’ name, things happen.

Passages to Read: James 5

Reflection Questions:

1. When you pray, do you believe that your prayers are powerful and effective? Why or why not?

2. James uses Elijah, “a man just like us,” as an example of the power we have in our prayers as regular people. How does this help or embolden you to pray?

Prayer Idea: If you really believed that your prayers were powerful and effective because of Jesus, what would you pray for? Make those your prayers today, and tomorrow, and the day after that. Persist in prayer and see what God will do.

Lenten Devotional: Day 22

The Set Up: We live in an instant society – and I love it. When I am hungry, I don’t have to go out and grow my food or raise my food, or even shop for my food. I don’t even have to get out of my car. I can pull up to a screen, tell it what I want, and then about 30 feet later, someone hands me a bag of food! If I want to read a new book, I can download it to my Kindle app in about five seconds, no trip to a bookstore or waiting for two-day Amazon shipping for me. When my truck is dirty, a quick drive through the car wash solves that problem. Want popcorn while I binge watch Netflix? Three minutes in a microwave will do it (even when I stare at the microwave mumbling, “C’mon, hurry up…”)

My guess is that you like a lot of things about the “instant” world too. We don’t like to wait, always feel like we’re in a hurry, and instant gratification appeals to all of us. So when something takes time, when it doesn’t happen instantly, we tend to complain, push back, or even give up.

I think Jesus knew that when he taught his closest followers about prayer. They had come to him with a simple request, “Teach us to pray.” “Pray like this…” Jesus responded, and then proceeded to teach them what we call the Lord’s Prayer. It was not really a mantra to recite, it was a model to follow. But that was only part one of Jesus’ teaching on prayer. That was about content. Jesus went on to teach them about another important aspect of prayer, attitude. Jesus knew all prayers are not answered immediately or in the way we want them to be. So we pray for a day or two, don’t get the answer we hoped for, and we give up or we decide that it’s up to us to take care of the problem ourselves.

So Jesus told his disciples to ask, seek, and knock. “Ask,” Jesus said, “and it will be given to you.” “Seek, and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.” And to make sure he was as clear as possible he says, “So keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.”

As we come to the last couple week of Lent, you have been fasting and praying for God to work in your life and possibly certain situations in your life or others. Maybe you haven’t seen an answer yet and you’re about done. I want to encourage you to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. That’s the power of these forty days of Lent. Don’t stop now, God wants you to receive. He wants you to find what you are looking for. He wants to open the right doors for you.

Biblical Passage to Read: Luke 11:1-13

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever lost something and made an all-out search for it? How did you feel? Did you find it?

• What do you think Jesus meant by teaching us to ask, seek, and knock in prayer?

• What has God taught you so far this Lenten season?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, you said we should ask, seek, and knock when we pray. During this Lenten season my desire is that you change me from the inside out. When I don’t feel that change, or when I don’t see it in my life overnight, help me to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. In your name, amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 21

The Set Up: How do you make decisions? Do you go with your gut? Do you jump at the first opportunity? Are you likely to overthink and struggle with a decision? Do you do your homework by asking friends for their opinions, reading reviews, and scouring the internet? Or maybe you just flip a coin and hope for the best?

For many of us, how we decide has to do with the size or importance of the decision. Need to choose which shirt to wear today? Go with your gut. Trying to decide whether to take a new job, ask a friend for input or talk to someone who works there. Choosing a house to buy, you will probably put a lot more thought into your decision. It is estimated that the average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day (no wonder you’re tired at night).

Now, what role does God play in your decision making? And how do you seek his input? One of the reasons that many people in Scripture and in history observed fasting and prayer was to hear from God or to seek wisdom in making a decision. In Acts 13, we read that many church leaders in the church of Antioch were praying and fasting. While they did so, God began to speak to them about sending out Paul and Barnabbas as missionaries. Their response was to fast and pray more to get guidance for their decision, and then they sent them out.

As we pray and fast during the season of Lent, we can believe that God wants to and will speak to us. One of the benefits of setting some things aside for Lent is that it frees and focuses our minds on Christ, and we can hear from him. If you have decisions you are trying to make and don’t have a clear answer, try fasting and prayer, asking God to give you the guidance you need.

Biblical Passage to Read: Acts 13:1-5

Reflection Questions:

• What is the hardest decision you ever had t make? How did you come to your decision?

• How much of role has prayer and fasting and seeking God played in your decision making?

• Is there something that you are asking God to show you or teach you during this Lenten season?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, I pray that you would lead and guide me during this Lenten season. As I fast and pray I ask that you reveal your purposes in my life and help me to make decisions based on your will. Thank you that give wisdom when we ask (James 1). Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 20

The Set Up: The image of the people of God as a flock of sheep occurs several times throughout the Bible. In Ezekiel 34, the current shepherds (rulers of Israel) are rebuked for their abuse of power (34:1-22). The prophet describes a situation where they had grown fat and wealthy at the expense of the very people they were supposed to care for. We are told that because of that, God would bring judgment on them. The chapter changes in its focus as the warning turns into a promise for the future in the verses above. Not only will the Lord save his sheep, he will also appoint a king who, like David, will shepherd them in such a way as to bring lasting peace (v. 25). It was peace and rest which humanity lost through sin (Genesis 3:15; 4:8) and which prophets like Ezekiel had been pointing to ever since (Isaiah 9:6-7). This is where we lift our eyes to see Jesus, who is God’s ideal shepherd-king and the opposite of the corrupt leadership described in the earlier part of the chapter.

The gospel writers tell us that Jesus came to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind (Luke 4:18). It is Jesus who weeps over Jerusalem because they didn’t know what would bring them peace (Luke 19:41). It is Jesus who lays down his life for his sheep so that we might have peace with God and one another. And it is Jesus who will one day bring everlasting peace to the world through his return (Revelation 21).

In the meantime, there are seasons of disappointment and suffering that can sometimes make us lose hope that God will fulfill his promise. The injustice of the world around us can make us cynical. It is at those times that we must reflect on Jesus as our good shepherd and remember that because he laid down his life for his sheep, we will one day “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Biblical Passage to Read: Ezekiel 34:23-31

Reflection Questions:

• What does the idea of Christians as sheep and Jesus as the Good Shepherd mean to you? Why do you think the biblical writers used this analogy so much?

• What hope does it give you that Christ is taking care of you like a shepherd takes care of his sheep?

Prayer Focus: Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and care for your sheep. Thank you for laying down your life on the cross so that I might know your peace and be adopted into your family. During this season of reflection, in light of your love for me, help me to find ways to seek peace in my relationships and lay down my life for others. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 19

The Set Up: The prophet Ezekiel had a responsibility to be God’s spokesman when the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. In the midst of suffering, and as people drifted further away from God, Ezekiel uttered prophecy that brought hope. In that prophecy, God promised to change the people’s stone-hardened hearts to hearts capable of feeling the immense love God was willing to give them.

This contrast was what Ezekiel’s prophecy was about. A heart of stone — or a stubborn heart, as the Good News Translation calls it — is one that has no mercy, that does not discern between what is good and what is bad, that does not mind mistreating or even killing a neighbor. In short, a man with a heart of stone is one far from God.

On the contrary, a heart of flesh — or an obedient heart according to the Good News Translation — in the context of Ezekiel, is capable of feeling compassion and solidarity with the needy. It is capable of loving and giving thanks for the goodness of God. A heart of flesh has recognized God and accepted His unconditional love.

As in the time of Ezekiel, we are certainly living in times of suffering. Sadly, that leads many people to reflect attitudes found in a heart of stone. At times, when we examine our own actions and look deep within ourselves, we likely see residues of a heart of stone as well.

In this Lenten period, when we contemplate deeply the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are reminded that Jesus’ suffering was to demonstrate His immense love for us. Therefore, we are to reflect the heart of flesh that God has placed in each of us. At Habitat for Humanity, we often talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus. We are privileged to show others a heart filled with God’s amazing love.

During this season, we also are to reflect on whether we have hurt or mistreated someone. If so, we must ask for forgiveness. We must think of those to whom we must demonstrate compassion. How can we share a heart capable of feeling God’s love with others?

Biblical Passage to Read: Ezekiel 11:19-20

Reflection Questions:

· What are the residues of a stony heart that you can identify in your life?

· How can we put into practice the heart of flesh that God has given us?

· With whom do you need to share God’s love and your heart of flesh?

Prayer Focus: God, thank You for taking away our heart of stone, rebellious and far from You. We are grateful that You have given us a heart of flesh so that we can feel Your love and the joy that it means to be Your children. Help us every day in this Lenten period to understand and recognize that You are our protective God and that You are attentive to us. Remove from us any residue of a stony heart. Allow us to show to others an obedient heart by loving You more and more every day, seeking to be more in Your image. In the glorious name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

Lenten Devotional: Day 18

The Set Up:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4:18-19

These words from Jesus are part of a powerful passage from Luke, delivered on what seemed to be an ordinary Sabbath. After 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, Jesus had returned to Nazareth where He was raised. Word had spread about Him as he traveled. In His hometown, Jesus was doing what He would normally do. He went to the synagogue and read Scripture. The words from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah would be familiar to those in attendance, but at this reading, Jesus, anointed by the Holy Spirit, proclaims Himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. In what began as routine worship, this extraordinary moment changed everything.

This was not what people had anticipated in seeking the Messiah. Thankfully, His ways are not routine or predictable. Turning the norms upside down, Jesus declares that those overlooked will be uplifted and that what was deemed damaged and bound shall be healed and freed. He brings good news for the poor, the enslaved and the oppressed.

He then proclaimed, “the year of the Lord’s favor.” The Hebrew word for favor is ratson. It also means “goodwill and acceptance.” It’s not the kind of favor we owe as repayment for a kindness or the fulfillment of a debt. It is not something we can earn. Like grace, God freely favors us because He loves us. His sacrifice and love redeem us.

In response, we are called to extraordinary acts of love. We get to be a part of the outpouring of God’s love around the world. We get to proclaim the good news in ways that are transformational.

As we journey through the season of Lent, may we look for the extraordinary in the routine. May we not allow our perspective to blind us to the needs of others. May we anticipate the Lord’s favor with hearts full of gratitude.

Biblical passage to read: Luke 4

Reflection Questions:

• How do you think we can we seek God in the ordinary? What blinds us to these opportunities to see His face and works?

• What do you think it means to live in God’s favor? How does that change the way you engage with the world and those around you?

Prayer Focus: Lord, we humbly thank You for Your grace and favor. Inspire us this Lenten season. Grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to perceive and hearts to feel the extraordinary ways You are present in our lives. May we seek to serve you and those You call us to serve. May we love in big and grace-filled ways. Show us how, in Your name, we can bind up the brokenhearted, free the oppressed and honor those overlooked. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 17

The Set Up: Have you ever said yes to something or bought something only to find out there were some conditions you weren’t aware of or didn’t pay attention to? Often, we call that, “the fine print.” It’s the gotcha that comes along with the deal. When the promise sounds too good to be true, it usually is. You signed up for the new phone plan with your carrier because you could get the newest phone free, and then it wasn’t.

Well, no one could ever accuse Jesus of hiding the cost of following him in the fine print. Jesus came onto the scene teaching the people about God in a way that amazed them (Matthew 7:28), performing miracles and healings like they had never seen (Matthew 9:35), and raising the dead (John 11). He invited people to follow him and help him change the world. But he was also straight up about the costs and challenges of doing so.

As he was preparing to travel to Jerusalem, he told his followers that he was going to be killed, which they really didn’t want to hear. They had put all their hope in him and this was not the end they were looking for. That had to add extra punch when he went on to tell them:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” – Matthew 16:24-26

See? No fine print or “gotcha’s” there. Jesus openly told his followers that it would not be easy to live the life he was calling them to, even as he promised them joy and an abundant life (John 10:10). As we move toward Easter and the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, we experience the sacrifice of Lent as a reminder that we are called to deny ourselves and follow him. Giving up food, certain foods, or something else may feel like a sacrifice, but it is a part of following Christ to the cross and sharing in his sufferings.

Biblical passage to read: Matthew 16:21-28

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever been burned by the “fine print”? How did it make you feel?

• What do you think of Jesus’ statements in Matthew 16 about taking up your cross and following him? What do you think that means in your life?

• What has God been teaching you so far during this Lenten season?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, you have invited me to take up my cross and follow you. I want to better understand what that means in my life and then live it out. So I ask you for wisdom to know what you are calling me to, and I ask for courage to take up my cross daily. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 16

The Set Up: I love the saying, “The juice is not worth the squeeze.” It describes situations where the benefit doesn’t justify the cost of something. For instance, when I was a kid my brother and I along with some of our friends really, really, really wanted an Atari game system (the old school kind with controllers made up of a joystick and one orange button to push). We decided the bast way to get one was to collect cans to turn in for recycling. Now, this was before can deposits and we were not in Iowa, so it was going to take A LOT of cans. We scoured the ditches along the roads in our neighborhoods, dug around in the weeds in the woods near our houses, and even did a lot of dumpster diving. It wasn’t pretty, but it was for an Atari 2600, so it was totally worth it. Or so we thought. I remember hauling several garbage bags of cans to a local recycling center ready to become rich beyond my wildest dreams. I also remember walking out of the recycling center with a little over four dollars. At that rate, it was going to take a loooonnng time to bring Pac Man, Centipede, and Asteroids into my living room. We all decided that the juice was not worth the squeeze, and we turned to our Plan B strategy of begging our parents until they got us one just to shut us up.

Sometimes the juice is not worth the squeeze. Maybe you have felt that way about pursuing God, or about giving up something or some things for Lent. You’ve wondered, “Is it worth it?” I want to share with you the words of the Apostle Peter in Acts 3. Acts is the history of the origin of the Christian church and in chapter three, Peter is speaking to a crowd of people in the Temple in Jerusalem. He is calling them to put their faith in Jesus, who had recently been crucified and resurrected. Peter tells them to repent and put their faith in Jesus. This was a big ask for the crowd. They would be trusting in Jesus, rather than their own self-righteousness, for salvation. Here’s what Peter told them:

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” – Acts 17:20

Peter called them to repentance, which isn’t high on most people’s list of fun things to do. Then he promised them that when they repented, they would experience, “times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord…” The juice, Peter said, was worth the squeeze. During this Lenten season, you might be struggling with what you have given up for Lent, wondering if it is worth it. I want to encourage you that the juice is worth the squeeze. When you come to God in fasting and repentance, he wants to refresh you.

Biblical passage to read: Acts 3:17-20

Reflection Questions:

• When is the last time you did something and wondered if what you got was worth what it cost you?

• Why do you think fasting, or giving something up for Lent, helps us to grow closer to Christ?

• What would it mean for you to experience, “times of refreshing from the Lord”?

Prayer Focus: Jesus, I believe that you want to bring times of refreshing in my life. As I focus on you this Lenten season I pray that you will help me to give up temporary things to experience the eternal rewards you have in store for me. As I experience your refreshing, help me to refresh others. In your name, amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 15

The Set Up: At Journey, we have an early morning men’s group that meets to go through a Bible study called 33 (modeled after the 33 years of Jesus’ life on earth). Currently the series is focusing on, “A man and his traps,” which deals with some of the sins and struggles that are common to men. One of the biggest insights that we have received in the study so far is that it is not enough to resist areas of temptation and sin in our lives, we also must replace them if we want to overcome them. Saying yes to the right things is just as important as saying no to the wrong things.

I like to compare it to an Olympian or other world-class athlete. When a man or woman is preparing for the Olympics, they spend four years denying themselves things that most people around them are enjoying. Often, an Olympic athlete earns little to no money as they train and prepare, even as their friends are going on vacations or buying new houses. When everyone else is enjoying sweets and junk food, they follow strict diets to help them perform at peak efficiency. While friends are staying out late having a good time or binging the latest Netflix craze until 2 am, they are in bed early, getting the rest they need to train in the morning. Someone preparing to compete in the Olympics says NO to a lot of things. And the reason they can say no to those things, and stick with it, is because they have said YES to something greater. To winning a gold medal and bringing glory to themselves and their countries. You have to say YES to the right things in order to say NO to the wrong things. Resist and replace.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul is writing to his friend Titus. Titus was a young leader that Paul had mentored and trained as a church leader. Titus was now overseeing the churches on Crete, a Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul tells Titus that God has empowered all of us to say no to “godless living” and to say yes to “wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” Say yes and no. Resist and replace. That’s what Lent is all about. Saying no to our appetites or some part of our regular lives even as we say yes to God in a greater way.

Biblical passage to read: Titus 2:11-14

Reflection Questions:

· What do you think the hardest thing would be for you to give up if you were in training for the Olympics?

· Think about an area of temptation or sin you have struggled with. How can you resist that trap? What could you do to replace that thing in your life?

Prayer Focus: God, you know the areas of weakness and struggle in my life. I pray today that you would give me the strength to resist and say NO to those things that I struggle with. I pray also that you would give me wisdom to say YES to the right things that can replace those temptations. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 14

The Set Up: In the early 1900’s, the London Times newspaper asked the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” It was early in the twentieth century, and the optimism of the Industrial Revolution and the potential of scientific progress had been shattered by World War I. Men had been gassed and gunned down in the trenches. Sickness, poverty, and rising totalitarianism had darkened people’s hopes and dreams. So, the Times wondered, what’s the problem? What’s wrong with the world. Maybe they were hoping for some inspired essays or political commentary to answer their questions.

One person who responded to their question did so in a way they probably never expected. His name was G.K. Chesterton and was considered one of, if not the, greatest thinkers and authors of his generation. What’s wrong with the world? Here’s what he wrote:

Dear Sir: I am. Yours, G.K. Chesterton.

Chesterton was a Christian and an apologist for the Christian faith. When asked what caused all the problems and pain in the world, his answer was simple. Me. While everyone else was looking around them for the problems, Chesterton looked within. He is a lot like King David in the Bible. David had messed up big time and then done what he could to cover it up. But God didn’t let him off the hook and sent a prophet named Nathan to confront him. When he told David a story about a rich man stealing his poor neighbor’s only sheep, David got angry and demanded justice. “You are that man!” Nathan told David. Boom. Mic drop. David went from anger to ashamed in moments (you can read the story in 2 Samuel 11 & 12). But that’s not where it ended. He didn’t blame anyone else, he reached out to God and asked God to change him on the inside. David, like Chesterton, said, “I am.”

Lent is a season of repentance. It is a time to stop blaming everyone and everything else for the way the world is and ask God to change you from the inside out. As you read David’s prayer/song of repentance, allow God to initiate that change in you.

Biblical passage to read: Psalm 51

Reflection Questions:

· If you were asked the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” how would you reply? What do you think of Chesterton’s response?

· When you read David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, what really jumps out to you?

· How would a change of heart in your life make the world a better place?

Prayer Focus: Father, just like David, I pray that you would create a clean heart in me. To do that, I need you to show me what needs to change and the power of the Holy Spirit to begin that change. In your name, amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 13

The Set Up: Several years ago, a well-known pastor in Africa was interviewed for an American magazine. During the interview, the subjects of faith and miracles came up. “Why,” the pastor was asked, “do the people in your congregation have such great faith that God will take care of them and that miracles happen?” “That is simple,” the pastor replied, “in my country, the people have nowhere else to go.” He went on to say, “In Nigeria, we have blessed assurance, in America you have blessed insurance.” Ouch.

His point? When things are going well, we tend to overestimate our ability to handle life and underestimate our need for God’s guidance and direction. When things are all good, we’re all good. Often, it is not the difficult times in our life that cause us to doubt God, it’s the easy times when we doubt we really need him. In Proverbs 30 we read:

…give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. – Proverbs 30:8-9

Lent is a time of repentance. And a big part of repentance is reliance on God. It’s admitting that we fall short on our own and that we need God’s power in our lives to change. That when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are celebrating our only hope. It is so easy to think we are doing life on our own. Lent calls us to set aside some of the things we rely on to get us through (food, social, media, etc.) and focus on Christ, our true hope. Because of our affluence in America, we can lose sight of that hope. As Moses was coming to the end of his life and his time of leading Israel, he warned them of that same thing. Don’t let God’s blessing in your life dull your sense of need for him.

Biblical passage to read: Deuteronomy 8:6-20

Reflection Questions:

• When is it easiest for you to trust God, in tough times or in good times?

• When you read Moses’ words to the people in Deuteronomy 8, why do you think he warned them about forgetting God?

• How is the Lenten season helping you to focus or re-focus on your need for Christ?

Prayer Focus: Lord, forgive me for the times when I have forgotten you because life was good, and I thought I had it on my own. Help me to remember that you are my source and my hope. May I rely on you for today and my future. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 12

The Set Up: In the movie Nacho Libre, Nacho (played by Jack Black) is a Catholic priest in Mexico who secretly wants to be a professional wrestler. When he becomes to stressed out, he decides to head out into the wilderness on his own. In the film, we see him comedically sitting underneath a pile of sticks trying to figure out his life. All of a sudden, his close friend shows up to talk to Nacho. “How did you find me in the wilderness?” Nacho asks. “I saw you from the village,” his friend responds. Then the camera pulls back to reveal that Nacho is only about fifty feet from the nearest house. “Hola, Nacho!” shouts the family that stands in their yard waving at him. Nacho wanted to get away, just not that far away…

The idea of getting away from it all and out into the wilderness is not a new one. Long before Thoreau headed out into the woods near Walden Pond, people have withdrawn to the wilderness to clear their minds and reflect on their lives. Many times people in the bible went into the wilderness (or were led there by God) to prepare them for what God was going to do in their lives.

Even Jesus himself went into the wilderness to hear from God. It happened right after he was baptized and had stepped out onto the public stage. Instead of capitalizing on the buzz he was getting from the crowds, Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, went into the wilderness. Not only was he isolated from others, Matthew tells us that he fasted for forty days and nights. Why? Because he wanted to hear from God and was denying himself so he could put all his attention on the words of God. During the Lenten season, we are fasting or giving up certain things as we replace them with seeking God. When we do so, God is faithful to show up and meet us right where we are at, whether that is in the wilderness or in our living room or car.

Biblical passage to read: Matthew 4:1-11

Reflection Questions:

• What is the most remote wilderness place you have ever gone? What was your time there like?

• Of all the temptations that Jesus faced, which one do you think was the most challenging? Why?

• During Lent, what are you hoping that God will show you or do in your life or situation?

Prayer Focus: Father, I know that I do not live by food alone, but by every word that comes from you. I pray that during this Lenten season you would speak to me and help me to take the next step in my faith journey. Amen.

Lenten Devotional: Day 11

The Set Up: Recently, I ran into a friend who had just come back from what appeared to be a great vacation (based on all the pictures she posted). When I asked her about it, she told me she had an incredible time and how much fun she had. Then she told me about how tired she was from all the running around she did on the trip, and shared the famous line, “I need a vacation to rest up from my vacation!” Most of us have either heard that line or said it ourselves. As Spring Break wraps up this weekend, many students and families have gotten away somewhere warm to take a break and relax, and hopefully they feel rested when they get back. Self-care has become a big topic in our culture over the last several years and many people even saw the COVID shutdowns as a way to slow down and simplify our lives. We all tend to jam pack our schedules and our calendars and feel like we spend too much time running on empty. We’re all looking for something or someone who can fill our tanks.

In Isaiah 40, God does a little flexing. He reminds Israel (and us) about his great power. About speaking the universe into existence. About knowing the name of ever star (3 septillion and counting…). He reminds humanity that he exists on a whole other level and that he has no equal. But then, Isaiah chapter 40 closes with this reminder: God wants to give us the rest, the strength, the topping off of the tanks we are looking for. He says this:

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31

That’s what the Lenten season is all about. A time to slow down, fast from food or other distractions, and wait on the Lord. When we do that, God says, we will experience new strength in him.

Biblical Passage to Read: Isaiah 40:21-31

Reflection Questions:

• What are some of the things that help you to rest and “renew your strength”?

• Have you ever thought about the time you spend “waiting on the Lord” (prayer, bible reading, etc.) as something that can renew your strength? How so?

• Is there a time this weekend that you can set aside to just wait on the Lord? If so, are you willing to put it on your calendar and stick with it? If not, when is the next time you can set aside time to wait on the Lord?

Prayer Focus: Lord, thank you that as I wait on you, you will renew my strength. You know me better than I know myself and I trust you to give me what I need.

Lenten Devotional: Day 10

The Set Up: One day, a second-grade teacher was having trouble with one of her students causing trouble in class. Instead of staying in his seat, Josh kept getting up from his desk, wandering around the class and bugging the other kids who were trying to get their work done. Several times the teacher told Josh to go back to his desk and sit down, and several times Josh refused. “Josh, if you don’t sit down, you are going to have to stay inside during recess.” Josh still refused to sit down. “Josh, if you don’t sit down right now, you are going to have to stay inside during recess tomorrow too!” Still, Josh didn’t sit. Finally, “Josh, if you don’t sit down, you are going to lose recess for the rest of the week!” At last Josh reluctantly took his seat. But as he did so, he mumbled under his breath, “I might be sitting down on the outside, but I am still standing up on the inside.”

That describes me sometimes. I am doing the right things on the outside, but on the inside, I am stubbornly resisting. Can you relate? Doing the right things for the wrong reasons might keep us out of trouble, but it doesn’t bring about the change of heart and character that God wants for us.

In Isaiah 58, God takes Israel to task because they are doing the right things on the outside (fasting, showing up at the Temple, etc.) but they are still mistreating each other, taking advantage of the poor, and ignoring the needy among them. God tells them:

“Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” – Isaiah 58:5-7

During this Lenten season, we have the opportunity to not just change our behavior, or give some things up as we fast and pray. We have the opportunity to ask God to change the deeper, under the surface, things in our lives.

Biblical Passage to Read: Isaiah 58

Reflection Questions:

Can you relate to the kid in the story? Are there ever times when you are sitting on the outside, but standing on the inside?

When you read Isaiah 58, what thoughts jump out at you as God tells Israel what he really wants from them?

What do you think “true fasting” looks like in your life?

Prayer Focus: God, I pray that you would change me from the inside out during this Lenten season. I want to do more than control my behavior, I want to change my heart. Help me to see what you really want for my life. Amen.