Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.
The love and purpose of God is to recreate us in His good and glorious image; therefore, remember the enemy is cunning and diligent at trying to destroy every Christian’s devotion to God.
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because he loves us.” (CS Lewis; Screwtape Letters)
Psalm 141:1-10 NLT A psalm of David.
1
O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
Listen when I cry to you for help!
2
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
3
Take control of what I say, O Lord,
and guard my lips.
4
Don’t let me drift toward evil
or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
of those who do wrong.
5
Let the godly strike me!
It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
Don’t let me refuse it.
But I pray constantly
against the wicked and their deeds.
6
When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
7
Like rocks brought up by a plow,
the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.[a]
8
I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
9
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do wrong.
10
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
but let me escape.
Luke 22:1-8 NLT Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.
The Last Supper
7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
Please take time to read over our passages for today. I will be teaching on them and leading a discussion this evening during our Lenten Bible Study at 7PM. I hope you will plan to join us in person at Connect2Christ Church or online through our website as we explore the Scriptures together.
Prayer: Father, help us to hold fast to the Truth about your love found in your Son, our Messiah. Holy Spirit, give us the power to resist every temptation sent by Satan to shake us into denying or betraying the Truth. Like your Kingdom, make us unshakable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.