New Here?A Life in Christ Lenten Devotional Week 1
Sean Roberds | Feb 13, 2013
2013 First Baptist Church Lenten Devotional
A Life in Christ
This devotional is given to you to help you on the Lenten Journey toward the cross and the tomb. Each Sunday, a new devotion will be available in the narthex. If you forget to pick one up, they will also be available on the website, www.fbcherndon.com. I encourage you to find the time of day that works best for you and schedule each day for your devotion. Find the right space, a place that is comfortable and away from distractions so you can give your best to this important time. Allow yourself grace. If you struggle with a passage or have a hard time focusing one day, it’s OK. But don’t give up -- make sure you return the next day. If you give this time, God will work through this time and help you to grow closer with Him.
Week 1
Preparing
Thursday
As we begin the journey to the cross and the tomb it is important that we submit to the right attitude. Read the following passage from Luke 18 and prepare your heart for the journey.
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The 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. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13But 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!’ 14I 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.”
Take a moment to reflect on what stood out to you in this passage. Is there a message here that you need to pay attention to? If so, write the message in the space below.
Think for a moment about ways in which you have exalted yourself in faith.
Make a list of ways in which you can humble yourself this week.
During the season of lent, pray every day that God will help you to have the right attitude.
Friday
We cannot successfully journey to the cross and the tomb without prayer! Take a moment to reflect on the following prayer Jesus taught us to pray. (This is from Luke 11.)
1He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father,£ hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.£
3 Give us each day our daily bread.£
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.ӣ
In this Prayer there is a sense of closeness to God (calling God “Father”) and yet a sense of reverence (“Hallowed be thy name”). How do your prayers reflect both closeness and reverence?
How can you pray for God’s kingdom to come today?
Part of the prayer is asking for forgiveness and the acknowledgment of the need to forgive others. What do you need to be forgiven of today and whom do you need to forgive?
Saturday
During this season as we prepare for the cross and the tomb it is not enough to simply hear the words of our Lord but we must act on them. Read the following passage from Luke 6 and reflect on how to transform your hearing into doing.
46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? 47I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.£ 49But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.”
What are some of the challenges you face in living out Jesus’ teachings?
What do you think will help you in facing those challenges?
What is one thing you can do today to live out the words of Jesus?
