Easter: He is Risen!

Devotion by: Pastor Paul Gysan

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb…” It will be dark this year also, as I go to Great Falls National Park for a 6:30 am service. Easter between 1875 and 2124 hasn’t been celebrated any earlier. In 1913 Easter was on March 23, but I doubt they had daylight savings time back then. So I would say that this will be the darkest Easter sunrise service I will have ever attended, and sometime after 2124 it may be celebrated again this early.

This year we won’t have butterflies, flowering plants, and trees -- part of the normal cycle of life and death. Popular piety hopes for a white Christmas and a flowering Easter. I love to point to the wonder of new sprouts and new blooms, springing to life as an emblem of the resurrection. That won’t be the case this Easter.

Easter day starts with the voice of Mary asking herself, “What time is it? Got to go and see my dead Lord one more time.” Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she can’t believe the tomb is empty. She runs to Peter and John and says, “they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Going back to the tomb with Mary, we are told that Peter sees the empty linen wrappings and that John sees and believes. Snow at Easter? Flowering plants at Christmas? Easter is not the celebration of the expected. Easter celebrates the unexpected, the risen Lord Jesus saying to Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She supposes him to be the gardener. But in hearing Jesus speak her name, Mary comes to believe! The stranger turns out to be not the gardener, but the very one whom the world has crucified.

Mary had more than a memory of a dead rabbi’s wisdom. She felt his empowering presence in her life! Mary the mother of Jesus carried the Savior of the world into birth. Then another Mary carried forth the word of new life for all. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”

Jesus rose from the dead, and Mary felt his empowering presence. We can also feel this empowering presence, celebrating it in the winter, spring, summer, and fall of our lives -- thanks to the miraculous resurrection of Christ!

In the words of one of my favorite hymns, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives. He lives. Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”

PRAYER: Risen Lord, live within my heart. I pray that the blessings of Easter may always be felt in my heart, whether it is in the winter or spring, summer or fall of my life. Risen Lord, live within our church. I pray that the blessings of Easter may touch my brothers and sisters. Help us not to “hold on to our Lord’ but share the Good News! In the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord and Savior. Alleluia! Amen!

Easter Vigil: True Strength

Devotion by: Pastor Paul Gysan

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-23

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever!

Let Israel say,
‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’
the right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.’
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.

The pilgrimage of people to Easter worship throughout the world is paralleled in Psalm 118. This Psalm was sung as pilgrims went up to Jerusalem for the festival of Tabernacles. Along the way, they remembered God’s steadfast love, love that delivered them from bondage to the Egyptians. They were reminded of this victory and sang songs about it along the way (vs. 15). They recounted what God had done for them, as we recount what Jesus did on the cross for you and me (vs. 17). Coming into Jerusalem, as they went up to the temple, they gave thanks to God (vs. 18). God had defeated Pharaoh. They shouted “Hosanna,” which means “save us, we beseech you, O Lord” (vs. 25). And the words that follow, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (vs. 26), are words shouted on Palm Sunday.

As they entered the temple, branches of myrtle, willow, and palm were put on the altar to remind them of their days of wandering in the wilderness. The wandering days were over, and looking back, they knew that their “true strength” was not in themselves, but in God whose mighty arm had won for them the victory!

Read this entire Psalm, which is the center of the Bible (chapter-wise). The centering verse of the Bible is vs. 8: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Martin Luther wrote this about Psalm 118:

This is my own psalm, which I specially love. Though the entire Psalter and the Holy Scriptures are indeed very dear to me as my sole comfort and my very life, yet I have come to grips with this psalm in a special sense, so that I feel free to call it my very own. For it has done me great service on many an occasion and stood by me in many a difficulty when the emperor, kings, wise men and clever, and even the saints were of no avail . . . .” (Martin Luther, commentary on PS. 118, Luther’s Works Vol. 14, page 45 (Concordia, 1957)).

Luther knew that our “true strength” comes not from ourselves, but from God.

How does the festival of Easter help us to sustain a correct relationship with God? Easter is all about remembering and honoring God’s redemptive love for us. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” The world rejected Jesus, but nails could not hold him to a cross. His stilled body was placed in a tomb, but no stone could contain the Savior of the world. Jesus, our “true strength,” rose from the dead. Jesus has won for us the victory over sin and death! The early Christians moved the “Sabbath” to “Sunday,” the first day of the week, for each Sunday was a time to remember with thanksgiving God’s strength and our weakness. Our risen Lord daily stands with us so that we might walk in the strength of the Lord.

This is my favorite festival of the year, for Jesus is risen indeed! His daily presence in my life is my source of strength, my Savior in whom I rejoice! Daily I seek to live as an Easter person!

PRAYER: Oh God, I give thanks to you for the gift of your Son, who came to this earth to deliver me from bondage to sin and death. Through Jesus I was connected with your grace, your steadfast love, and in the body of Christ, I praise your name this day. Help me to always be an Easter person, daily finding my true strength in you. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my risen Lord and Savior. Amen.

Good Friday: Reversal

Devotion by: Lynne Roots

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

See, my servant shall prosper;
he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high.
Just as there were many who were astonished at him
—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of mortals—
so he shall startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.
Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him of no account.

Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.
They made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the LORD shall prosper.
Out of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Have you ever formed a judgment about someone from no information other than how they dress or their annoying laugh or how they chew their food -- or any one of a number of other superficial reasons? Be honest. We all have. There is a wonderful story about a gal during World War II who walked into Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas and headed straight for the fur department. She was dressed in her work clothes, which were overalls from the factory where she was employed. She was ignored. After having walked around the department for some time with no one coming up to offer help, she finally stopped a salesperson and told her she wanted to look at a selection of coats. She was summarily snubbed. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a huge wad of bills, mostly $100s -- more than enough to cover the cost of two coats. She told the salesperson that not only had she lost a huge commission, but also Neiman Marcus had lost a customer. This is a perfect example of the old maxim, “You can’t judge a book by its cover”.

In Isaiah, we read about the servant who was snubbed, reviled and abused. But in the final tally, he was the one who would be chosen by God. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that some act so “piously”, and yet God looks past them. Instead, he favors the humblest among us, who have nothing to bring to the table but themselves, their faith and their obedience to God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Give us the ability to see with tolerant eyes all around us. Help us understand that there is no magic formula to the throne beyond our own sincerity, faith and humility.

Maundy Thursday: Remember

Devotion by: Bill Wagner

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbour in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgements: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

This passage describes the instructions to the Israelites about how they are to celebrate the Passover, when the Lord spared them from the destruction of all first-born male children in Egypt. They are told to celebrate this event in remembrance of how the Lord spared them.

In my own life, I know I have been spared several times. The most recent was in June 2005 when I was involved in a very serious car accident that totally destroyed the car I was in. At the moment of impact, I can remember seeing the other car hitting the passenger side of my car and the glass beginning to fly in toward me. My last thought was that “this was not a very good way to end things”. The next thing I knew, the car came to rest, glass scattered everywhere and my only injuries were some small cuts on my hands.

I remember that moment frequently and know that I was given another chance to serve in whatever capacity the Lord would direct me. Since then, I have been blessed with the chance to give leadership to a relatively new, developing veterinary school at St. Matthew’s University in the Cayman Islands. This opportunity came after two other, much more likely professional opportunities did not materialize as I had hoped. We need to remember, when He closes one door, there is always another one opening. When we think we know the plan, we usually become too arrogant and fail to see the possibilities that the Lord is putting in front of us. We need to remember that He is there for us and has a plan for our life that will be best for each of us.

PRAYER: Gracious God, help us to remember how you have been there for us in our times of need, and also remember that You are the one with the best plan for us. Amen.

Redeemer

Devotion by: CTK 4th Grade

Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’

Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain and showed them that He was the Son of God. Jesus trusted them to keep His secret. He was transfigured right before their eyes – Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light! Why, even Moses and Elijah appeared! And then a cloud covered them and God said, “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

How many emotions the disciples must have had! How would you have felt? Scared, frightened, confused, worried, amazed, surprised, shocked, joyful … deceitful? Would you not have the urge to tell everyone what you had seen? Does Jesus expect us to keep His true identity a secret today? No, he wants us to tell everyone who He is and what He has done for us. And that is certainly good news!

PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for being my God. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for forgiving our sins. Thank you for glowing. Thank you for showing yourself to us. Thank you for helping us to believe in you. Bye God. Amen.

A Faithful Brother

Devotion by: Michelle Hawkins and Gale Bobzien

John 13:21-33, 36-38

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”

Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Have you ever known anyone who seems to know you better than you know yourself? If you do, it’s usually someone very close to you. Jesus was close to His disciples. He knew them better than they knew themselves. At the last supper, Jesus knew that the one to whom he gave the piece of bread when He had dipped it would betray Him. The NIV Study Bible notes, “If the giving of the bread to Judas was a mark of honor, it also seems to have been a final appeal – which Judas did not accept.” Judas betrayed Jesus.

Although Peter stated that he would lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him not once, not twice, but three times. He knew Peter better than Peter knew himself.

Judas may not have felt any guilt for what he had done to Jesus. His guilty feelings may have been centered on himself. Peter, on the other hand, felt extreme remorse for letting Jesus down. The Gospel according to Mark says, “Peter broke down and wept.” Peter went on to become the rock upon which the church was built.

Coming back to the theme of “Place your trust in the Lord; He never betrays the Father’s children,” one more phrase could be added: “particularly those who sincerely repent for their sins,” as Peter did. Jesus knows our hearts; He knows what our actions will be, and He accepts that we will fail at times. But if we are remorseful and ask Him for forgiveness, it will always be granted.

Perhaps if we feel betrayed at times, it is because we put too much trust in another person, rather than putting our trust and confidence in God. We have a loving and forgiving Lord. We should strive to follow Jesus’ example with an open heart and serve God and His people. God is gracious and merciful. Put your faith in Him. He will not betray you.

PRAYER: Gracious God, in this season of Lent, help us to serve you with an open heart and will. Grant us the strength to follow the example of Jesus and the grace to see the many blessings we have in our lives. Amen.

Be Patient

Devotion by: Janet Wright Simpson

Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

Of David.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!

“Be patient – though you may not see the light of Easter yet, it is coming as surely as the dawn.”

In Psalm 27, verses 1-3, we are reminded that it is God from whom we draw our strength, no matter how tough life can be. Through this strength we can respond to whatever life may throw our way. In verses 13-14, we are reassured that God’s goodness is all around us. In the words, “Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage,” we are given strength and courage to be patient, knowing that, in the end, God will guide us.

It is so easy to be impatient and take the reigns of our lives into our own hands. For example, when we are experiencing pain – whether our own or that of a loved one -- we want to hurry up and get past the hurt or rough patch. In the movie, The Ultimate Gift, a wise grandfather relays to his grandson that the learning experienced through tough times is a gift, even if pain is the teacher. How true. In my own life, I find that when I truly open my heart and listen to God, I can see the goodness through the pain, I can see the learning through the rough patch, and I can muster the courage to have patience and trust in God. It is only through faith that I can find my way through those times.

PRAYER: Dear God, help us to open our hearts to you when we are experiencing tough times. Forgive us for our willfulness and grant us the wisdom to be patient, knowing that you will guide us through the storm. Amen.

Palm Sunday: Over-Powered

Devotion by: Gale Bobzien

Matthew 21:1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Palm Sunday is a special day. My mother passed away on Palm Sunday four years ago. It’s certainly a time of remembrance for me. I remember sitting by my mother’s bedside, reading to her from the Scriptures. I read the promise of the Gospel to her.

Yes, the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which we celebrate as Palm Sunday, has very special meaning for me. The passage from Matthew tells of the fulfillment of a prophecy from Zechariah, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

As noted in the New Interpreter’s Study Bible, “Entry processions were important occasions. … [T]hey displayed Roman political and military power.” But Jesus rode a donkey, not a warhorse. His goal was not to conquer, but to humbly serve.

Jesus was not the anticipated Messiah to many of the Jews who were waiting for a mighty military conqueror to restore the glory of the Davidic dynasty and bring peace. Instead, our Messiah came as a suffering servant, a king who ruled (and rules!) in humility.

What an example Jesus has set for us! May Palm Sunday be a time of remembrance for each of us; a time to remember the example of Jesus; a time to humbly serve others.

PRAYER: Gracious and merciful God, as we begin Holy Week, let us remember that, in Jesus, we have a king who rules in humility. Let His example of service to others guide our lives. As we journey to the cross, we thank you for sending Your son to pay a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. This we pray in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Promise

Devotion by: Tracey Maxwell

Romans 4:13-18, 22

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’

In his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds them that Abraham found favor with God by faith alone. In all that Abraham went through, his faith did not waiver. He believed that God had the power to do what he promised. God asks us to have faith, and we will be saved. Pretty simple. He makes a promise, and He will keep it. That promise doesn’t come with many conditions. Just think of the wonderful things the Lord will accomplish through us if we have faith!

Thinking back, I realize that the times in my life that I have accomplished the most are times when someone was there cheering me on, believing in me. Someone who had faith that I could do it, and promised that they would be there through the challenges. One of these people was my Godmother. She was calm, kind and had an amazingly warm smile for me, no matter what. She was the one who came to my baseball games (I played boys’ baseball way back when). She was the one who encouraged me, yet never criticized me. She loved me the way I was. She had faith; and through her, I gained a deeper understanding of the term “unconditional love”.

I am now Godmother to several nieces, nephews, and also to little Charlotte Carbaugh. I chose today’s passage because today is her third birthday. (Happy Birthday, Charlotte!!!) I certainly hope that throughout her life I can be an influence as my Godmother was to me. I hope my actions, words and unconditional love enable her faith in God to grow. I can only imagine the wonderful things this little three-year-old will be able to accomplish with faith in God and His promise to her!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, enable us to grow in our faith in you everyday. Let us be nurtured by those who believe in us so that we will be able to see your glory. Your promise to us is so wonderful. In your name we pray, Amen.

Proof of Presence

Devotion by: Jill & Anne Neaves

John 10:31-42

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’ The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’ Jesus answered, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, you are gods”? If those to whom the word of God came were called “gods”—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.

Each of us is a unique being. Through God’s grace, everyone has been blessed with a gift or talent.
Recently, a friend shared an experience about a hurricane evacuation. One of her sons was coming home to her, bringing his good friend with him as they fled their homes in the storm’s path. Along with her son’s friend came fifteen others – his friend’s entire family.

Five carloads of people arrived at my friend’s home seeking refuge. Our friend was speechless. However, she opened her home to strangers and provided for them that weekend. This act made a profound impression on us.

Sharing one’s time, possessions, and talents in service to others shows the presence of God in our lives. When we go out of our way to help others, what follows is an unparalleled sense of joy, wonder, love and peace.

PRAYER: God, please sharpen our eyes and soften our hearts so we may share our gifts and talents with others. Let our actions be visible signs of Your presence and love. Amen.

Speak, Lord

Devotion by: Jane Cooper

Genesis 17:3-9

Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.’

God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.

In these verses from Genesis, Chapter 17, God is confirming to Abram His promise to make many nations from him. Abram is 99 years old, and he and God have had several conversations by this time. God even changes his name to Abraham.

I wouldn’t say that I have long conversations with God, but I have heard Him speak to me. Not with my ears, but in my mind so vividly that I would have sworn I heard someone speak. Once I was instructed to ask a cleaning contractor to hire a recent immigrant. I did not know the immigrant very well, or the contractor at all, because our church (where I was serving as the President of the Trustees) had just hired this cleaning service. But from The Voice in my head, I knew that I was supposed to talk to the contractor about employing this man. What was really interesting was that the contractor was a Christian in the process of starting his own church. His cleaning service was his day job. Moreover, when I spoke to him, he told me that he had heard God’s voice telling him to ask me if I knew of anyone he could hire to help him in his cleaning business. How’s that for being part of God’s plan?

Another time, when I was driving by myself and pulling up to a red light preparing to enter a busy highway, I heard a distinct warning: “Stay back! Stop here!” So, I did not pull up to the stop line. In the next couple of minutes, a large, fully loaded logging truck came roaring down the hill on the highway and could not stop at the light that had just changed. There was a car in front of him and two vehicles in the left lane, so he zoomed through the intersection using the right turn lane and the beginning of my lane, where I would have been waiting for the light. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have been badly injured, if not killed outright, if I had not listened to that voice. Whether it was God’s voice or that of a guardian angel, I do not know, but I’m really glad I paid attention!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to remember that our prayers should not just be us asking You for things. Help us to hear Your voice in our daily living and when we pray. Continue to guide us and teach us to listen to You and not hesitate to do what you tell us. Amen.

Never Alone

Devotion by: Emily Sweet

John 8:31-42

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’

They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.’ They said to him, ‘We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.

When I was little, I loved peanut butter. One day I was in the kitchen, and I saw a peanut butter jar. I was tempted; and, of course, I ate some -- even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to. I went to my mom, and she asked me if I had been eating peanut butter. I said no, because I didn’t want to get in trouble. My mom, though, saw the peanut butter on my face, and finally I confessed.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to listen to you, and not Satan. Amen.

A Shining Star

Devotion by: Lynne Steel

John 8:21-30

Again he said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’ Then the Jews said, ‘Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ He said to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.’ They said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

In this verse, Jesus foretells of His death on the cross. He tells us that we will die if we don’t look to Him for forgiveness. We are worldly, and we are sinners. God the Father is speaking to us through Jesus … and we must listen!

When God is present with us, we will do the things that please Him. When we are wholehearted in all that we do, we will be filled with the Holy Spirit and feel His presence in our lives. When this happens, we are fulfilled as people and will give of ourselves freely. Jesus is our Shining Star!

PRAYER (From Psalm 86 A Prayer of David): “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you! I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart: I will glorify your name forever.” Amen.

Love

Devotion by: Rudy Chatlos

John 8:1-11

While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.

Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’

She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’

This is John’s version of the story of The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery. For me, this is one of the most compassionate and loving acts of Jesus -- showing us the depth of God’s love for each of us. Jesus has no condemnation for this woman. He accepts her as she is. And yet, He sees more in her and reaches into her heart, asking and expecting her to live up to her potential. He says to her, “Go, and from now on, do not sin any more.”

Likewise, Jesus does not condemn the Scribes and Pharisees. He looks into their hearts and recognizes them as sinners. Then He simply invites them to cast a stone at the woman if they are without sin. Recognizing the sins of their lives, they’re unable to cast that stone, and they walk away.
PRAYER: Lord draw this sinner to your breast. Lift these sins from my heart that I, too, might be able to walk more strongly in the truth of the life You have given me. Amen.

No End Of Days

Devotion by: Victoria Wagner

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD.’

As the Israelites knew only too well, sometimes life is rough. There’s no pretty way to say it. Some days are just tough; sometimes life is tough. And, at times, like the Israelites, we just want a miracle -- something to help us believe that everything is going to be okay. Our gracious and loving God sent us that miracle in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. A miracle that you and I can claim at any moment of any day. Don’t hesitate; call on Him now. He’s ready and waiting for you. Develop that personal relationship with Jesus so that you can be a miracle for someone else. Be His hands, ears and eyes. Have the heart of Jesus. It’s as simple as a quick note to someone in need, a phone call to say hello, or a simple smile. God has put His Spirit in YOU, and you are alive. Share the Good News!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings you bestow upon me everyday. Although I am weak, I am made strong through your love. Please help me to be your miracle to someone in need today. I am your vessel, Lord. Here I am. Amen

The Narrow Gate

Devotion by: Antonia Siebert

Matthew 5:20-26

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

I smiled to myself as I read these verses, because I recognized a pattern of behavior that I witnessed many times in my years as a legal assistant in large, corporate law firms in Washington, DC. Person A is angry with Person B (vs. 22) and instead of resolving the matter directly with Person B (vs. 24b), Person A decides to publicly profess the dispute (“be liable to judgment”) and invoke the power of the law to resolve the matter. Then Person A inflames the dispute even further with ad hominem attacks (“insult”) and slander (“[y]ou fool”). Person B must of course mount a defense and again, instead of resolving the matter directly with Person A, responds in kind and with a vengeance. Faced with Person B’s vigorous response, Person A begins to negotiate (“on the way to court”) realizing that the judge will not take kindly to the conduct of the case and he is likely to lose. And of course, all of this legal maneuvering costs a lot of money (“you will never get out until you have paid the last penny”).

And what is gained by all this litigation? Nothing but acrimony on all sides. I worked on a lot of cases where I thought that a plaintiff was simply blaming someone else for their misfortune and / or outright stupidity. So many times the cases weren’t really a dispute over the law; they were really about someone who was angry or grieving, or felt insulted and unimportant, and who wanted someone else to hurt just as much – or who just wanted to receive a sincere apology. Hiding behind litigation is easy, and face-to-face confrontation is hard. But the personal approach, not litigation, is what Jesus advocates (vs. 24). The personal approach is the “narrow gate” of today’s title that we must pass through. (See Matthew 7:13-14).

Several years ago I had a simple, outpatient laparoscopic procedure that went horribly wrong. The surgeon made a mistake and I nearly died. In the two weeks that I spent in the hospital, I lost count of how many times someone said “You should sue!”. But I knew I would not. The surgeon was not overly-tired, drunk, or otherwise incapacitated or unfit. She was skilled at this procedure and had done it many times without any problems. She exercised reasonable care and caution. She did not injure me out of malice. She simply made a mistake – as any human can do (vs. 20: “ Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”).

She came to see me in the hospital, clearly apprehensive of how I might receive her. But I welcomed her in and we talked about what happened. I told her that I was aware of the risks of surgery, that mistakes are made, that I forgave her for her mistake – and that I wasn’t going to sue her for it. She was visibly relieved and, I think, surprised. I didn’t need to punish her for her mistake and I didn’t need to be compensated for my injury.

I did need to forgive her and to rid myself of any resentment. Bitterness and strife that you carry around with you gets in the way of your relationship with God. You can’t carry your grudges and your offerings too. You have to reconcile your disputes (whether you are the disputer or the disputee!), and then you can approach God in the proper frame of mind (vs. 24). Any effort or energy you expend on an argument is that much less effort or energy (i.e., “offerings”) you have to spend on God.

PRAYER: Dear God, help us to squeeze through the narrow gates on the path of life. Give us strength for the journey so that we may carry our offerings to you with a clean heart and a right spirit. Amen.

Again and Again

Devotion by: Bob Hummel

Psalm 34:17-21, 23

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the broken-hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

I know someone who spent six years in a Prisoner of War camp. He was tortured. He felt abandoned. And last week, as we ate lunch together, he excused himself to go to the hospital, because his old internal wounds were again threatening his life. Surely he must have felt brokenhearted many times. How could one not feel bitter, over losing six years, and suffering so much? I too have had bad times, but never anything so trying. I cannot imagine what it would be like to endure such trouble. The Lord sustained me through my trivial troubles, but He performed a miracle in sustaining the POWs in that camp, and bringing them home to lead, in my friend’s case, an amazing and rewarding life. We do not know what became of those who tortured him, but his faith in his eventual release led him to a life that inspires me.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord, for giving us hope; hope that righteousness will overcome evil, hope that we can take refuge in your goodness, and hope given to us by your Son. Help us to keep our troubles in perspective, and hear our prayers, so we may realize Your redemption. Amen.

True Testimonies

Devotion by: Tammy Finger

John 5:31-47

‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.

‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’

“Testing, testing, one, two, three! Are you there? Did you notice? Do you really care?” This is a game I have often played, as a parent, with my three children. They do things that make me sit up and pay attention, straining our relationship, making me a parent instead of a friend. I have a similar relationship with God and Jesus. I often question and have doubts. He has sent messengers to me and sent me to places that make me notice He is there and in charge, not me. He has shown me connections that only He could arrange. God has an interesting sense of humor!

When we were transferred to Northern Virginia in 2000 from Houston, Texas, we came with an unhappy attitude and a list of five ELCA Lutheran churches to visit. We were active members of Kinsman Lutheran Church for seventeen years. I doubted we would find a church we liked half as well. I had two criteria: a pastor with a good message and an active youth group for Susanna. She left the only home, church and youth group she had ever known. After visiting three of the five churches without much enthusiasm, we visited Christ the King, the farthest from us. God must have wanted to wow us that Sunday, because, when we walked into the vestibule, we were greeted by Joe and Greta Rymal and Pastor Gysan and LaVonne -- all from Texas! Our church home was found, without a doubt. The Texas connection has continued and grown, showing us we are at the right place. God is here for us and watching over our every move!

PRAYER: God of grace and mercy, guide us to put our trust in you and be patient and know you are in charge. Help us ask for strength when we are in trouble or doubt and to faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Hear and Follow

Devotion by: Greg Maxwell

Isaiah 49:8-15

Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favour I have answered you,
on a day of salvation I have helped you;
I have kept you and given you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages;
saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out’,
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
They shall feed along the ways,
on all the bare heights shall be their pasture;
they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
And I will turn all my mountains into a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
Lo, these shall come from far away,
and lo, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me,
my Lord has forgotten me.’
Can a woman forget her nursing-child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.

In the first verse, I am drawn to what the Lord says: “In a favorable time I have answered you.” It made me think of how often my human impatience gets in the way of listening for God’s answer to my prayers. It made me realize that God answers my prayers in a favorable time, but that time may not be in synch with my human perspective. To me, this passage reinforces that we must be patient and listen for God’s guidance.

We often get God’s guidance filtered through our sins or the trappings of our secular world. How often we lament, just like Isaiah and Zion did in verse 14, saying: “the LORD has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.” At times when the going gets rough and things don’t turn out the way we planned or hoped, how quick are we to make the same lamentation?

We must trust and have faith in Jesus Christ and his Lord our Father, for they have promised not to forsake us. They will not break their covenant with us. We must remember to be patient, try harder to listen to God’s guidance, trust Him, and remember all the deeds God has done for us. Then we need to rejoice in gratitude.

PRAYER: Oh God, we know in our hearts that you will never forsake us. Help us to be patient and listen intently for your guidance. We rejoice in you always and give thanks to the blessings you have given to us. During this time of Lent, we patiently await the celebration of Jesus Christ’s glorious resurrection. We hear you and will follow you, trusting in the salvation of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Cleansed

Devotion by: Bill Carbaugh

John 5:1-16

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralysed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, ‘It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.’ But he answered them, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Take up your mat and walk.” ’ They asked him, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Take it up and walk”?’ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, ‘See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the Sabbath.

There are some who read this passage and focus on the law – Hebrew law precluded Jews from working on the Sabbath. Why, even the Ten Commandments ask us to “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” How could Jesus blatantly violate Jewish law?

My father (a pastor, I might add!) had two favorite quips about the law – (1) “The law is an ass,” and (2) “The law kills.” Jesus turned the law on its head. He worked on the Sabbath and healed the sick. This is certainly good news – that we have a Lord and Savior who works 24/7, doing the work that his Father sent him to do and fulfilling the promise of our baptism. We should go and do likewise.

PRAYER: Dear God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: We all are afflicted with illnesses and infirmities of many kinds (both real and perceived). We desperately need your healing words, your healing touch and your healing waters – the promise of our baptism in your name. Be with us to open our hearts and minds to remain faithful and receive the healing that only you can give. Keep us strong in body, mind and spirit so that we may go forth and do unto others as you have done for us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Re-Creation

Devotion by: LaVonne Gysan

Isaiah 65:17-21

For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Many of you know why I often choose March 3 for my day to ponder the scriptures for the Lenten devotionals. Yes, it’s my Mom’s birthday (96 today!). Wow did God have a message for me!

The theme written on my assignment sheet is: “In God’s presence, all things are brought to fullness of life.” My Mom has had a full life – more blessings than tragedies. In this Bible passage, God has said, “the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” Mom does not dwell on the tragedies, because God has filled her mind with love, forgiveness, and joy. She always focuses on God first. She continues to be a delight to people she meets.

One year ago tomorrow Mom chose to move to assisted living. One of her two regrets of downsizing was not being able to drive herself to church. But the Lord provided faithful drivers to take her to her new church. She continues to taste the “new heaven” (Is. 65:13).

In Mom’s 96 years, she continues to be in a faithful, joy-filled and “youthful” relationship with God, as in Is. 65:20: “… for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth…”

So on this special day, I say thanks to God and Mom for giving me a glimpse of the new heavens and new earth. Fullness of life is all about a Godly relationship!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Love. Help us remember the important things in life – You and our fellow man. Thank you for sending Jesus your Son to show us the way. In His name, Amen.

Open Your Eyes!

Devotion by: Jerry Teitman

John 9:1-41

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’ Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.

If this gospel is read and interpreted as a baptismal story, the blind man might be a proxy for baptism (told to wash in the pool of Siloam), and the man’s apology could symbolize the wisdom gained by confirmation. Thus, the theme, “Do not remain blind, but see the works of the Lord and believe,” comes alive for me.

I was baptized as a baby and welcomed as a Child of God. My parents took me to church, and with the help of the church, gave me much more knowledge of the Lord and His plan for me. I had an opportunity in Confirmation to reaffirm my baptismal vows and become an adult member of the church of Christ.

As with many young adults, I did not ever think about either the abundance of God’s graces that he continuously bestowed on me or about what my response should be to these graces. I was literally blind to God’s world and His gifts, often taking his many miracles, such as the gift of life, for granted. When I think about it, I had observed many miracles; some small and a few that were large. But they, too, were taken for granted. It was easy to say that Jesus was Lord as part of the liturgy. However, I never found the time or the right moment to testify to the world that He was at work in my life and had been at work since Baptism.

As I approach the final stage of my life, I have more time to reflect on the wonders of God and His constant presence in my life. Lent is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to make the time to reflect on what God has done for us and for our families. These reflections will help us to mature as Christians and deliver our own apology in defense of the Lord, to the blind of the world.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I do not thank you enough for all the graces and blessings that you have given me this day, all those that you have given in the past and all that you will in the future. In Jesus’ name I thank you.

Admit It

Devotion by: Jennifer Hanna

Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

We all know people who feel they are superior or belong to a higher social status. This parable relates directly to them. When I read this, however, I think of the natural journey from childhood to maturity. As an only child with loving parents, I thought the world revolved around me, and that most things I did were wonderful. As I grew older, meeting people who were smarter and more talented helped me see that I am just a flawed one of many who contribute to community and congregation. (And as a parent, my limitations have truly been exposed!)

PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for guiding me, not with unearned congratulation or validation, but with support, compassion, and mercy.

Shhh . . .

Devotion by: Andrea Sweet

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

When I first saw this Lenten devotional, I thought of my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Aardsma. (Mr. A) He is the one who helped me see that the Kingdom of God likes quietness. For example, he would line us up for recess, and being fourth graders, we were likely to be rowdy. “Silence please,” Mr. A would say. Sometimes we would pray. Then we would get our reward, to go outside. Mr. A knew that silence is needed in Heaven. He would keep reminding us that God is a God of order, not chaos. Now I understand.

PRAYER: Dear God, Please help us understand that sometimes we just need to be silent, and always in your presence. Amen.

One Savior

Devotion by: Greg Durig

Luke 11:14-23

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.’ Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

I am what you might call a “morning person”. Each new day, I wake up early from my slumbers, and I can’t wait to charge into action. I have STUFF to do. There are messages to respond to, places to go, and people to see. Even though I awaken early in the day, I almost always feel as though I’m running late and that I need to rush into action to get all my important STUFF done. My mornings and days are all clogged up with STUFF, STUFF, and more STUFF. Who has the luxury to sit down in the morning? Not me! Only when I get all my STUFF done, which never seems to happen, can I relax and feel at PEACE.

Recently, I had the opportunity to live, work, play and worship with the “Gullah People” of South Carolina and Georgia. Because these people have been isolated from mainstream American society over the years, the “Gullah” culture is one that has maintained much of its African roots and ways of life and living. They even continue to speak a unique language that mixes English with various African words and expressions.

One of the first things I learned as I lived within the Gullah community was that they are “morning people” – just like me! They don’t need an alarm clock to awaken them, and they don’t wait for their rooster to announce that day has arrived. Yes, at least in this one way, these people are just like me - but there is an important difference. Instead of immediately jumping into action to take care of their STUFF, they make time in the morning to spend time with God and ask God to rid themselves of any “demons”.

In the Gullah language, morning is called “day clean” – and the people faithfully take time each “day clean” to accept and receive the Spirit’s cleansing. It is a time when they ask and allow the Spirit to cast away their worries and demons. Only after this essential time of prayer and meditation do the people move on to other STUFF, and don’t you know, they do so in ways that convey God’s loving spirit, caring presence and incomprehensible PEACE.

PRAYER: Gracious God – Forgive me for making my STUFF my priority. Help me to make every morning a “day clean” – a time when I trustfully ask for you to cast away my demons, cleanse my heart, and know the true peace that only you can give. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.