Lenten Devotion 2023

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

APPROACHABLE:

¹³ Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15

REFLECTION:

I thank God for the innocence of my children. They have not reached the age of disappointment. They have no fear of rejection. They carry no burden of shame or the weight of pressure. They simply soar with eagles.

Today will be a day I will never forget. I have already begun the Ebenezer.

In the blazing afternoon sun, we stood among the great multitudes. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the One who may be Messiah.

The processional slowed and then stopped. I grasped my two daughters tightly as the desperate and the broken pushed themselves toward Him.

One of my girls broke free and also ran towards Him.

“Sarah! Sarah!” I shouted.

She was halted by one from His company. I pushed forward to grab hold of her as Messiah moved towards His disciple, allowing Sarah to wriggle free.

“Sarah!” I called again.

Sarah turned back and waved for her sister, who in the commotion had also broken free of my hold and was running toward both Sarah and Messiah.

“Deborah! Sarah!”

Messiah knelt down, opening Himself fully, welcoming them in. First Sarah, and then Deborah, leapt into His chest. His robed arms fully embraced my daughters as if they were His very own, like a mother covering her young with feathers.

Messiah looked into the crowd and waved for other children to come toward Him. As He did with my daughters, He did with all of the others. Holding, and enfold- ing, one at a time. As if the one in front of Him was the only person in all the earth.

We walked home in the joyful company of many singing Psalm 91. Me, with bewilderment and wonder. My daughters, without a single care in the world.

RESPOND:

• 1. Where do you find yourself approaching Jesus with expectancy?
  2. How might you partner with Jesus in inviting others to approach Jesus?

PRAYER:

God, make me childlike. Remind me of the joy of my salvation, the joy of knowing you are a Good God, a God who can be trusted. A God who blesses, who rejoices, the God who sings over me as I sleep.

Strip away my knowledge, of all the things I think I know, that which has become burdensome, that which has caused me to desire proof.

Forgive me for my incessant striving. My thinking that “If I just…” Cleanse me from my motivation of “I should.”

Restore to me the innocence of belief. The peace that accompanies your amazing grace. Attune me to your voice, hearing again, “You are my beloved.”

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

SCRIPTURE:

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35

REFLECTION: (written by Dave Newton)

Most of you know the story of Lazarus. Word had come to Jesus that his friend Lazarus had become very sick. After waiting to go to him, Jesus arrived after Lazarus had already died and had been buried four days earlier. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, having heard that Jesus was on his way, went to meet Him, fell at His feet, and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). This shows her disappointment in His choice not to come. Mary arrived shortly thereafter saying the same thing (John 11:32). Scripture then says in verse 33, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”

Some might say they think Jesus wept because His friend was dead. Since Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus, that doesn’t make sense. Maybe He wept in sympathy for Mary and Martha, feeling their loss. Perhaps Jesus wept for the community due to the lack of faith. I heard someone suggest that maybe Jesus wept for Lazarus as He knew He was bringing him back from a much better place, only to have to suffer and die again at some point.

Whatever the reason, Jesus was moved by compassion for those around Him. He sees and knows your pain, loss, uncertainty, hopes, and dreams. In Jesus, we have hope and a future. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

“Do you believe this?” – This is His question. Through scripture we see Him raise Lazurus from the dead. In fact, we see Him raise others in scripture. Finally, we see Jesus Himself raised from the dead, conquering death, hell, and the grave. This Lent season leads us to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection and His question still stands . . .

Do you believe this?

RESPOND:

1. What’s your response . . . Do you believe this?
2. How does compassion shine through Jesus in this story?
3. How does the compassion of Jesus shine through you, in your story?

PRAYER: Written by Mike Mull

Lord Jesus, I know that you are the resurrection and the life. I choose to believe. I do believe; help my unbelief.

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

COMPASSION HYMN by Keith & Kristen Getty

There is an everlasting kindness
You lavished on us
When the Radiance of heaven
Came to rescue the lost
You called the sheep without a shepherd
To leave their distress
For your streams of forgiveness
And the shade of Your rest

And with compassion for the hurting,
You reached out Your hand
As the lame ran to meet You
And the dead breathed again
You saw behind the eyes of sorrow
And shared in our tears
Heard the sigh of the weary
Let the children draw near

What boundless love, what fathomless grace
You have shown us, O God of compassion!
Each day we live an offering of praise
As we show to the world Your compassion.

We stood beneath the cross of Calvary
And gazed on Your face
At the thorns of oppression
And the wounds of disgrace
For surely You have borne our suffering
And carried our grief
As You pardoned the scoffer
And showed grace to the thief

How beautiful the feet that carry
This gospel of peace
To the fields of injustice
And the valleys of need
To be a voice of hope and healing
To answer the cries
Of the hungry and helpless
With the mercy of Christ

RESPOND:

1. What words or phrases resonate with you in these lyrics?
2. What does it sound like for you to live each day as “an offering of praise”?
3. How can you invite others to live into this offering of praise?

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist