Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: Prayer is interacting [talking] with God and seeking his favor [grace]. When we pray, we are addressing our Creator and Maker; the One who loves us more than any other. No One cares for us spiritually, emotionally, or physical more than God. Our prayers to him can be filled with emotion and desires and God welcomes us to pour out our souls to him. Have you ever just sat and cried with God? Maybe our prayers are filled with praise and gratitude and God welcomes every one. When is the last time you just sat and praise God for every blessing he has poured into your life or the lives of your loved ones? Prayer can be motivated by need, so we petition God and he listens to the cries of our hearts and rises to be our Provider and Healer. Do you realize every good thing that has touched your life comes from God and every power you need is at his command? Every human being has much to pray about each day. Will you spend some time in prayer, today?

In our passage from the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Colossians, we are encouraged to devote ourselves to prayer and thanksgiving; we must never grow tired of praying. Paul asks believers to pray for him that he would be alert to the evangelistic opportunities given to him while he is in jail; he wants to make the gospel of salvation clear to others who may be facing death. As believers, we should be praying for those opportunities, as well. There are people around us who may not know Christ; they may not realize the salvation he offers. So, who will tell them, if you and I don’t?

Colossians 4:2-5 NLT An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be watchful and vigilant with every opportunity to share your love and message of salvation. We pray for ourselves; we need you in every area of our lives. Give us courage to step into the opportunities we are given to share Christ with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Some relationships are challenging in life, because our wills can be very strong, as well as our determination to defend ourselves [or our loved ones] against those who see things differently. As Christians, we need to remember every relationship we make should be built upon God’s love, good listening skills, and a proper mindset of trying to understand one another. Honestly, we all come to a listening time in our relationships with built-in judgments; positive or negative.

For example, say someone once hurt or rejected us, so since that time we listen from that place of pain in the past to interpret what is being said in the present. We may not be listening for good things or kind words to be said at all, because we are standing on our emotions about what happened in the past rather than standing on Christ and the forgiving love of God. We struggle to let the negative judgments go in order to love as Christ. However, Paul reminds us, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Cor 13:7). So, will we love others the way Jesus loves us?

In our passage from Colossians, today, the Apostle Paul gives some advice to those who desire to live as genuine Christians: 1) we must imitate Christ’s compassion and forgiveness in our relationships; 2) we welcome Christ’s love to be the compass that guides our lives; 3) we allow the shalom [peace] of Christ to rule in our hearts; 4) we live with a spirit of thanksgiving for the salvation of Christ; 5) we apply the Word to our lives; and 6) we desire to do all things—in thought, word, or deed—in a way that glorifies Christ. As Christians, we celebrate the resurrected Christ, because we have been raised with Him to new life—a life that is filled with holy attitudes, holy forgiveness, and holy love.

Colossians 3:12-17 VOICE
12 Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind. 14 But above all these, put on love! Love is the perfect tie to bind these together. 15 Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace (the peace you were called to as one body), and be thankful.

16 Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness. 17 Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.

Prayer: Lord, please continue to lead us into a holy new life. Help us to be full of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You have forgiven us for so many offenses; please help us to be quick to forgive as a way that imitates you. Groom us in great listening skills; we welcome you into all of our relationships. We know all these amazing attributes found in your Word reflect your character and are bound together in your love. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.
With regard to Christ, humanity must make a decision for how we will view His story to offer salvation through a miraculous rebirth into eternal life—we will either accept it as Truth or reject it.

The Resurrection narratives are not a picture of survival after death; they record how a totally new mode of being has arisen in the Universe.” (CS Lewis; God in the Dock)

As human beings, we have an innate desire to try to make sense of everything—we want the circumstances we face to be clear and easy to understand. In our passage from the Psalter, David cries out about his humiliation, the rejection and mockery of people, as well as his perception of God’s absence or abandonment. David cannot make sense of what is happening to him. Like David, we may question, examine, doubt, or even grieve over our perception of God’s absence in our trials that leave us in a state of confusion. However, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33). So, as God’s distressed servants facing things we do not understand, instead of praying for vengeance against our enemies, like David we need to pray and ask God for comfort and salvation.

Psalm 22:1-11 NLT A Passion Psalm of David
1
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
    Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
3 
Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 
Our ancestors trusted in you,
    and you rescued them.
5 
They cried out to you and were saved.
    They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
6 
But I am a worm and not a man.
    I am scorned and despised by all!
7 
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
    They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 
“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
    Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
    let the Lord rescue him!”
9 
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
    and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 
I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
    You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 
Do not stay so far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and no one else can help me.

David’s psalm makes a connection to the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus himself actually quotes a portion of Psalm 22 while he is on the cross. The Righteous One—the sinless Son of God—suffers unjustly as the sin of the world is laid on him and the wrath of God is poured out upon him. Jesus dies in our place. Forgiveness for our sin can now be found in a relationship with Father God through the Son. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sin and welcomed him into your heart, today is your day.

Matthew 27:1-54 NLT Judas Hangs Himself
27 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
6 The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder” [blood]. 7 After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. 8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,
“They took the thirty pieces of silver—
    the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10 
and purchased the potter’s field,
    as the Lord directed.”

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”

20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”

The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”

26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

The Crucifixion
32 Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene [Africa], and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 34 The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries [criminals] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus
45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54 The Roman officer [centurion] and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Prayer:   Lord, with unwavering gratitude, we thank you for paying the penalty for our sin. Although we cannot make sense of the perfect love you have displayed for sinners by dying in our place, we know you are the sinless Son of God. Thank you for offering us salvation by exchanging your Righteous Life for our unrighteous ones. Now, Holy Spirit, help us live as reborn sons and daughters of the Father who walk in your glorious ways. Give us strength as we share in your sufferings.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.

Prayer is essential during the wait times of suffering, because we are desperate for God’s strengthening of our souls; we know every affliction becomes our share in the Passion of Christ.

“We all try to accept with some sort of submission our afflictions when they actually arrive.” (CS Lewis; Chiefly on Prayer)

In our passage from the Psalter, David experiences pain that foreshadows the suffering of Christ. Yet, like our Messiah, in the most difficult times, David submits to God’s plan for his life because he knows the Lord is faithful. In the midst of every trial is ‘the wait.’ It would be nice if we could take a nap during the wait [weeks or months if necessary] and then wake up to a changed situation, but that is not an option for us. What do we do with the circular movements of our thoughts that lead to anxiety, unrest, and the inevitable temptation to take matters into our own hands? Whether we are waiting for medical results, reconciliation in relationships, or just dealing with the filth of the world that tries to cling to us and take dominion…the distress during the wait is real, so we must entrust our spirits to God and accept His will for our lives.

Psalm 31:1-5 NLT A psalm of David.
1 
O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
    Save me, for you do what is right.
2 
Turn your ear to listen to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a fortress where I will be safe.
3 
You are my rock and my fortress.
    For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 
Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
    for I find protection in you alone.
5 
I entrust my spirit into your hand.
    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

In our passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus prepares his disciples for the most glorious moment of his brief life—the upcoming cross where he will be exalted before the world. In our reading, we note this preparation of the disciples takes place during the Passover meal. Judas sits as a friend of Jesus, but has already decided to be a host for Satan and betray the Savior.

Jesus knows the heart of Judas, but chooses to look at him through the lens of grace. In fact, he looks at each one of his disciples through the lens of grace. How do we know? He stoops down—sacrifices his royal position—and takes the role of a servant to wash the filth of the world off from the disciple’s feet. It is symbolic of what Jesus will do for all humanity on the cross—when his sacrifice will make a person clean all over. Every disciple of Christ will face personal sacrifice that will require a servant’s heart and spirit that trusts God’s plan. We must follow-through, because Jesus sees this place of suffering as an opportunity to heal us and set us free!

John 13:1-11 NLT Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end [demonstrating genuine love]. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas [Satan planned this for Judas], son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us look deeper at the power found in the midst of suffering as we wait and trust you with a servant’s heart. Please heal us, Lord, and bring us into a greater place of spiritual freedom and oneness with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.

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.

If we do not welcome and receive the God-Life to inhabit and sustain us, we will die spiritually, because the absence of God’s presence who is Life is death.

“The miracle is an acted parable, a symbol of God’s sentence on all that is fruitless’ and specially, no doubt, on the official Judaism of that age.” (CS Lewis; Miracles)

Adversity can truly cause God’s people to doubt his faithfulness; but, through all the pain and struggle, we can find God’s presence and protection still abounding. Faith must refocus our attention on the goodness of God that goes before us to take that which is wicked and cause it to serve God’s purpose of producing the fruit of righteousness in his people. The spiritual fruit God’s people were to produce would allow them to be a blessing to the nations.

In our passage from the Psalter, today, David highlights the mighty deeds of God to bring Israel to the Promised Land; a promise God made to Abraham. Therefore, God used every challenge as a way to reveal his great love for them as the chosen. God was sharing a miraculous realm that existed beyond Israel’s ability to see and understand. The miraculous blessing from heaven would continue if God’s people would follow and obey the Lord.

Psalm 105:23-45 NLT
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt;    Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 
And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel    until they became too mighty for their enemies.
25 
Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites,    and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.
26 
But the Lord sent his servant Moses,    along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 
They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians,    and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 
The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness,    for they had defied his commands to let his people go.
29 
He turned their water into blood,    poisoning all the fish.
30 
Then frogs overran the land    and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.
31 
When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians,    and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 
He sent them hail instead of rain,    and lightning flashed over the land.
33 
He ruined their grapevines and fig trees    and shattered all the trees.
34 
He spoke, and hordes of locusts came—    young locusts beyond number.
35 
They ate up everything green in the land,    destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 
Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home,    the pride and joy of each family.
37 
The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold;    and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.
38 
Egypt was glad when they were gone,    for they feared them greatly.
39 
The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering    and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
40 
They asked for meat, and he sent them quail;    he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven.
41 
He split open a rock, and water gushed out    to form a river through the dry wasteland.
42 
For he remembered his sacred promise    to his servant Abraham.
43 
So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy,    his chosen ones with rejoicing.
44 
He gave his people the lands of pagan nations,    and they harvested crops that others had planted.
45 
All this happened so they would follow his decrees    and obey his instructions.
Praise the Lord!

In our passage from the gospel of Matthew, Jesus responds to the unbelief of the religious leaders by using the praise of children as an example from Scripture. The Pharisees did not connect the Old Testament passage from Psalm 8:2 with the praise of the children before them. Israel’s leadership was barren and fruitless; therefore, the people did not have knowledgeable spiritual guides. When Jesus curses the fig tree, it is an example of God’s judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah. They had religious leaves, but were fruitless; a form of godliness but their hearts were far from accepting Messiah. Jesus reminds his disciples they must pray and trust God to produce the miraculous fruit of eternal life.

Matthew 21:16-22 NLT Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
16 They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” 17 Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.

20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

Prayer: Lord, please continue to produce righteous fruit within the lives of your people, so we can be a blessing and spiritually feed those around us. We want to be vibrant with your life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.
It is easier to approve of love as a principle; it is much harder to actually love God and others in the self-sacrificial ways of Christ.

“In Love, our temptation is to look eagerly for the minimum that will be accepted.”
(CS Lewis; The Weight of Glory)

Knowing the Lord will remain true to his character is where God’s covenant people must place their hope. Sometimes our pain cries out for the glorious One to come and rescue us; life brings so many challenges and we have no ability to rescue ourselves. We must learn to wait patiently for divine help knowing God will be faithful to his promises as our Savior.

In our passage from the Psalter today, David requests God’s attention based solely on the Lord’s love and grace for him. David takes a humble posture, asks for help, and prays for his inner person to be preserved and strengthened in God’s love, because David knows every adversity he faces in life is an occasion to trust divine Love. He is confident of divine love being extended to him, because David knows if God has all of him then he will have the abiding God.

Psalm 86:1-7 NLT A prayer of David.
1 
Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
    answer me, for I need your help.
2 
Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
    Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
    You are my God.
3 
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
    for I am calling on you constantly.
4 
Give me happiness, O Lord,
    for I give myself to you.
5 
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
    so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
6 
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
    hear my urgent cry.
7 
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
    and you will answer me.

Jesus brings a new covenant of love to every person who asks for salvation. In our passage from the gospel of Luke, today, Jesus is speaking with his disciples and he wants them to know how to carryout his work after his death. Evil inspired wicked men to plot the death of Jesus, but God took what the enemy meant for harm and used it to save humanity. As Jesus teaches the disciples about his sacrifice, he reminds them self-sacrifice is the way to eternal life. We must all carry our cross which is far more than just carrying a burden; we must be willing to die to ourselves. We cannot serve two masters: Christ AND our flesh. If Christ so loved us he willingly laid down his physical life to give us eternal life, then certainly we can lay down our fleshly desires in order to honor and live for him. Christ must increase; therefore, we must decrease.

Luke 9:20-26 NLT
20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

Jesus Predicts His Death
21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 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. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

Prayer: Lord, help us to make the righteous decision to lay down the demands of our flesh in exchange for your life and power. We have no desire to sit on the throne of our lives; that is your rightful place as our Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.

Although it may be tempting to exalt our selfish desires and expect life to revolve around us, we must guard ourselves against doing so, because that path will never lead us toward the character of Christ.

“The characteristic of lost souls is ‘their rejection of everything that is not simply themselves.” (CS Lewis; The Problem of Pain)

An exalted love of self is one of the key indicators of living in the ‘last days’ (2 Tim 3:1-2). In our passage from the Psalter today, the City of David was to be a holy place; however, it was filled with all kinds of internal issues of violence, abuse, destruction, and lies. God’s people also had external enemies who constantly threatened them.
God calls us to be a holy people being made in his image; filled with his love and goodness. It is our responsibility to live out of that holy place. Yet, we internally can hold on to some very sinful tendencies and when we do we certainly seek to justify them. We endure the evil that is external, because apart from Christ, we cannot control things in the world. Yet, we sometimes tolerate the intrusion of evil in our own souls. Evil wants entry into vulnerable hearts so it can gain a foothold of power.
In our passage from the Psalter, David is dealing with an adversary—enemy—who was once a friend. David is so broken about the situation, he turns to the Lord in prayer and asks for help. In this world we will face ‘frenemies’—a person who pretends to be a friend. We can either stress in these times or we can commit them to the Lord and ask Him to keep us safe.
Psalm 55:15-19 NLT
15
Let death stalk my enemies;
    let the grave swallow them alive,
    for evil makes its home within them.
16 
But I will call on God,
    and the Lord will rescue me.
17 
Morning, noon, and night
    I cry out in my distress,
    and the Lord hears my voice.
18 
He ransoms me and keeps me safe
    from the battle waged against me,
    though many still oppose me.
19 
God, who has ruled forever,
    will hear me and humble them. Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
    they do not fear God.

Jesus is our True Friend and he understands our anguish in these situations; think about Judas and his betrayal. Christ brings so much Wisdom to us in how to handle life during distressing times. Therefore, we must grow in our knowledge of Christ and, in the power of the Spirit, learn to share his divine nature and qualities—which the greatest is LOVE. Do you have a desire to grow in the divine nature of Christ? If so, you have been chosen by God to be an example of grace and righteousness.

2 Peter 1:4-10 NLT
4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for choosing us to be tabernacles of your divine nature. Please continue to work your character out in us each day. We yield to your plan and purpose for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.

Although it is important to find common ground when we are witnessing to unbelievers, it is equally important to protect ourselves from falling into the quicksand of spiritual compromise and false religion.

“The more we can imitate God…the more progress we shall make.”
(CS Lewis; God in the Dock)

Psalm 25:8-11 NLT
8
The Lord is good and does what is right;
    he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 
He leads the humble in doing right,
    teaching them his way.
10 
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
    all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
11 
For the honor of your name, O Lord,
    forgive my many, many sins.

Jude 1:20-24 NLT
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

A Prayer of Praise
24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
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: Lord, please help us make wise decision as we seek to witness to others who may hold very different convictions for living. May we remain faithful to be made in your image of love. Holy Spirit, please help us to pray and receive Truth, so we are not pulled in different directions. Help us guard our hearts with diligence, because Satan is a liar and he is roaming this world looking to devour the faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.