Lenten Devotion 2023

REFLECTION:

“Jesse, my brother, I do not understand what He is saying about the harvest. Please explain this to me.”

“I too am very confused, Caleb. There are no fields here, and this ground is far too rocky for anything good to be grown here.”

“What must He mean?”

“I cannot tell.”

“I can assume He means we are the harvesters. Would you agree?”

“Yes. Of course. We are to be the harvesters, but of what?”

“My brother, could He mean ‘who’ and not ‘what?’”

“Ah, could these be the harvest?”

“The diseased, the sick, the harassed, the helpless – these that have no shepherd? This is the harvest. These are the harvest.”

“Yes, my brother. It is among these, especially these. ‘The kingdom of heav- en belongs to such as these.’ It is here where we together will experience His full harvest.”

“May it be so.”

“Amen. Amen.”

RESPOND:

• 1. Where do you find yourself experiencing His harvest?
  2. How might you partner with Jesus in sowing, planting, and cultivating for His harvest?

PRAYER:

Would you remind me of the good you have brought forth in me? The harvest of my own life? Would you break up the unplowed ground, the places of me that remain hardened, and even hidden? Would you empower me to wait in this season? As I grow to know you, would you strengthen me to go, to faithfully sow in these fields where I live, where I work, where I play? That I, that we, may experience the joy of the harvest.

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

SCRIPTURE:

¹⁵ “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17

RESPOND:

1. Where have I been the “worst of sinners”? Have I fully embraced God’s grace?
2. Where and to whom can I speak this Truth to?

PRAYER: Written by Mike Mull

Thank you Heavenly Father for your Word, as spoken through Paul, that tells us that your Son, Christ Jesus, came into this world to save sinners, even the worst of us. Help us to fully embrace this Truth and to be a light of your honor and glory for others. Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace. Amen

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

JESUS, YOUR MERCY by Sovereign Grace Music

Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea
I have no defense, my guilt runs too deep
The best of my works pierced Your hands and Your feet
Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea

Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast
The goodness I claim, the grounds of my hope
Whatever I lack it’s still what I need most
Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast

Praise the King who bore my sin
Took my place when I stood condemned
Oh how good You’ve always been to me
I will sing of Your mercy

Jesus, Your mercy is all my rest
When fears weigh me down and enemies press
A comfort I cling to in life and in death
Jesus, Your mercy is all my rest

Jesus, your mercy is all my joy
Forever I’ll lift my heart and my voice
To sing of a treasure no power can destroy
Jesus, your mercy is all my joy

RESPOND:

1. What words or phrases resonate with you in these lyrics?
2. Which words or phrases are calling you to sing over others in your living and loving today?

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

SCRIPTURE:

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13

TESTIMONY: (Written by Sofie Kate Chambley)

For years and years I wasted my time striving for perfection. My story is filled with disappointment, anger, sadness, mental struggles, spiritual warfare, and so much more. However, I refused to ever show that side. Rather than using my story to help others, it became something that pushed people away. I only showed perfection; I refused to show my sadness and my hurt, and I refused to ask for help. I did not want others to see that my walk with Christ was not as amazing as I portrayed it.

What I failed to realize was that I was acting like a Pharisee. Out of vanity, I kept the image of pure joy on my face. My mask of perfection turned into self-righteousness. When I reflected on this verse, it really called me to do a heart check. Jesus does not want perfection; He just wants you. He wants your flaws and your doubts. Your walk as a Christian will never be perfect. In fact, when you choose to walk in truth and life, your walk may be even harder. In the Beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). These are the people that come to Him empty-handed and on the verge of giving up. Jesus is a loving and merciful God.

When we ask for mercy, we are not asking simply for forgiveness. When Jesus died on the cross, we were forgiven. Mercy is Gods response to us, it’s our gift to receive from Him. We can’t earn it or prove our way to it. Receiving God’s Mercy changes our hearts and makes us merciful. Jesus does not want us to offer sacrifices in exchange for mercy because if we did, then we never accepted his sacrifice.

In whatever season of life you are in, I encourage you to bring it all to the feet of Jesus. The sinful world we live in shows our desperate need for a Savior to save us from it. He has paid the price for your sins, and He redeems and restores.

RESPOND:

1. What resonates with you from this testimony?
2. What do Jesus’ words “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” mean to you?

PRAYER:

Gracious Father, Son of God, and Holy Spirit – deliver us from self-sufficiency. Deliver us from the ideals of this world. I pray you find your children drinking deep from your cup of grace and receiving the mercy you have poured out for us. Deliver us from fears of perception, from needs to prove or ideals to live up to, and Lord find your children willfully submitting to the will of you our Father. In Jesus name, Amen

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist