Lent Devotional 2020

Reclaiming the Truth 

^13 “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ¹⁴ The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! ¹⁵ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. ¹⁷ The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:13-17

Redeeming the Time

The glory of this story goes beyond a baby that is found in Obed. This baby points to David, who then points to Jesus, who points to the resurrection of our bodies when (Romans 8.23) “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21.4). As we read of a woman meeting an honorable man who both are walking in faithful obedience, we might think, “the best is yet to come.” But we may be tempted to read a story like this and give way to, “that just doesn’t happen to me.”  “Ruth was fortunate” or “God doesn’t see me as He saw Ruth.”

We may not even see the harvest as Naomi and Ruth did, however that is not the goal.  Greater is the invitation to trust that God is at work in the darkest of days for our good and His glory. We are called to be faithful to our God, to believe when it seems unbelievable and to hope when it all seems hopeless. Our God can be trusted.

Reflection

• What does remaining in a posture of trust of God look like today?
• Where do you see God being faithful to you right now?

Resting in His Redemption


Rest and receive the truth of Psalm 131.


“Lord, my heart is not proud;


My eyes are not haughty.


I don’t concern myself with matters too great

Or too awesome for me to grasp. 


Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, 


Like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk


Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.


O Israel, put your hope in the Lord-


Now and always.”

Reclaiming the Truth

“Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today.” Ruth 4.14

Redeeming the Time

The story of Ruth is a picture of our redemption. It’s not simply a story of a business transaction or a legal transaction. This is a love story. Take the time to read all four chapters. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Our friends from the Amazing Collection point out how many people in the church have become accustomed to thinking of our salvation as a transaction in which God brought us out of the slave market because of our sin and because He had the right price to pay. All of this is true.

But the story of Ruth and Boaz reminds us again that the foundation of redemption is God’s love for us, as we read in John 3.16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” Boaz redeemed both Naomi’s property and Ruth because of His love for Ruth. In expressing that love, He fulfilled the law of the kinsman redeemer.

This picture is clearly a visualization on the human level of what Jesus did for us. Our Kinsman Redeemer willingly became a near kinsman by becoming a man and by paying our redemption through His death on the cross. Why? Because He loved us so deeply. Jesus Himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15.13)

Reflection

• What does this text show you about the loveliness of God?
• What is it about God in this text that calls for your love for Him?
• What does this text show you about people and about what love requires of you on their behalf?
• As one who has been shown mercy and love from God, what empowerment from Him do you need to overcome your obstacles to love?
• What about the love of God in Jesus gives you hope and provision for your own lovelessness?
• What does it look like to rest and receive His redemptive love today?

Resting in His Redemption


Write a prayer of thanksgiving in response to His redemptive love.

Singing the Redemption Song – Isaiah 43.1-13

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    

he who created you, Jacob,
    

he who formed you, Israel:


“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,
    

I will be with you;


and when you pass through the rivers,
   

they will not sweep over you.


When you walk through the fire,
    

you will not be burned;
    

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,
    

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;


I give Egypt for your ransom,
    

Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    

and because I love you,


I will give people in exchange for you,
    

nations in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    

I will bring your children from the east
    

and gather you from the west.

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
   

and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’


Bring my sons from afar
    

and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

everyone who is called by my name,
    

whom I created for my glory,
    

whom I formed and made.”

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
    

who have ears but are deaf.

All the nations gather together
    

and the peoples assemble.


Which of their gods foretold this
    

and proclaimed to us the former things?


Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    

so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    

“and my servant whom I have chosen,


so that you may know and believe me
    

and understand that I am he.


Before me no god was formed,
    

nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the Lord,
    

and apart from me there is no savior.

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    

I, and not some foreign god among you.


You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.

Yes, and from ancient days I am he.


No one can deliver out of my hand.
    

When I act, who can reverse it?”

Celebrating Redemption

Each Saturday, we celebrate a redemption story of someone in our Faith Family. Today we celebrate God’s redemption in the life of Kaitlyn Whitner. You can watch her story here:

Reflection

• Where specifically do you see God at work in Kaitlyn’s story?
• How do you see God at work in your story today?
• Where are you currently celebrating redemption?

Kaitlyn talks about the necessity of giving up control and the struggle to do so. Kaitlyn referenced her baptism as one primary way of giving up control to God and trusting Him with every bit of her life.

Kaitlyn’s small group leader, Courtney Krebs, blessed Kaitlyn with the truth of God’s Word. Rest and receive His Word that it might be true in you.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5.14-16

Reclaiming the Truth 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4.6-7, 9.

Redeeming the Time 

Our God is the God of peace. Scripture says our God has a monopoly on three things. He is the God of all grace, the God of all comfort and He is the God of peace. And Paul reminds us again of the central promise of the Bible, “the God of all peace will be with you.” 

Is it possible not to be anxious? Forget counter initiative, this seems impossible. Yet a closer examination of the text helps us see that anxiousness will come, and yet in God’s great love for us, He gives us direction on how to deal with it. 

God does not condemn us for getting anxious. He doesn’t kick us off the team because we get anxious. He doesn’t even say we are unspiritual because we get anxious, rather He teaches us how to deal with all of life, not just things that make us anxious.  “In every situation….” Not just in the things that make us anxious, or the things that make us worry, or make us weary, or make us lonely, or make us empty, or make us wonder, or make us wander, but in every situation, “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” 

We have a loving Father who wants to hear the cries of our hearts. He wants us to come to Him with every situation, never wanting us to deal with life alone. He invites us to bring all of our heaviness and our hope to Him, and notice what He says, “His peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The action of bringing our whole hearts to God actually protects and shields our hearts and minds. As we bring our hearts to God, His Presence brings us peace. 

Notice what this passage doesn’t say. It doesn’t say all of the things that make us anxious will be banished. It doesn’t say we won’t worry again or fear again. It says the God of peace will be with us – He will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. He will do it. We can trust Him. He will do it. He is our God of peace and He is with us. 

Reflection

• When have you most recently experienced the God of peace? 
• What in the last week has caused you to be anxious? How did you entrust this situation to God through prayer?
• In your own words, describe God’s peace. With whom could you share His peace today.

Resting in His Redemption

Jesus is preparing His disciples for the cross, for His resurrection, and ultimately for His ascension. He reminds them of His peace. Rest and receive – take heart – today. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16.33