MAKE THE MOST OF THESE 40 DAYS
The 40 Days leading up to Holy Week, the Cross of Christ, and Easter are very important days for all those who believe in Jesus Christ. It is a humble and solemn walk to the suffering and brutal death of Jesus on the Cross, but it is also a walk of Victory through the tomb on the greatest day in history—the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
This is the key event in our faith and everything that we believe hinges on the truth and reality of the resurrection. In fact, the Bible says, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Cor 15:13-14) But it goes on to say, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor 15:20-22) Because He is ALIVE, I can live life through Him!
Slow down this year and focus on what Christ has done for you.
In order to be raised from the dead Jesus had to die. In order to die Jesus had to sacrifice and suffer.
It’s in the context of Jesus’ sacrifice and suffering that we gain a better understanding of Holy Week, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.
For me, the 40 Days of Lent is a time to:
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- Reflect on my participation in the suffering and death of Jesus
- Repent of my sins for which He suffered and died
- Fast / Sacrifice something significant to practice self-discipline and give full attention to prayer and God’s Word
- Intentionally serve and give in some way to others to follow Jesus’ example.
Essentially, these 40 days are a time for each of us to prepare our hearts and remember that Jesus’ death on the cross was for us and that we live in the reality of HIs death and the FULLNESS of His resurrection.
I’m thankful you have chosen to join me on this journey.
Scroll down to see the previous days of our daily devotionals, beginning with Ash Wednesday. We suggest that you approach your time this way:
- PRAY before you begin. Ask God to speak to you from His Word today.
- READ the passage suggested from your Bible looking for words or phrases that get your attention
- READ the devotional writing from Bro. Andy with attention to the ACTION item at the end.
- PRAY and MEDITATE on what you have read from scripture and the devotional. Ask God to lead you to be a “doer” of His Word.
Daily Devotionals
GOOD FRIDAY, DAY 39
Stand there—stand at the foot of the cross in your mind and look into the eyes of your loving Savior. Today is known as Good Friday, and yet it comes with much horror, pain, and the sacrifice of One who was perfect. Please take the time to read the following prayer and lyrics that were meaningful to me concerning this holy day and the Cross of Christ.
“Dear Lord, as I approach your cross on this holy day, I am like the disciples who ran. I love you and I want to be a good servant, but getting close to your cross is difficult. I’m not sure why. I want to say that it is just a struggle to let you die for me. But there is more. When I behold you there on the cross I see the meaning of life: To love as I have been loved by you. To receive my life only by giving it away is to bear fruit that will last. As I embrace your cross, please give me the grace to place my life in your hands and become day by day a servant of your mission.” – Amen
AMAZING LOVE (click to listen)
My Lord, what love is this
That pays so dearly
That I, the guilty one
May go free!
Amazing love, O what sacrifice
The Son of God given for me
My debt he pays, and my death he dies
That I might live, that I might live
(Last time only) That I might live!
And so they watched him die
Despised, rejected
But oh, the blood he shed
Flowed for me!
And now, this love of Christ
Shall flow like rivers
Come wash your guilt away
Live again!
Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1989 Make Way Music
ACTION: Humble yourself at the foot of the cross today in reverence and gratitude.
MAUNDY THURSDAY, DAY 38
After Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, He told them they should practice serving others the same way He had served them. Following a brief discussion with Judas and Peter, Jesus gives His disciples a new MANDATE (“Maundy” in Latin). He says,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35
This act of service and the mandate that followed is the basis for Maundy Thursday celebrations. A mandate means an official order or commission to DO something. Keep in mind that these are some of Jesus’ final teachings before He would be crucified, so understand that they are very, very important. Of the millions of things He could have told them, He chose “Love one another.” That mandate still applies to us today.
ACTION: How well are you fulfilling Jesus’ mandate regarding loving others? Since this was so important to Jesus, it should be just as important to us.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 37
Today is traditionally called “Spy Wednesday” and commemorated as the day Judas made his treacherous plans to turn Jesus over to the religious leaders.
It’s interesting to me how Judas posed the question to them. He said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” Did you hear it? “What are you willing to give ME…” A self-serving attitude is the way down the wrong path.
Instead, look at Jesus’ statement today,
“…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
There’s a big difference between the two. Judas was pressing his agenda and looking to make a name for himself, but Jesus came to serve others and even GIVE HIMSELF AWAY.
In our passage today, he makes it clear that the Jesus Way is in direct contrast to the world’s way. Don’t be misled into thinking otherwise.
ACTION: In light of what we’ve discovered today, practice SERVING the way Jesus commanded us and set the example for us.
TUESDAY, DAY 36
Tuesday was filled with teaching and some confrontational conversations with the religious leaders. In the face of that, Jesus continued to move toward the Cross. I was thinking a head a little to the Lord gathering His disciples in the upper room in a couple of days. I am amazed that Jesus was able to recline at the table with His disciples, knowing full well that one of them was about to betray Him and another one, one of His closest friends, would deny that he knew Him. Remarkably, Jesus not only ate a meal with them and celebrated Passover, but He also washed their feet and showed them incredible love.
Now add to that the weight of what lay ahead for Jesus that night. That burden, on most of our shoulders, would cause us to crumble. But despite all the stressful details of these last few days,
Jesus’ example of LOVE perseveres even when those who are the object of our love are (how shall I say it) CHALLENGING.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples to love those who hated and persecuted them. Jesus not only taught about radical love, but He also practiced it Himself and mandated it for us.
ACTION: Love today even when it’s difficult. Jesus is honored when we show radical love.
MONDAY, DAY 35
If Jesus were to physically visit your home, what would you give Him? Would it be your most valued possession? Here’s another question, What would you make available for Jesus’ use? Anything? Everything?
Mary humbly gave her best to Jesus. She fell to her knees, lavished perfume and her hair (a woman’s glory) on Jesus’ feet. She put aside SELF. She gave her all and the Lord did not restrain her from what she was doing. Isn’t it time that we stop shying away from such open, passionate love and worship for Jesus? Give Him your all and let your tears fall because Jesus said of Mary, “She has done a beautiful thing to me” (Matthew 26:10). That’s what I want to do.
John continues, “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” Mary’s worship had a lasting and multiplying effect on those around her. Like Mary, our worship, love, and service to Jesus have an emanating effect and are a means of spreading the Gospel blessing to the world around us.
ACTION: What will you give the Lord today? Or what you will make available to Him today. Give Him your all in selfless service today.
PALM SUNDAY
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
“Hosanna” in the original language of Hebrew is translated “Save (us), we pray.” It’s taken from Psalm 118:25 and is both a praise and petition. Most of the people of Jerusalem welcome Jesus as Prophet and Messiah! The crowd buzzed with energy and excitement at His arrival. Imagine what it might have been like to have witnessed that parade. Now consider your attitude today as you go to worship in your church. I would encourage you to approach the day with the attitude of those who praised the Lord in Jerusalem that day.
He is still Messiah and King! Welcome Him with praise and shouts of Hosanna!
SATURDAY, DAY 34
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. – John 11:45-46 (NIV)
It’s hard to imagine that someone could witness such an amazing event as Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and not believe. But some didn’t. Instead of placing their faith in Jesus they ran to tell the Pharisees in order to oppose the Jesus way.
This is the same story that happens every Sunday in churches worldwide. Two people sit in the same service, sing the same songs, and hear the same message. One exits the service inspired and having their faith fueled for another week, while the other exits lukewarm, critical, or ambivalent. As one of the current jokes of our day says, “Don’t be that guy.” Worship tomorrow with expectation and your eyes on Jesus rather than others.
By the way, tomorrow is Palm Sunday so be prepared to “praise Him” so that the rocks don’t have to cry out in your place.
FRIDAY, DAY 33
In verse 37, Jesus says, “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.” That verse jumped off the page when I read it. We can believe Jesus is God’s Son and the Lord of All because He was perfectly obedient to God, His Father. Perfectly!
Can the same be said of me? Can it be said of you?
One of the reasons I take this journey each year and dive into the Gospels and Jesus’ life is to identify with Him. I want to grow closer to Him and better understand His life, suffering, sacrifice, and resurrection. I’ve come to understand that if I am going to celebrate with Him in the resurrection, then I must participate with Him in His obedience as well.
Because of Jesus’ obedience, many believed in God the Father Who sent Him. Jesus was a visible expression of God’s love and power. He healed, raised the dead, preached, taught, and walked on water. But His faithfulness to God the Father was the key for many as well. We need to do the same.
ACTION: As you pray today, ask the Holy Spirit to help you in the area of obedience to His voice in the little things as well as the big.
THURSDAY, DAY 32
One of the signs of someone lacking in faith and not in a right relationship with Jesus is “glory-seeking.” I’m sure you’ve seen it before and maybe have seen it in yourself a time or two. When we look to bring glory to ourselves, then we can be sure that God is not in it because He is jealous and protective of His Glory. Jesus was accused of being demon-possessed but countered the accusers with a defense of “look at my life and actions and see Who they glorify.” We must live to bring glory to God and God alone.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” – Jn 8:58
This is one of the great “I AM” statements that Jesus made. He made these statements to verify and establish the connection with His eternal existence. The fact that Jesus is “the Great I AM” is the assurance of verse 51, which says, “…if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Since death could not keep Jesus in the grave, it will not hold those who believe in Him either.
Action: Surrender. It doesn’t come easy to our will and attitude, but my challenge to you today is that you surrender your motives and actions to God today. You might pray, “Lord, I want to glorify you in everything I do today rather than glorifying self.”
WEDNESDAY, DAY 31
Today we read some of Jesus’ strongest words regarding obedience and faithfulness to God. Since Jesus highlighted obedience so strongly, we have to give it the same weight in our lives. Read verses 31 & 32 again now…
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Now, read it below from The Message:
“If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” John 8:31-32 (The Message)
Jesus said these things to Jews who had decided to believe in Him but did not fully commit their lives to Him. It’s a clear call to become a disciple (belief + commitment + actions) and not just proclaim belief. Jesus takes this a step further in verse 34 when He personifies SIN as a cruel master. These were the strong words NECESSARY for those who were approaching Jesus with half-hearted attitudes. Those words still create ripples today. “God delights in our obedience.”
ACTION: Pray that you will RECOGNIZE the Jesus Way today as you work, rest or play. Follow Him.
TUESDAY, DAY 30
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40
Jesus calls on the Word of the Father as a witness to the reality of His Sonship. The Jews knew and revered the Law given through Moses. The Old Testament bore witness to Jesus, yet they were blind to Jesus as the Messiah. How could that happen? Simple, they read the Word and heard the Word but didn’t let it penetrate their hearts to generate faith and obedience to it.
James tells us in his letter to “be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22). If we are hearers only, we are deceiving ourselves. Some people make the mistake of believing that hearing a good sermon or doing a good Bible study will make them grow. But it’s not the hearing but the DOING that brings growth and progress. If you think you are spiritual because you hear the Word, then you are only kidding yourself.
“Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark them!”
ACTION: Commit yourself today to be a DOER of the Word and take some action.
MONDAY, DAY 29
When someone is punished by stoning, it means they are killed. They are placed in shallow grave with their hands and feet bound while the accusers (and judges) stand over them and throw large rocks down onto their body. It’s a terrible way to die. The woman caught “in the act of adultery” was standing before Jesus was facing this fate—until Jesus stepped in.
Now, just so you know that I know, this had little to do with the woman and a lot to do with these self-righteous, religious leaders trying to set Jesus up for punishment. But I want to think about her state of being for a moment. I believe, on some level, there is something “dead” or “dying” within anyone who is living in sin whether that be adultery, lying, stealing or anything else. Those are signs of decay in our lives. But this didn’t stop Jesus from raising her to life. She was as good as dead, but Jesus was FULL OF LIFE. In the most gracious of ways He brought her back to life and freed her to really live. That’s what Jesus does best.
ACTION: Jesus stands ready to raise you up and give you LIFE. Don’t miss His loving and gracious words of “neither do I condemn you.” Don’t let condemnation choke the life out of you ever again.
FIFTH Sunday
God, Who raised Christ from the dead, give life to me through Your Spirit. Romans 8:11
Jesus faced great opposition in His life and ministry here on earth. Those opposing Him were growing strong in these last few weeks of His life. Yet, He marched forward toward His mission and God’s plan to give life to all who would believe in the Son. The Gospels are full of life-giving stories. On many occasions, Jesus gave life to people in need. The greatest of these stories is that of His friend Lazarus. He had been dead for four days when Jesus arrived at his place of rest, and everything seemed impossible until Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth.”
Maybe there are some ‘dead’ places in your life or heart today. If so, Jesus is a life-giver. As you approach the Throne of Grace this week, be grateful for His sacrifice and for the new life His death and resurrection bring to you.
As you attend your church and worship today, expect God’s presence. Pray for a restored SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE for every believer. Pray that God will renew all that is dry and dying in you and in your church.
SATURDAY, DAY 28
When you are unclear about who Jesus is to you there will be confusion in your heart and life. When there’s confusion in your life there will be no peace.
As we’ve been doing each Saturday, take some time today to settle the issue in your heart of Jesus as Lord.
Take some time to prepare your heart for worship tomorrow and go to your church expecting to meet Him there.
He is Lord of All, but the Bible also tells us that He cares for us.
Praise Him for that.
FRIDAY, DAY 27
“Jesus is a Liar, a Lunatic, or LORD.” – CS Lewis
People responded to Jesus in many different ways in His day. In the same way, people think different things about Him today. You’ve probably heard some of these same thoughts.
- He’s a good man. (v12)
- He’s not real (a fraud). (v12)
- He’s crazy or demon-possessed. (v20)
- He’s the Messiah. (v26)
- He’s the Prophet Moses promised. (v40)
But like Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” We have to decide what we believe about Jesus, and that decision will go a long way toward determining our response to Him.
The famous writer C.S. Lewis asked a great question in response to so many people saying that Jesus was a good person, a prophet, and a teacher. He said that because of Jesus’ statements, one of three things had to be true: He was either a Liar, a Lunatic (crazy), or a Lord. He can’t be all three. He can’t be two of the three. But, He’s got to be ONE of them.
I choose to believe that He’s my LORD, and He wants to be your LORD, too.
ACTION: Recommit your life to Jesus as Lord. There’s no other way.
THURSDAY, DAY 26
Jesus’ time on earth was now nearing the end. The cross was just over the horizon. Soon, He would be put to death, and they would not be able to travel with Him. He warns them about the decision at hand. If they choose to reject Him and His Way, then they will DIE in their sin. Notice that Jesus didn’t say “in your sins” (plural). Instead, He said, “sin” (singular). This indicates the truth that it is THE SIN of rejecting the ONE who offers salvation that determines our eternity. They would die if they continued to live under the power of sin, and that death would only be a prelude to being eternally separated from God.
Everything hinges on the cross. Jesus said that when they had “lifted up the Son of Man,” they would know that all He had been saying and teaching was true. When we come to the cross, we are confronted with Jesus’ atonement for our sin. At that moment, we are faced with surrendering our lives to Jesus or continuing to live in our sins. I pray that you will make the right decision at the crossroads of your life.
ACTION: Thank God that He has not left us alone but is with us. He gave His all for us on the cross, so ask for His strength to give your all for Him today.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 25
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working…I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:17 & 19
Jesus is working. He’s been working from the moment of creation until now. He’s been working on God the Father’s beautiful and magnificent plan. He’s working all around you and IN you, too. That’s good news! I was made keenly aware of that in Henry Blackaby’s study Experiencing God back in the early 90s, and I’ve found it true and have never forgotten it.
Let me encourage you to read the passage several times and then read it again later today. Read it slowly and carefully. Here are a few quick hits to look for in Jesus’ words.
1—Jesus is ONE with God the Father, and this is evident in all of His actions while on earth.
2–Jesus gives LIFE! Once you were dead in your sins, and He gave you life!
3—Jesus will one day call together all the living and dead, and He will be the great judge!
All of these truths matter to us in regard to our salvation. The fact that Jesus is ONE with God means that GOD has made a way for us to be right with Him by coming down to us and dying for us. That fact that Jesus gives LIFE means that when we are born again, it is Jesus who gives us LIFE, and it is Jesus who keeps that life secure. Finally, knowing that Jesus will one day rightly JUDGE the living and the dead calls us to live a life in obedience to His call.
ACTION: Ask God to reveal to you where He is working around you and in you. In complete obedience, work with Him in these areas.
TUESDAY, DAY 24
Jesus is asking, “Do you want to get well?”
BETHESDA, in Hebrew, means “house of mercy, kindness or grace.” Sometimes, it’s not a request that Jesus responds to in our lives. Sometimes, He moves simply because of His mercy and compassion. The man had been lying near the pool for a long time—38 years to be exact—without being able to get into the pool and experience healing. Jesus saw this, had compassion on him, and poured out grace in healing. As a side note, I love to think that this pool, surrounded by the sick and sinful, was the kind of place where Jesus’ compassionate heart drew Him. It was His mission.
Then, Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well?” I find that odd on the one hand and a little funny on the other. The man has been there for 38 years trying to be healed! Maybe there was more to the question than appears on the surface. Here’s what I mean: If Jesus heals this man, it’s going to change everything about his life! His livelihood was begging and his full-time job was lying by the pool. Maybe Jesus is asking, “Do you want to go on a new, different, amazing, adventurous journey? Or are you content with the way things are?” These are real questions for this man—and for us.
“Do YOU want to get well?” “Do YOU want to change?” Think before you answer.
Jesus’ Way is always the BEST way—there is no doubt about that. But change is on the docket when you follow Jesus. Perhaps your particular struggle lies in holding on to “sameness” instead of letting it go and completely surrendering to Jesus. It’s worth some careful thought and prayer. Do you want to get well?
ACTION: Ask the Lord to reveal to you any area of your life that you are answering “No” to His question.
MONDAY, DAY 23
Jesus can heal what is sick or dead in us!
Jesus spoke healing to the father of the little boy, and at that very moment, the boy’s fever broke, and he became well. Jesus chastised all those present for their little and for only looking for signs to believe in. Then, once the father heard that his son had been healed, the Bible tells us that he truly believed AND his whole household.
There’s a lot to be said about signs and the many things happening in the undercurrent of this story, but I want to look at the power of Jesus that was on display. The father begged for healing, and Jesus simply SPOKE, and it happened. Specifically, I thought of the things that are sick (not healthy spiritually and/or physically) in me that need the Master’s touch. The areas in me in which I need Jesus to speak healing. Our sanctification is the day-to-day healing and purifying that the Holy Spirit accomplishes and it’s a process of transformation that will go on until I get to heaven or until He comes back. Either way, I’m glad He has the power to speak LIFE into me.
ACTION: Ask God for His healing in the areas of your life that need His touch. Believe Him and walk in faith today.
FOURTH SUNDAY
“The first step to beginning again is the desire for the truth, for something real. Someone once said, “We get better when we get tired of not being better.” This isn’t “guilt,” however. Feeling guilty is the wrong motivation and won’t get us very far. I prefer the word, “CONVICTION.” I believe that the human feeling of GUILT pushes us away from God, whereas the CONVICTION of the Holy Spirit draws us to God, where we can repent, be forgiven, cleansed, and restored.
Today in worship, expect God to have something for you to hear, learn, and change. Be ready! Listen and act!
“One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see.”
We all have blindness in our lives – and we can all turn to Jesus and pray in the simplest words:
“Jesus, heal my blindness! I have lost sight of your love and presence in my life. All I see is ME. Lord, restore my sight, not just today but from today forward. Help me not live a single day without seeing you. Help me not to walk blindly through life—even temporarily.”
As you worship today, pray that you will see Jesus. He gives sight to the blind and is the light to our path. Have a blessed day!
SATURDAY, DAY 22
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matt 1:23)
Don’t dismiss the place of the miraculous virgin birth in the story of Easter. It’s how this part of the story began.
Today, spend your time preparing for worship by giving praise to God for sending Jesus to be the Savior of the World. Think of your salvation and know that God loved you and had you in mind when He sent Jesus. “God is with us!” Praise Him.
FRIDAY, DAY 21
We end this week with a “high-flying” Psalm of thanksgiving and praise. David knew well the greatness of God from every angle.
- He had been established early in life as a great King.
- He had been the one whom God used to DELIVER the Israelites from the Philistine Giant.
- He had sinned greatly and knew the chastisement of the Lord, only to experience the grace and restoration of the God he had sinned against.
David had seen it all. And from that view, he brought forth a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. —Psalm 40:5
It’s a tremendous task to recount ALL the great things that God has DONE for us. And, it’s beyond us to know the amazing things He has planned to DO for us in the future. That’s the kind of God He is.
ACTION: Take time today to “count your many blessings” and give God thanks for the “great things He has done.”
THURSDAY, DAY 20
True repentance involves not only acknowledging sin but also turning and being obedient to God by going His way. After all that Hosea had been through in delivering God’s message to His people, he finishes this short chapter by calling them to praise God for His faithfulness and restoring power.
When we come to the Lord in repentance, He has shown that He will RECEIVE us, RESTORE us, and REVIVE us. Listen to these beautiful phrases in Hosea 14:
- “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely.”
- “…he will blossom like a lily…”
- “…he will blossom like a vine…”
All of these phrases are promises from the Lord to those who turn away from their sin and walk in righteousness. “Though His people may turn away from Him, God will not abandon them, even though He disciplines them, for He is true to His covenant and His promises. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) (Wiersbe)
ACTION: Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to you and walk in righteousness today.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 19
God is to be praised for His GRACE and His GREATNESS!
He heals and sustains us in the midst of this broken world. As you read Psalm 147, look for these words and phrases: building, hearing, healing, binding, counting, lifting up. What you see in these words is the presence of God and His work in the lives of His people. He’s always at work around you.
The Psalmist saw the Lord’s work and realized how God had blessed His people even in times of trouble, and he praised Him for His excellent work. Just like He did for them,
- God restores us and deserves our praise.
- God refreshes us and our land and He is worthy of all our gratefulness.
- God has given us His Word to provide the framework for our lives, so His praise is to be lifted up for all to hear.
Can you see the hand of the Lord at work in your life? Can you see how His grace and greatness have provided for you, refreshed you, and guided you? If so, sing His praises to all those who are within listening distance. Sing it loud enough so those in the back can hear it!
ACTION: Start with ONE thing and ONE person. What is ONE thing you can praise the Lord for in your life? Tell that ONE thing to that ONE person.
TUESDAY, DAY 18
“To YOU, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I TRUST…”
Why do we spend so much time denying our bent toward sinning? Why do we spend so much time covering up our sinful ways? David tells us today to stop covering up and instead to LIFT UP OUR SOUL to the Lord so that we might find our way in the Way of the Lord.
Have you ever ruined a favorite shirt because of a greasy stain? If you don’t catch those little dudes before you wash and dry, you can just about kiss that garment goodbye. But if you catch that little spot, pour on the Spray N Wash, then that shirt will live on to style another day. Sin is a lot like a greasy stain.
When we lift up our soul to the Lord we not only find freedom and forgiveness but we will also never be put to shame. The writer goes forward in this Psalm to begin praising the Lord for all of His awesome character traits. When our spirits are right and clean before the Lord, His praise will ever be on our lips!
ACTION: If there’s anything being covered up in your life today, let the Lord’s LIGHT shine on it and cleanse it.
MONDAY, DAY 17
“I will sing of the steadfast Love of the Lord!”
Our Psalm today is full of praise while being written in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Can you relate? I sure can. There have been several occasions in my life when everything around me looked bleak and hopeless, but what came to my mouth were words of praise and trust. That’s what the “steadfast love” of the Lord can do for us, it can right the ship that’s about to tip over! It can clear the mind that’s about to be swept away in agony or grief.
The phrase “steadfast love” is translated in several ways in English translations. In reality, it takes all of them together to give you a glimpse toward the understanding of this beautiful and powerful word in its original context. God’s love for His children is so amazing that it takes a long list of words to describe it for our human understanding. God loves us with a love that should cause us to SING of it– forever!
If your world is crashing in on you, sing — not because of your troubles, but because you know He loves you in the middle of your trouble. If you need strength to go on, let your mind and your mouth give your heart direction. Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.
ACTION: Don’t let your feelings or your easily deceived heart lead you today. Instead, lift up Praise to God and let your faith lead your heart.
THIRD SUNDAY
“My mouth will declare Your Praise, O Lord!”
In the midst of our inward search of confession, repentance, and surrender, it’s important that we remind ourselves that all of this is for the Praise and Glory of God and not for boasting on our part. Fasting, sacrifice, and prayer should bring humility into our hearts. This week, we will focus on PRAISE and the powerful impact of making much of Jesus. Here is a prayer I ran across that really spoke to my heart regarding our journey to this point. Make it your own.
is called an ENTHRONEMENT PSALM. It’s given this name because it calls on the readers to acknowledge God as the great King above all “gods” and kings. God is worthy of our praise because of His majesty and greatness, and it is wonderful for us to make Him known to others.
As you worship today, reflect on the greatness of God. As you sing to Him—sing of His power to save. As you pray to Him—pray in thanksgiving for all He has created. As you listen for His voice—listen to the wonderful ways that He provides for you.
SATURDAY, DAY 16
“DO YOU LOVE WHAT JESUS LOVES?”
Jesus, the greatest Servant of all, loves to find LOST things. It’s the mark of a true servant. A genuine servant takes on the loves and desires of the master. Since our Master is clearly concerned with finding the lost, we should be concerned with the same thing. At the same time, don’t miss the position of the Pharisees in this passage. As usual, they were against Jesus and missed God’s love and concern for the lost completely.
Luke 15 has three stories of lost things that are found. Read them today and get a feeling of how passionate God is about lost people. As we move toward Easter realize that many who rarely think of God and His church are thinking about it during this season. Take on the concern of God and “seek the lost.”
Don’t forget to prepare for worship tomorrow. Be expectant and ready to meet the Lord in His house on His day. I pray His blessings will be poured out in your church.
FRIDAY, DAY 15
“Be faithful–even in the face of suffering.”
In your faithfulness as a servant of God, don’t forget that there will be those who might reject you. It happened in the parable today. In fact, they were treated horribly, and some were killed. Yet, they served as the Master told them. As you continue to read you find that the Master even sent his son to the same people and they rejected and killed him as well.
Now, all of this is meant to reveal to Israel how they have rejected the message of every prophet and messenger that God has sent them. And, as we all know, they even rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Yet there is a message for every servant of God in this story as well and that is this: we are responsible to faithfully carry the message of God to those to whom He sends us but we are not responsible for their response. Some will reject the Message and the Son of God, but we MUST still carry the message in obedience to God’s command.
ACTION: Thank God for the opportunity you have to be His messenger.
THURSDAY, DAY 14
“What you win people with is what you win them to.”
People often look for miracles or “amazing” events to occur so that they will have a reason to believe. But true faith is believing even when there’s nothing to see.
The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus teaches us that it is God’s Word that will lead people to believe and the Holy Spirit Who will draw them to the Father. It’s not some outlandish, mystical, or unusual event. Jesus said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
It is the message of the Gospel in the Bible that is THE message God will use to point people to Jesus. It’s the simplicity of the cross of Christ and His resurrection! One of my mentors in ministry used to say to us, “What you win people with is what you win them to.” Let’s win people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they might be settled in their salvation and Jesus, not hanging on a spectacular story.
ACTION: Although people like to add all sorts of things to the Gospel, let me encourage you to share the truth of the sinless life of Jesus, the sacrificial death of Jesus, and the powerful resurrection of Jesus on the third day. That’s the Gospel. That’s enough. Jesus is Enough.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 13
READ: Matthew 20:17-28
“Are you living for His Glory or yours?”
As Jesus was speaking of His suffering and death, James and John’s mom approached Him about accolades and promotions for her boys. Like almost every mom, she wanted something special for her kiddos. Unfortunately, she had no idea what she was requesting for her sons. As the conversation goes on, it comes to light that even James and John had no idea. As a servant of Jesus, we take on the mission of Jesus. Jesus called it “the cup” that He was going to drink and said that they would “drink from it” as well.
Jesus’ mission was not to bring glory to Himself but to humble Himself in obedience to His Father’s mission for Him. He tells the disciples (and us) that their way is to follow His way, not the way of the world. What that means is that greatness in the Lord’s Kingdom does not come from rulership or power over people, it comes from being a faithful servant and giving yourself away for the sake of others. That’s the way of the Kingdom.
ACTION: Today, follow the Jesus way, and instead of trying to get ahead the world’s way, SERVE others as Jesus did.
TUESDAY, DAY 12
READ: Luke 6:27-38
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Mercy is “not giving someone what they deserve.” For example, God shows us mercy by not destroying us like our sin deserves. Relishing in the mercy of God would be a great place to camp out for a while, but we must move with Jesus, and He moves on in the next few verses to show us exactly what giving mercy to others looks like.
Don’t judge. Don’t condemn. Don’t hold a grudge. All of these can quickly stem from “self” righteousness. But Jesus says that these should not characterize those who are following Him as a disciple. This is a caution against a critical, condemning, and unforgiving spirit in those who have received mercy and forgiveness from God.
Finally, Jesus speaks to His followers about giving with a strong word towards generosity. For all of us who have received mercy and been given grace, there is only one proper response: be generous in every area of giving. By the way, “Grace is God GIVING us what we don’t deserve.” I love that!
ACTION: Practice the things Jesus said to practice: compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and giving. God has shown you mercy and given you grace, how could you do any different towards others?
MONDAY, DAY 11
READ: Mark 9:2-10
A servant goes where there is someone to serve. It would be nice to attend all the meetings, stay at the church, or hunker down in our huddle. But Jesus shows us in His example that we are to go down into the valley for the purpose of serving like God has called us to serve.
Peter was so caught up in the events of the transfiguration that he wanted to build an altar and just stay where things were so incredibly good. But Jesus said that they shouldn’t tell anyone about these things until after He had “risen from the dead.” The underlying thing going on here is that Jesus was leaving this “wow” experience to carry out His mission.
What God has called us to is vitally important, and if we’re not careful, we will get comfortable with the “wow” and forego the mission. A faithful servant will not let that happen.
ACTION: Take the “wow” from your worship experience yesterday and put it into action today as you follow the mission of God in your life.
2ND SUNDAY
READ: Psalm 116:12-19
Jesus was a great Servant. As the Servant, He was faithful in every way, even unto death. As a child of God, we are also servants to Almighty God. As with Jesus, our servanthood does not protect us from trials and pain, but we can be assured that God is in control and that even in death, He is working for our good and His glory. I pray that you will be encouraged in your faithfulness as a servant this week through our devotional time.
I want to remind you that each Sunday of Lent is a small celebration of the resurrection joy of Easter Sunday. That’s why the Sundays of Lent are not counted in the 40 days. So, as you worship today, remember that HE IS ALIVE, and because He lives, we can face tomorrow, whatever it holds.
In our passage today, the Psalmist asks, “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” God needs nothing we have, and we know that His grace and mercy are FREE gifts, so the writer goes on to tell what He will pay—faithfulness, obedience, and thanksgiving! That’s what we can give, too.
Worship and obedience go together. In worship, we recognize God’s place as first in our life, while in obedience, we verify His place as authority in our life. So today, as you worship, make it complete by being a faithful servant this week.
SATURDAY, Day 10
READ: Psalm 51
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Because of our sinful nature, our inclination and the leaning of our heart is toward sin. But God is ready to give us a new heart. He wants to change us from the inside out. When we surrender to Him and allow that to occur, our motives change, and our passion changes. That’s the work of sanctification going on in us!
I hope you’ve noticed a change in your heart this week and that you will set your sights on drawing closer to God in the weeks to come. Once again, I want you to set aside some time today to prepare your heart for worship tomorrow. Remember that you’re not going to “listen to a preacher,” “hear some music,” or “see your friends.” No, the right motive is to go expecting to meet with and worship Almighty God. He’s the only one that matters.
FRIDAY, Day 9
READ: Matthew 5:43-48
NOTHING in our life looks more like God than when we LOVE OTHERS. Our passion for God is in high gear when we are practicing LOVE. But not just any love. Listen to what Jesus says in the verses today…we’re most like God when we LOVE those who are HARD to LOVE. The difference, once again, traces down to our motives.
I can love someone who is easy to love or that loves me. But what about that person that gets on my last nerve or is simply hard to be around? What about that person who is so different from me that their presence causes me to turn away? In my own will-power I can’t love them. But IN CHRIST and through His power working in me, I can and I must.
Verse 48 closes the chapter by saying, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” That’s a high standard but I’m glad Jesus didn’t lower the bar. He didn’t lower the bar when He lived sinless and gave His life in sacrifice for me. He went the whole distance and gave His all for every one of us. So, with the bar set HIGH, ask God to help you LOVE the UNLOVEABLE today and when you do remind yourself that you look just like your Father’s favorite Son—Jesus.
ACTION: If you’re ready for the challenge, pray this morning that God will send someone into your path today that will test you to see if you will LOVE like Jesus. Keep your eyes open!
THURSDAY, Day 8
Matthew 17-20
‘ “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. ‘
Verse 20 says, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” If you’re depending on your good works to find favor with God, this verse should strike fear into your heart. The Pharisees were professionals at rule-following—human holiness. But Jesus says to all those listening that they must do better than the pros if they’re good deeds are going to get them anywhere.
What Jesus was really saying is that it was not an outer change but an INNER CHANGE that makes the difference. Outwardly, the Pharisees fit the bill, but inwardly, they were far away from a heart right with God. The warning for us is that we should keep our hearts right, and from that, our actions will follow.
Jesus is unveiling that HIS righteousness exceeds the Pharisees, which makes Him the perfect sacrifice and our only hope to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He fulfilled the Law of God in every way so that through His death, he could open THE WAY for us.
ACTION: Choose to surrender your heart to the righteousness of Jesus rather than your best works. Salvation is found only in Him, and there is nothing we can add to it.
WEDNESDAY, Day 7
READ: Jonah 3:1-10
Jonah’s life reminds us that God is a God of grace and forgiveness but that He also desires obedience. In chapter 3, Jonah has just been spewed onto dry land from the belly of the fish when God says to him again, “Go to Nineveh.” I’m glad this interaction is in the Bible because it gives me hope that when I don’t get it right, and I’ve experienced the discipline of a loving God, He’s likely to provide me with a second opportunity to do the right thing.
Now, onto the Ninevites. They were the worst of the worst, the lowest of the low. They were vicious, vile, and inhuman, according to history. Yet when Jonah preached the Word of the Lord to them—they repented and turned from their wicked ways! Then, starting at the top with the King, they called out to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness, and God heard them, forgave them, and turned His wrath away.
Whether you identify more with Jonah or the Ninevites, be assured that God is a God of forgiveness and second chances. Open your heart to Him and cry out for his mercy.
ACTION: Renew your commitment to following God’s call in your life.
TUESDAY, Day 6
READ: Matthew 6:7-18
Prayer is NOT a magic incantation. It’s not a way to twist God’s arm or lure Him into giving us something we think He should provide us with. Prayer is an awesome and humbling conversation with the God of the Universe, and at the same time, it is an intimate and personal chat with a loving Father. Jesus gives us a warning, an encouragement, and a model in His prayer from Matthew 6.
The warning targets our motives—don’t be like a hypocrite and pray to impress others or for human reward. Instead, pray in secret to a Father Who knows what you need.
The encouragement is simply to PRAY. Jesus says, “When you pray…” which assumes that we will be committed to prayer and faithfully practice it. Remember that prayer is as essential to our spiritual life as breathing is to our physical life.
The model is known as the Lord’s Prayer. It’s a beautiful and intimate conversation with our Heavenly Father. Reread it, slowly and personally.
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Take time to PRAY as Jesus taught us.
MONDAY, Day 5
READ: Psalm 19:7-14
“The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
God’s Word shines brightly into the shadows of our hearts. People sometimes think that the closer you get to the Lord, the better you feel about yourself. It’s a nice thought, but not accurate. The closer we get to the Lord, the more we should realize how sinful and dependent we are on His grace because our best efforts are filthy in comparison to His holiness.
The Psalmist says that God’s Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, and pure. It’s also reliable, desirable, sweet, and warns us to do right. That’s a beautiful list of what the Word of God is for us in this broken world.
As we continue our journey with Jesus to the Cross, we must choose the proper plumb line to measure our lives. Self-examination is difficult because we are prone to give ourselves a break. But God’s Word will reveal the hidden (even unknown) things that seek to hold us hostage. It’s God’s Word that is just and accurate. Like the Psalmist, let’s ask for grace and enablement as we lay our “lip-and-life” sacrifices on the “altar.”
ACTION: Is your goal to be seen “blameless” before the Lord? If so, pray David’s prayer in verses 12-14 today.
FIRST SUNDAY
READ: Romans 6:1-14
On our first Sunday of Lent, I want to share with you one of my favorite passages in all of the Bible. It’s a passage that has helped me in my battle with sin and the flesh for many years. It helps me to see my place as one united with Jesus and who shares in the power of the resurrection.
The battle against sin and the flesh is a real battle for all of us. You have probably felt the tug of war today. If we can begin to see our old lives as “dead to sin” and see our lives in Christ as “ALIVE to God,” we can begin to walk in the victory of resurrection power and put sin in its place.
In the resurrection, Jesus not only defeated death and the grave, but he broke the power of sin. That same power is for us today, so as you face your flesh and temptation today, “…present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
Celebrate a new beginning today!
ACTION: Pick your favorite verse or verses from our passage today and print it or write it down so that you can meditate on it this week.
Saturday, Day 4
READ: Isaiah 58:9b-14
As you prepare for worship tomorrow, take a careful look at verses 13 and 14 of our passage today. When we honor the Lord in worship and celebration on the Sabbath, we will experience JOY and FULFILLMENT in Him!
Our approach to worship and the Sabbath has a lot more to do with our blessings in worship than all the common things we complain about! Take some time today to be still and set your heart and motives in the right so that you can experience the JOY of the LORD tomorrow as you worship.
Friday, Day 3
READ: Isaiah 58:1-9a
One of the things I have come to understand over the years is that “motives matter.” In our passage today, the people had been going through the motions of worship and fasting but with the wrong motives, and so it meant nothing to God. That’s a very important truth to remember in your spiritual life and during this special Lent Season. “Not only is God concerned with your worship activities, He’s concerned with the HEART of your worship.”
I regularly try to examine my motives when it comes to loving and serving my wife, my family, and those in my church family. I can go through the motions and activities of love and service, but in the end (just as the Bible tells me), it leaves me empty. But what a difference it makes when my actions are fueled by the motive of true love and the attitude of a servant. Here is a 4-part question that will help you examine your motives.
Are my actions motivated by…
- – self-love or love of God and others?
- – self-dependence or dependence on faith in God?
- – self-will or submission to God?
- – self-seeking or self-denial?
ACTION: Love and serve today with right motives and a right heart.
Thursday, Day 2
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- He resisted the devil
- He denied His self (flesh)
- He obeyed His Father.
Follow His example.
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WEDNESDAY, Day 1
Today is a day of returning to the Lord and beginning a walk with Jesus toward His suffering, death, and resurrection. On many occasions in the Old Testament, a prophet of the Lord would call the people to repentance with the instructions to “wear sackcloth” and “cover your head with ashes.” These actions symbolized the human need for God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. The “ashes” symbolized mortality and the fact that their flesh would one day return to ashes. At the same time, the “sackcloth” reminded the people of the discomfort of sin in the life of a child of God. Along with prayer, repentance, and fasting, these two things were ways the people represented their sincere desperation for God’s forgiving touch.
In Joel 2 the prophet spoke the words of the Lord when he said, “Rend your HEARTS (internal), not your garments (external).”