Devotionals

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Everyday Living

Digging for Truth: In the New Testament, there are words that can be a challenge to translate, because they have different senses. One of these words is “paraclete.” Jesus uses the word, paraclete, as a name for the Holy Spirit, as well as for himself. For translating paraclete, the first sense is “helper” or someone who comes along side of us, which is the term we have been using for our Lenten devotions. Another sense of paraclete is translated “advocate” as Jesus and his Spirit pleads and makes intercession for us, because nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:34-35). So, every day the Helper moves along with us to carry our burdens, defend and strengthen us in his mighty and pure love.

Grace for the Heart: Last Sunday was a beautiful day filled with a variety of personal responsibilities. From the time I woke up, I prayed for the Helper to provide all the grace I needed with each task in order to glorify the Lord. Before our worship time began, I went to Publix to pick up food and supplies I had ordered for a celebration of life service that would follow. The items were awkward and heavy, but I knew God would give me the strength and ability I needed to get them to the church. I was using faith, but God still had a lesson for me about my paraclete!

While I was in line, a muscular young man checking out in front of me saw the stuff I had and he began helping me get the items ready for scanning. I thanked him as he left, and I thought what a sweet young man. I went to the parking lot with the cart full and who comes over to me? Yep, this same young man begins loading everything into my vehicle. I said, “You are so kind!” He responded, “Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold.” We both laughed and he left. As I got into the car, I said, “Jesus, thank you for sending the help I needed. I feel so loved by you!” I did not specifically pray for another person to help me, but my paraclete knew what I needed and provided. As soon as I got to the church, I was surrounded by an abundance of more help!

Romans 8:26 NLT And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Challenge: Although we can think we are handling life just fine by ourselves, it is during these times, we may need Jesus’ help mediated to us by the Holy Spirit the most. God wants to reveal his love for us in action. Honestly, the Helper does not want us to live in frustration due to our weaknesses; rather, he wants us to rely on Christ’s wisdom, strength, and help to accomplish what is necessary. God promises to meet our every day needs (Phil 4:19). However, we must pray and ask for help (Matthew 7:7-8).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for caring about everything that involves us. Your blessings and care for us is so precious. May we be quick to understand that although you are orchestrating every aspect of the universe, you are always standing by to help in our weaknesses and times of need. Even when we don’t know specifically what to ask of you, we know you will provided exactly what we need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: He Protects Us

Digging for Truth: When Jesus walked this earth, and just prior to His death, He promised to send the “Advocate” (the Holy Spirit) as His representative once He was no longer physically walking the earth and was resurrected to the eternal realm and seated at the right hand of the Father. He said to the disciples (and to you and me), “‘I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.’” (John14:27) Jesus provides all of His believers with the same gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This gift is the One Who offers you and me protection as believers in Christ Jesus.

Grace for the Heart: Jesus came as the Son and it was necessary for Him to be made just like you and me, so that through the choice of our salvation His sacrifice would not only take away our sins but would ignite the Holy Spirit within us as believers (Hebrews 2:16-17). The grace that Jesus gives us allows our hearts to be filled with unwavering faith and only in this place can we put our full trust in the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions while protecting us from physical and spiritual danger.

Proverbs 1:33 (NLT)

33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”

Psalm 68:20 (NLT)

20 Our God is a God who saves!
The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

Challenge: Friends, you and I have a choice, each and every second of every day, to live in the Shalom, the wholeness and pure peace that only Jesus offers. Jesus, Himself, went through suffering and testing. He broke the powers of Satan, He overcame death, and He rescues us (all of the time) when we are being tested by the darkness (Satan, himself) of this world (Hebrews 2:17-18). Press into Jesus, right now, throughout today, and later tonight. Heck, don’t EVER stop pressing in and allowing His peace to fill you, to surround you, call on the Holy Spirit to hedge protection over you and your family, over God’s Family. Ask God to save those who have never heard of Jesus, to reignite His Spirit within those who have lost their way, to make a way for all of them to know Him, and to allow Him into their hearts so they can experience His eternal love.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for saving us. Thank You for Your peace. Help us to be containers of Your peace and to bring it out, as a beacon of Your eternal light, into this really dark and hurting world. Holy Spirit, thank You for your protection. Please continue to hedge protection around each one of us as You guide us into places that need Jesus. Fill us with Your strength and cast away any earthly fears that we have as You call us to be the loving vessels of Christ Jesus. I ask all of this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Conduits for His Power

Digging for Truth: Sometimes God’s promises take us completely off-guard, because they are so BIG we struggle to receive them. When we think of all the miraculous work Christ did in healing the lame, opening the eyes of the blind, restoring limbs, and casting out demons we are not surprised he could do all those things, because Christ is God in human flesh. However, Jesus told his disciples anyone who believes in him will do similar things and even greater things (John 14:12-14). Friends, take a deep breath, because that is spoken to you and me as Christ’s disciples.

Grace for the Heart: The first disciples did not sit back and say, “Well, I know Jesus said it, but he didn’t really mean it the way it sounded.” They believed in Christ’s ability to provide through the Helper and to ask for the grace to accomplish his work. The disciples watched and knew the Helper was the connection between the humanity of Jesus and the Father. The difference is Jesus was willing to continually empty himself by taking on the nature of a servant and our flesh is inclined to resist such humility (Phil 2:7).

John 14:12 NLT “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

Challenge: Jesus never claimed to have power in his humanity; he simply wanted to be a conduit for the Father’s power. The Helper made it possible for Jesus to do the works he did.
18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18-19).

Prayer: Lord, you teach us your gifts and call can never be withdrawn. While you walked on this earth in human flesh, Jesus, the Spirit taught you and was Your link with the Father. We want the Spirit to teach us now and be our link with you. So, help us empty ourselves and take on the nature of servants, so we can walk with you and be your hands and feet in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: A Guide for Actions

Digging for Truth: The Helper brings special messages for us in order to guide our lives. He knows how and where to position us in order for us to be Christ’s hands, feet, and voice to the world. You may have plans to go to the store in the morning, but God may guide you, interrupt your morning plans, and reposition you in order for you to run into someone at the store who needs Christ in you that afternoon. The Helper plans faith encounters rich in grace.

We can get impatient or frustrated when the Helper moves in these ways. In fact, we may think this type of inconvenience is the work of evil rather than positioning us for the work of mercy and grace. When we give our lives to Jesus, we should expect this kind of guidance from the Helper. Our plans for action need to bow, because the Helper is the Guide for righteous actions that benefit God’s Kingdom.

Grace for the Heart: In our passage today, Saul (Paul) and Barnabas are serving the Lord at the church in Antioch. They have been ministering to the people there for about a year, but God is getting ready to send these two on their first missionary journey. The church needs these leaders, because it struggles to be a Light for the city and the work is not done. However, God has other plans for Saul and Barnabas now. The church cooperates with sending Saul and Barnabas, but it is the Lord guiding the action. Saul’s initial plan is to stay in Antioch, but God’s plan is to take him on a journey to touch many, many lives beyond Antioch needing an encounter with the Lord.

The Spirit Helper can only guide our lives when we are willing to give up our plans. He will position us in situations and orchestrate encounters when God’s will becomes an act of our will. Our biggest hindrance will be our individual desire for control. Remember, the Spirit-led life cannot be manipulated by human flesh. When you are unsure what to do, stop, pray, and be willing to fast your plans…wait until you receive clear guidance and then act.

Acts 13:2, 4 NLT 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Paul’s First Missionary Journey
4 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.

Challenge: Today is a day for special messages and encounters with the Lord. If you desire to be a part of God’s Kingdom work in the simple and ordinary tasks of life, the Helper will be there to guide your actions. It is an honor to share encouragement, love, compassion, and mercy with others. Darkness may be all around us, but the Light of Christ is waiting to be released through us touching one life at a time. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (James 4:10).

Prayer: Lord, break through our foggy and worldly minds to spiritually see our moments as you guide us to share your love. We make things difficult because we forget how you use each of us in different ways to plant seeds of faith in others as we trust in you. A smile and a kind word may be the encounter with Christ a stranger needs to turn toward Hope. We welcome you to change our plans. We ask for you to grant us patience and an open heart ready for guidance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Children of Light

Digging for Truth: Because God has rescued us from spiritual darkness and delivered us into his glorious and righteous Light or truth, we now desire to love and worship God with our whole being. Our spiritual eyes have been opened. Gratitude for the goodness of God fills our souls. We are confident God cares about every aspect of our lives not just our spiritual lives. If something is important to us emotionally and physically, it is also important to God.

Therefore, the Helper will communicate and address things that affect our whole being. When he does so, we may sense the prompting for us to follow. Or, we may feel a sense of uneasiness that makes us stop and reevaluate. The Helper seeks to keep us in a place of peace; God does not want us frustrated or wasting our time with unimportant things. The Helper leads us with wisdom as we live in the world, but his goal is to keep us focused on the eternal prize—the Kingdom.

Grace for the Heart: The Helper’s voice is subtle and gentle; so, we need to ask for God’s grace to help us listen carefully and discern wisely. Not all of our inner desires are godly, so we must sift through different voices attached to those desires. God gives us understanding on how to tell the difference in voices. The Helper will never lead us to be dishonest, selfish, unloving, sin against God, or hurt others. That is Satan’s voice or our own flesh trying to demand its own way. God calls us toward integrity and a holy use of our time. Grace helps us live in God’s appointed time for all things; we don’t need to be afraid there is not enough time to get the things done God has planned for us to do.

Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Challenge: Living as children of Light, requires discipline and patience. God may have us wait to act; rather than foolishly rush in to do something in our own strength. We do not know more or think more wisely than God, so let’s just accept the truth and invite the Spirit to help us listen, discern his voice, and act as instructed.

Prayer: Lord, help us run from foolish thinking, because we act on our thoughts. We want to use the time we have on earth to build your Kingdom; to walk in the light of wisdom and confidence in your instruction and way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.
Reflection: God’s Grace

Digging for Truth: For the past two weeks, we have explored some things that need to be put into place for us to receive, live, and walk with the Helper. Out of our spiritual hunger and thirst, we need to ask Jesus to baptize us and fill us with the Holy Spirit. We ask the Helper to bring a change to our desires, so we can walk in obedience and faith as we follow the living Word of God—Christ. All of this is possible only by the grace of God. Grace is our provision and the Helper is our power.
Grace for the Heart: Our King and Lord sits on the throne of heaven and his power is mediated through the Spirit. The Lord is the supreme Ruler of heaven and earth and no one else can control the Helper; we can simply listen and move as instructed. In our passage today, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and telling him about the Spirit of God who cannot be manipulated or controlled and, like Jesus, the Helper comes with the mission to save the world one heart at a time (John 3:16). The Helper reveals Christ to us and to the world through the nature and character of God. You may be the face of Jesus for someone else, today.

John 3:8 NLT The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Challenge: The Helper takes us on a journey and each day we become aware that he is bringing different areas of our lives under the mantle of his righteousness. That includes things like our health, finances, attitudes, words, actions, etc. The transformation the Helper brings to us is a part of a life time process. We only learn and grow with God’s help; however, the more we cooperate the more we look like Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, we want to cooperate with your promise to be our Helper. This is what we desire most and we welcome your plan for our lives. We accept the work of our Holy Spirit Helper. Open our spiritual eyes to see the revelation of the work you are doing in us. We pray to be willing servants for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: A New Life

Digging for Truth: No matter how far we have wandered from righteous living or what we have done in the past, when we confess our sin against God and others and turn to Jesus, we are offered a new life in Christ. God remembers our sin no more (Hebrews 8:12). With the Helper, we learn how to love like Jesus. To turn to Jesus is to leave a sinful life behind and obey his new righteous direction for our lives. Because we cannot make things right with our holy God without Jesus, we become dependent on what our sinless Christ alone can do to forgive us and bring us into fellowship with Father God.

There are many choices we make for our lives each day, but this is the biggest life choice any human being will ever make, because it carries with it the weight of eternity. When Christ comes to live in us, we may not see the change in our actions immediately, but there will be a supernatural change in our hearts as we obey the Helper. Obedience brings power for living the new life.

Grace for the Heart: In our passage today, Peter is preaching his first sermon since the Spirit of God filled the disciples at Pentecost. The man who out of fear denied three times that he even knew Jesus, is now unapologetically proclaiming him as Messiah with such convincing power three thousand people run to receive Christ. When God forgave Peter’s sin, the evidence of new life came out of him like a rushing wind.

Peter had no trouble leaving his old life behind, because he hated the shame and the failures of his past. We can all identify with Peter. Whatever is behind you, give it to Jesus and live in the victory of the new life!

Acts 2:37-38 NLT
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Challenge: Christ calls us to live beyond our human capabilities and embrace Life in the Spirit. Don’t let anything stop you from receiving the power to proclaim, because God does not focus on your past sin, he focuses on Christ and the new life in you. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Prayer: Lord, if there is any sin we need to confess, we invite you to bring it to our awareness or remembrance. We want to be free from anything that would hinder us or hold us back from being powerful for your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Willingness to Serve

Digging for Truth: As a part of God’s Family, you and I are called to have a willingness to serve others. Paul teaches us about this in his lesson to the Church in Philippi. He reminds us that in our flesh we have selfish ambition, and we tend to look out for our own interests. But, in the Spirit, there is humility as we take on the same attitude as Christ and in that place, we can look out for others as Jesus does (Phil 2:3-5).

Grace for the Heart: After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus asked them “Do you understand what I was doing?” He preceded to remind them that they call Him “Teacher and Lord” and although they were right, because He is “OUR” Teacher and Lord, He was giving “US” the greatest example to follow on how to serve others. Remember, He washed every one of their feet, including Peter’s feet, who would later deny Him, and Judas’ feet, who would later betray Him. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them” (John 13:12-17). God blesses you and me when we serve one another, because we are offering an extension of His love to His Creation to His Family.

Mark 10:43-45 (NLT)

43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Challenge: Friends, you and I have been made free through our salvation in Christ Jesus, and we are containers of His Spirit. Thus, He calls us to live in that freedom, and to not use it to satisfy our own sinful nature, as that has been laid down at His feet and forgiven. Instead, we are called to use our freedom in Christ to serve one another in love by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:13). Allow the Spirit to use the freedom of your salvation in Christ today to serve one another in love.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to help be our reminder that we are to serve others. Help us, Holy Spirit, to put the interests of others before our own selfish interests. Use each of us today to serve someone else so that the love of Christ is spread into this hurting world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Jesus Baptizes with the Spirit

Digging for Truth: Kingdom ministry is not about one person doing everything; it’s about every child of God working in harmony together to fulfill the plan of our King for salvation. There is no place in ministry for micromanaging and arrogant leaders nor insecure and inactive spectators; both are counter-productive to God’s plan. Jesus is our Anointed Christ (Savior), King, and the Head of the Church; we listen to him and obediently follow.

Harmony is only possible when God’s people are willing to leave their controlling flesh behind and follow the indwelling vision of our heavenly Father. To do that, we need Christ to baptize all his children with the Holy Spirit. Jesus has to “breathe” on us the life of the unifying and empowering Spirit who helps us move in synchronicity as we reveal the living gospel (John 20:22). “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all” (Ephesians 4:6). This is the vision of the Church living for God’s glory!

Grace for the Heart: Jesus is the true Baptizer of all that is holy. Only the Spirit can cleanse us from all that is unholy. We have to be breathless from our own “hot air” to breathe in the fullness of God’s satisfying love and supernatural power. Thank you, Helper, we can be saved by grace! When Christ baptizes human flesh with the Holy Spirit, it makes all the difference for the Kingdom! In the One Spirit we are many spirits; but in the many spirits is the ONE!

John 1:33 NLT John the Baptizer said, “I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”

Challenge: As we reflect today, let’s consider carefully what it means to be the Church—Body of Christ—ministering under One Head. The Helper makes all the difference in our personal lives and our corporate lives as the Body of Christ. Jesus said, “But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me (John 15:26 AMP).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for baptizing us with the Spirit and the vision of heaven where all things flow in order and harmony for your glory. The Word is the Way. Impart to us today, through the Helper, a fresh vision for how we can participate in your plan and purpose. We will be praying and listening. It is our desire to reveal your glorious goodness as you offer the world salvation while there is still time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Obeying the Shepherd

Digging for Truth: Scripture teaches God IS love; his nature is pure Fatherly love for his creation. Therefore, he is faithful to all who come into his family through the covenant of love he offers in Christ and the work of grace for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we accept Christ’s invitation to step into this covenant, we are saying we want to be bound to God’s love and covered by grace. That may sound all warm and fuzzy, and certainly God’s love is a miraculous and abundant gift, but let’s be real and restate what it means to connect to Christ’s sacrifice for salvation. God’s love covenant is based on spiritual reciprocity—God fills us with his merciful, sacrificial, and healing love [agape] and we return that love to God by obeying his commands—his Word.

Grace for the Heart: Grace, faith, and obedience all go together in Christ’s work of salvation. By grace—the unmerited favor of God—we receive spiritual gifts as we stand in a place of faith—trust—and act in obedience as we listen to our Shepherd. To accept Christ’s sacrifice is to deny ourselves [our will] and obediently follow like sheep wherever our Shepherd leads us. It reminds me of a song I learned, as a child, many years ago:

Savior, like a Shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

The way God protects and guides us is not through force, it is through our obedience to the tender nudging of the Helper who actually gives us the ability to obey (John 14:15-17). God’s “folds” from this song, is about our obedience leading us to a place of resting in his promise to prepare, provide and protect his own.

Acts 5:32 NLT  “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

Challenge: As we reflect on our obedience to the Shepherd, today, let’s remember the covenant promise we willingly made to be bound to God’s love and covered by grace as we submit to his tender care. “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:12-13).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making our hearts your home and for dwelling with us each day. Thank you for the Helper who shepherds our will toward conformance to your will and plan for our lives. May the love you give to us, today, be returned to you through our faithful promise to love and honor your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.