This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Cross Examined: Can We Stay? (LISTEN HERE)
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent in the Christian Church. The season is marked by 40 days leading up to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. If you are a math person, there are actually 46 days until Easter. However, in our observation of Lent, the Sundays in the season (6 of them) are to be “little Easters” that remind us of the victory of Christ even as we journey with him through his suffering and death.
As we enter this season, perhaps it is an opportunity to follow the direction of God the Father from the mountain of transfiguration.
Luke 9:34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
The season of Lent is often observed by “giving something up.” If this is helpful, please carry out this custom. However, maybe it’s a season to be more deliberate of putting something back into our lives – the voice of your Savior, the words of God.
When the Father spoke from the cloud to the disciples and in view of his Son Jesus and Moses and Elijah, he in essence was saying, “The most important things you can take from this moment are these. Jesus is my Son. He is God. Jesus is the one I have chosen, the Messiah (“anointed one”) and I want you to listen to every word he has to say, every one.
Our ears are filled with “noise” from social media, podcasts, netflix, news, and more. Perhaps the thing that is lacking in our day is the voice of Jesus.
40 days is often used in the Bible for God’s people as a time of rededication, repentance, and refocus. Saying “Yes” to more time listening to Jesus will entail saying “No” to something else. However, look at it as “adding to” instead of “giving up.”
On one occasion as Jesus was teaching many of his followers left him. As he turned the disciples and asked them if they wanted to leave, Peter said this:
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
This is the reason the Father implores us to listen to his Son. The words he shares are life, eternal life! The words are what our souls need to give forgiveness, joy, love, guidance, hope and peace.
Could you use more of these in your life this Lenten season? I know I could. I think we all could.
So here’s a couple of suggestions.
Plan 1: The Gospel of Mark has 16 chapters and the Gospel of Luke has 24. Read one chapter a day (Monday – Saturday) and hear Jesus’ words in these two Gospels during the season of Lent.
Plan 2: Use a reading plan on “You Version” Bible app (Search “Lent”) or similar of your choosing to read through the passion history of Jesus in all four Gospels.
Plan 3: Pick one Gospel and work your way through it during this season of Lent.
Enjoy this season and make it a time of “adding to” your faith even as the Lord Jesus leads your soul away from things that hinder your walk of faith and leads you closer to him!
A blessed Ash Wednesday and Lenten season to you!
Apply: Choose a reading plan for the next 40 days. Listen to Jesus’ voice!
Prayer: Lord as we enter this season of lent, forgive our sins, renew our hearts and open our souls to receive your word. Fill us. Strengthen us and guide us closer to you. AMEN.