Author: Ben Kratz

Give Up

A Lent Devotional for 2018

Give Up!

Table of Contents

Give Up! 3
Ash Wednesday, February 14th—17th
Give Up Control 7
February 18th-24th
Give Up Expectations 15
February 25th-March 3rd
Give Up a Sense of Security 23
March 4th-10th
Give Up Judgementalism 31
March 11th-17th
Give Up Living in the Past 39
March 18th-24th
Give Up Defending Yourself 47
March 25th-31st
Give Up Death 55
April 1st-7th

Give Up!
Genesis 3:19
Wednesday, February 14th

In the written record of God creating the heavens and the earth, the inspired writer spends one chapter describing the six days of creation. He spends another entire chapter detailing the formation of man and woman. God demonstrates that mankind was the crowning jewel of his masterpiece not only by forming Adam and Eve differently from the rest of creation, but also by recording it at length for our benefit.
However, before we get too high on ourselves, we read these words from Genesis 3:19. The context of this verse and the verse itself remind us of our fallen condition. The preceding verses recall mankind’s rebellion against our Creator. And that rebellion, which sought to raise created humans to the level of their Creator, resulted only in the humiliating realization that even the crown of creation is nothing more than dust without the Creator’s blessing.
Today, Ash Wednesday, Christians around the world spread ashes on their foreheads to remind themselves of their original state in dust. This act represents our humility before our Creator and focuses us on God’s preserving care in our lives. Knowing that I am but dust and ash leads me to one of the great questions about human existence: what purpose does my life have? If I am dust, and I will return to dust at my death, why even bother living?
The theme for this devotional booklet is “Give Up!” Over the coming weeks we are going to focus on different “problem” areas of our lives that Scripture encourages us to give up on. Ash Wednesday and this verse from Genesis 3 set the scene for the entire season of Lent. We give up in these areas because our lives are dust and ashes.
This brings us to purpose of Lent – the purpose of Christ’s saving work. If I am dust, and my life is dust and ashes, what purpose does my life have? Why does the Creator give his blessing to my life? The answer is repeated again and again throughout the pages of Scripture: because of his great mercy.
God’s loving care and preservation extend to you because he is a God of mercy and love. Though Adam and Eve proved that they deserved nothing more than dust and ashes, God promised his love had not left them. Though we remember our natural state of dust and ash, God demonstrates his love in the journey Christ made to the cross.
Give yourself up to the Creator who shows his love to you by preserving you every day. Give yourself up to the mercy he shows by raising you from dust to life with him.
Prayer: Lord of mercy, continue to preserve me for the sake of your great mercy. Amen.
Activity: Either at church or your home, take ashes and draw a cross on the back of your hand to remind yourself throughout the day of your natural state, and also of God’s mercy in the cross of Christ.

Excuses
Psalm 51:1-6
Thursday, February 15th

Not many things in the world seem more innocent than a baby. When you see a newborn, the first instinct many people have is to be extremely careful. A baby looks so fragile, so helpless, and so innocent that it almost seems there is no way an infant could do any wrong – much less be held accountable for it.
But ask any parent if their baby has ever annoyed them by screaming for no reason or by refusing to eat when being fed. You might say, “It’s just a baby. Of course, a baby is going to do things like that.” True. But that’s the point.
Sinners are good at making excuses for sinful people and sinful behaviors. And the chief person you will excuse is yourself. You will rationalize your sin. You will make excuses. You will say you didn’t know any better. You will claim God doesn’t really care about your sin. Your sin is not that big of a deal. You will point to the situation you have been placed in, and reason with yourself that you had no choice.
In our reading today, the psalm writer David makes no excuses for his sins. He confesses his wrongdoing and puts the blame squarely on himself. He recognizes that there is no hiding from God. He knows there is no excusing imperfection before a perfect God. He lays everything before God. He walks through his life, from conception to the present, and places all his offenses in full sight of God.
Make no mistake, God knows your sin. He listens to the excuses and the rationalizations you make, and he is justified in his judgment of sin. He has every right to pass down the verdict of guilt on you.
Yet God is merciful. He does everything that David requests in Psalm 51. He has mercy on you, he blots out your transgressions, he washes you clean, and he teaches you wisdom. You don’t need to rationalize sin. You don’t need to blame your situation. Instead, you get to confess your sin to God. You get to lay everything at his feet. And in his mercy, he promises to blot out your sin according to his great compassion
Trust that God holds no sin against you. Confess your sin. God is merciful. Trust in his forgiveness.
Prayer: Merciful God, wash away my sin and make me your faithful child. Amen.
Activity: Take 30 seconds and think of one excuse you have made for sin in the past two days. Find a place by yourself (or even with a close friend if you desire) and confess that sin out loud. If you do this with someone, assure each other of God’s complete forgiveness.

The Remedy for Sin
Psalm 51:7-12
Friday, February 16th

I often take for granted how far medicine has come throughout history. Not that long ago, even something as simple as a small scrape had the potential to cause an infection that could lead to death. That potential is still there. However, I rarely think about it. If I am cut by a stray nail, or scrape my hands on some pavement, I simply tape a band aid over some antibacterial ointment and it goes away. Even if the infection were to spread, clinics and hospitals handle those kinds of things on a regular basis. Typically, it doesn’t do any more damage than a leave small scar and a dent in my wallet.
So, if I noticed an infection forming from a scrape, I would be foolish to use my own methods. Personally, my method would probably be to ignore it, hoping it would go away on its own. If I didn’t know about medicine, I might also try picking at it or scrubbing at it. But those methods tend to only make things worse. I know better now. I know the right method and the simple way to heal a cut or scrape. Why would I use any other way?
The same question could be asked when it comes to sin. Why do I keep trying to fix my sin the way I think it needs to be fixed rather than the way God says it is actually fixed? Why do I keep trying to cover it up? Why do I keep trying to ignore it? Why do I keep committing that sin thinking that God won’t notice or that he will let it go?
Psalm 51 shows me the remedy for sin. It works every time, and it heals my sin completely. The remedy is God himself. He gives me his Word, which creates a heart of faith. This faith trusts the work of Jesus, who won salvation for me.
It’s in the joy of this salvation – the work of my Savior – that I find healing for my soul. My God welcomes me – holy and purified – into his presence. Through Jesus’ work I find the perfect and simple remedy for my sin.
Prayer: Healing Savior, grant me a spirit that trusts your saving work. Lead me again and again to the remedy for my sin found only in you.
Activity: Find a cross. Write prayers on sticky notes and place them on the cross as a “band aid.” Remind yourself each time you see it that Christ is your remedy for sin. Take your hurts to the cross.

Rock Bottom
Psalm 51:13-17
Saturday, February 17th

“You cannot appreciate the top until you hit rock bottom.” These words are often used to encourage someone going through a difficult time in their life. Some have used variations of this piece of wisdom to recount low points in their lives that taught them lessons.
You, too, can likely look back through your past and find a moment of “rock bottom.” You may even be going through such a time right now. Whether it is financial or career related, family or health related, we all have low points in our lives. However, most recognize that “rock bottom” often is not actually the absolute bottom. Things can get worse.
Would you believe that God encourages you to find rock bottom? Not in an emotional or career related way. But in your relationship with God, he wants – even commands – rock bottom. The psalm writer David describes it as a broken spirit. Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, described it as being poor in spirit.
Rock bottom is the recognition that your sin separates you from God. Your sin gives God every right to cast you as far from him as the east is from the west. In the knowledge of our sin and unworthiness, we are broken. This is indeed rock bottom.
As frightening as the recognition of your rock-bottom and spiritually helpless state may sound, God doesn’t leave you there. He refreshes you by the truth that he does the exact opposite of what you deserve. Instead of casting you away from him, in his love and mercy he casts your sin away from you. Through the blood of his Son, he removes completely the guilt of your sin. In so doing, he brings you into a close relationship with him.
This relationship makes everything you do a sacrifice of praise to God. He opens your lips and your heart to praise him in all that you think, say, and do. He gives you the privilege to worship him with a heart and life of service. Praise God for this privilege. Let your heart and lips glorify him always.
Prayer: Loving God, lead me to rock bottom. There only do I find the promise of forgiveness and mercy in Christ. Amen.
Activity: Sing the doxology by Thomas Ken: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” (Hymn #334 in Christian Worship—A Lutheran Hymnal)

Give Up

1

Control

Relax!
Psalm 46:10
Sunday, February 18th

The power of being in control is a great feeling, isn't it? Who doesn’t want that feeling? But what happens when it feels like things are slipping out of your control? How does that feel? You want things to work out a certain way but no matter how hard you try to push things in that direction, the more stubbornly those things push back against you. Suddenly, instead of feeling powerful, you feel frustrated? defeated? deflated?
Or maybe you've experienced times when things are under control, going just like you planned, but you still felt stressed. Why? Were you anxious about what might go wrong? Maybe you were worried that something would happen that might be outside of your ability to control and do anything about.
We stress out trying to gain control, but even when we have it, that can stress us out too! What are we to do?
The Psalmist says, “Relax!” That’s the mental picture behind the instruction, “Be still!” When control issues are controlling you, it’s time to relax your grip on things a bit. You’re holding on too tightly!
Just how are you supposed to relax? By knowing God. Reflecting on who he is. His power. His wisdom. His majesty. His reach. His ability. His love.
The appropriate stress reliever for our need for control is found in the supremacy of our gracious and loving God. His power is greater than all the might of the nations and all of the forces of the earth combined. He doesn’t just want to be in control. He is! He can handle it.
So, you can relax!
Prayer: Lord God, Creator and Ruler of the Universe, you are great and mighty. You rule over all things with power and wisdom. You promise to work all things out according to your plan. What’s more, you have included me in your plan and promised good to me. Relax my need for control by reminding me that you are God! Where I’m holding on too tightly to situations, people, and circumstances because I’m trying too hard to control them, relieve my tension by renewing my trust in you! For you are the great God, who stand above all, and controls all, and you promise to do so in ways that will bring blessing to me. What peace that brings to my anxious heart! Amen.
Activity: Take 10 minutes and be sure to turn all of your devices off. Look at the creation God has made. Where in creation do you see evidence of God’s almighty power? Of his amazing wisdom? Of his control at work to bless you? Focus on these reminders of God’s great power to reassure your heart that God is and will always be in control.

God Will Uphold You
Isaiah 41:10
Monday, February 19th

What terrifies you? Job loss? Bad news from the doctor? Going to the dentist? Semester exams? The prom? The future? What’s going on in the world around you right now?
When people or situations are threatening in some way, it makes sense that we feel afraid.
What doesn’t seem to make sense is that God would say, “Don’t fear. Don’t be anxious (dismayed).” If all God said about fear and anxiety is, “Don’t feel this way!” that would be incredibly frustrating. When we’re not able to control something to work it out like we want, such situations quite naturally make us anxious and afraid.
Instead, God is asking us to consider: Why do these things fill you with fear? Each produces uncertainty. Pain. Change. Risk. Possible failure or embarrassment. Defeat. The loss of control.
Now, if it was our responsibility to control life and all of its situations and circumstances, then we should be anxious and afraid. But God reminds us here that he never delegated this responsibility to us. Instead, what he reassures us of is that 1) he is always with us; and 2) he is God!
My daughter frequently sees things that terrify her as she tries to fall asleep at night. Many nights she’ll scream out because she is afraid even though she knows what she is seeing can’t actually hurt her. To help calm her, we say this verse from Isaiah together. Sometimes we say this verse together 2 or 3 times over the course of the evening as she tries to fall asleep. While the scary things make her anxious and afraid, the comfort of God’s presence and the strength of God’s help always prevail!
When we are scared because things appear out of control, how comforting to be reminded that the One who controls all things is always with us! When we feel powerless, how encouraging to hear God assure that he will give us his strength for our situation. Whenever we feel like we’re falling as our world shifts beneath our very feet, take heart for God promises, “I will uphold you!”
There is peace. Not because we have everything under our control. Peace comes as we see ourselves in the hands of the One who has everything in his!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, rid me of my fears by remembering who you are and the promises you make to me. When I am anxious, remind of your presence. When I am afraid, reassure me of your power. When I am weak, fill me with your strength. When I feel the world is falling apart beneath me and around me, help me see myself standing firmly on you. Amen.
Activity: Commit this verse to memory. Say it to aloud before you go to sleep. Speak it to yourself when you’re feeling afraid because things are out of your control.

What to Do with Worry
Philippians 4:6-7
Tuesday, February 20th

Last year right around this time, a 10-year-old girl in Florida was swimming in two-feet of water at a local park, when a 9-foot alligator attacked her. Now normally, such an attack would spell death for any child her age. Amazingly, this girl had recently taken a class on “what to do if you’re ever attacked by an alligator.” So, when the gator opened its jaws and grabbed her leg, she poked it in the nose, then grabbed ahold of its jaws and pried them apart, pulling her leg out of the gator’s mouth.
If you lived in Florida (or if you do live there), would you be worried about gators? Maybe alligators aren’t a threat to you, but maybe there is something else in your life that is just as scary to think about. Something that occupies your thoughts and sometimes makes it hard for you to sleep at night. In our lesson today from Philippians chapter 4, God tells us, “Don’t be anxious (or worried) about anything…” We all struggle with worry and anxiety. So how do we fight it?
First, let’s be clear on what God means here. When he tells us not to worry, he’s not saying that we can’t love and care for each other. In fact, if you’re worried about someone, it probably means your heart is attached to them. And that’s a good thing. It’s good when parents want their child home safe every night. It’s good when you care about your spouse, your friends, your parents, and even your own life.
In fact, this section highlights that God knows you care about those things. He also knows the challenges you face are different than any other person’s. So is the pressure you feel. So are the reasons you feel sad when you have to say goodbye to a grandparent, a friend, a mom, a dad, or a child. So are the reasons for your worry. Despite what some might say, there really is no one in the world who knows exactly how you feel. No one, that is, except for Jesus.
In our verses today, God gives us a class on “what to do if you’re ever attacked by worry.” But unlike that little girl and the gator, he doesn’t say you have to fight those things on your own. Instead he says, “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In other words, you’re not in control here. God is. And he wants us to place all our cares, worries, and anxious thoughts into his hands. And when we put our trust in the Lord to handle all things, he promises that the “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: Merciful Lord, when we grow anxious, lead us to bring all of our thoughts and worries to you in the full confidence that you will take care of us. Amen
Activity: As a family, identify the different methods Paul gives us for battling worry. Once you’ve made the list, come up with ways in which you’re going to put that into practice this week.

Out of Your Control, Not His
Psalm 94:18-19
Wednesday, February 21st

When you’re driving a car down the interstate at 70 mph, the last thing you want is to lose control.
That’s what happened to a woman in Missouri. She was on her way home when the accelerator on her SUV became stuck. For the next 35 minutes, no matter what she tried, she could not stop. She swerved in and out of cars at 115 mph, with no control whatsoever. She called 911. They told her to shift the vehicle into neutral. It didn’t work. Eventually, the 911 operator suggested that she try pulling up on the accelerator and pushing down on the brake at the same time. It didn’t work the first or second time, but it finally worked on the third. She came to a stop on the side of the road, stumbled out of the driver seat, and hugged the police officer. “It was the worst moment of my life,” she said. It isn’t pleasant when things feel out of control.
How quickly that can happen in our own lives! Many of us enjoy the same weekly routines. Every day we wake up, go to school or work, and go about our daily lives feeling in control of things. But in a split second, the accelerator pedal can get slammed down sending us speeding through life with seemingly no control.
What happens when you lose control? What happens when you get unexpected bad news, when you’re staring down a surgery or doctor visit you know isn’t going to be pleasant? What happens when your responsibilities and expectations from your friends at school and parents at home suddenly seem overwhelming?
When things seem out of control, we’re not on our own. Our Lord is there for us. The Psalmist writes, “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
The reason why we often feel like our lives are out of control, is because they are. At least they are out of our control. But we know where our support is found. It’s found in the Lord and his unfailing love for us.
During our walk through Lent, we’re reminded of God’s control. Even as his friends betrayed him, his enemies mocked him, and his own people crucified him, Jesus was in full control. And he decided to use his control over all things - to not come down, to not stop hurting, to not leave his cross – all because he was in control of our salvation.
There was a meaning behind Jesus pain, just as there is a meaning to yours. God is in control. Unstable moments are given to us for one reason; to bring us closer to Him. When our feet are slipping, He wants us to reach out and take hold of the One who loves us and supports us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, when my life seems unstable and out of control, remind me that you are near and will guide me in all my ways. Amen.
Activity: With your family, summarize the events of Jesus’ passion (from the garden to the tomb). List five ways Jesus showed his complete control, even while he suffered.

Trust in the Lord’s Guidance
Proverbs 3:5-6
Thursday, February 22nd

If you have flown more than a few times, chances are you have had to land in the middle of a rainstorm or some thick fog. As a pilot, that must be a bit stressful. As they descend, getting closer and closer to the ground, they must simply trust their instruments to guide them safely to the runway. They use special instruments like a radar altimeter that determines the height of the plane above the earth and a localizer signal that guides them to a correct lateral position. The flight systems they use are so accurate that it is possible for a plane to land safely with zero visibility. However, as you can imagine, it is sometimes difficult for pilots to surrender their own judgment to the instruments, especially when it seems to go against what they think is best.
It isn't just pilots that have to do that. God directs us to trust in him and his word, even when it seems to go against what we might think is best. This can be very difficult for us as we fly through the fog and storms of this life. For example, human wisdom says that if people have wronged you, you should show them that you are not going to take it lying down. You even have the right to make them feel the same pain you have felt. It also says that if your spouse is not meeting your emotional or physical needs, it might be best to find another person to fulfill your desires. And if you got yourself into a difficult situation, you should do whatever it takes, no matter what God’s word says, to get yourself out.
God’s word, however, says to “lean not on your own understanding.” In other words, give up control of your own ideas of what is right and good. The LORD, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who sent his own Son to die for the sins of the world, is there for you. He is faithful and true. Even as you pass through the uncertainties and difficulties of this life, he promises to be with you and work everything for your good. Sometimes it might not be easy to see. But your God is more trustworthy than the instruments in a modern airplane. Trust in him. Follow his ways, and see how he blesses you right now as you look forward to spending eternity with him in heaven.
Prayer: Dear Lord, it is not always easy to trust in you. Focus my attention on your Word through which the Holy Spirit strengthens my faith, so that I rely on you and not on my own understanding. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Activity: Blindfold one member of your family and have another person try to guide them from one end of the house or room to the other using only their words. What was difficult about the activity? How did the one who was blindfolded demonstrate trust? How does this apply to what we heard today?
Devotion adapted from the WELS Daily Devotion, June 13, 2014.

Give Up Control of Your Future
Matthew 6:25-27
Friday, February 23rd

We are going to start this devotion with share time. Go around your group and share with each other one thing you have worried about in the past week. If you are by yourself, write down at least one thing you have worried about on a piece of paper.
Are you done with that? Great! Now go around the group again and tell each other what happens to you when you worry. What do you feel like? What thoughts go through your mind? What happens to your relationships?
Let’s face it; there are times when we all worry about something or someone. If you are like me, you often worry about what is going to happen in the future. We watch the news and freak out over the reckless and violent actions that seem so commonplace on our planet. Or, closer to home, we look at our bank accounts that are not exactly flush with cash and we worry. We look at our health or the health of those we love and we worry. We look at our relationships and we worry. We look at our “to do” list that seems to be always growing and we start to dread tomorrow. One project gets completed and another two pop up in its place. The work never stops… and neither does the worrying. Many times, we just want a break from it all!
In our reading for today from Matthew, God gives us a break. He grabs us by the shoulders, peers into our eyes and says, “Stop your worrying! I’ve got this!” And then, he goes and does it. He provides food for us. He provides clothing and shelter and life and health and peace and safety and forgiveness. He does it all. He works through others and he works through his word and he works through his almighty power. And he always gives us what we need. Every. Single. Day. And, as my eyes get opened to God’s power and direction and provision, I start to realize something… my worrying NEVER helps, it only hurts. My worrying focuses me on me, and that’s not good; in fact, it’s sin. My worrying is a lack of trust in God; it’s doubting God and telling him that he is not strong enough to work it out or good enough to care. But God is strong enough and does care enough. He always has and he always will. That’s pretty amazing…and fantastic. Martin Luther said, “I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my guide.” We know our guide. God’s got this. He’s been taking care of things since he created it all. Worry? Nah… Trust in God sounds like a much better option.
Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us for our worry. Thank you for your continual care. Help us to trust in you. Amen.
Activity: Remember those things you said you were anxious about at the start of this devotion. Write each of them on a piece of paper. Now, take that piece of paper and tear it up or burn it up. Give those worries up to God and be confident that he knows and that he’s got the whole world in his hands.

Give Up Control of Your Desires
Matthew 6:28-34
Saturday, February 24th

I once lived in a neighborhood where nearly every home owner had a dog. Most of the dogs were confined inside fences, but a few of the dogs were rather unrestrained and they loved to chase cars. Any time I drove past a certain house, I knew that the dogs would come barreling out on to the road barking and snarling, seemingly determined to catch my car and devour it. I often wondered what would happen if they actually caught my car. Would they really take a bite of it? If they would, I am guessing that they would not find the vehicle very tasty nor nutritious.
The term “rat race” is often used to describe modern life on planet earth. We see all kinds of people chasing all kinds of stuff all over the place. Many people on earth live like those dogs from my neighborhood: chasing and chasing and chasing, but never really catching and never really reaching what they are after. Additionally, they chase after things that can never fulfill them. The life theme of many people seems to be “I NEED MORE STUFF!” or “I NEED BETTER STUFF!” We can easily get caught up in this chase too, because we are surrounded by more stuff and better stuff and by people telling us that we NEED MORE. Stuff is so shiny and tantalizing. But does more and better stuff really make life better? It may make it more convenient... sort of. It may make it more efficient… for a time. However, does stuff really bring fulfillment? Nope. It cannot. The very nature of stuff is that it is here today and gone tomorrow. So when we do finally catch it, we find out that it was, well, rather disappointing.
Our reading for today, however, tells us about something that is never disappointing and that always brings fulfillment: God’s kingdom and his righteousness. God’s kingdom and righteousness are never disappointing because God is not short-lived. He is eternal. Therefore, he can fulfill us eternally. God’s kingdom is not about a short-lived connection with MORE STUFF, but about an eternal connection with the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier of our souls. God’s righteousness is not about convenience, but fulfillment… true fulfillment. And it’s all ours through Jesus. So, stop chasing cars… and any other stuff. Instead, “Seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Prayer: Dear Almighty Lord, thank you for bringing us into your kingdom and making us righteous through Jesus. Forgive us for the times when we chase after stuff instead of seeking your kingdom. Help us to seek you first all the days of our lives. Amen.
Activity: Write down how you spent your time today. If someone was to look at your list, what would they say you are chasing? Now, tell each other where and how you will specifically seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness tomorrow.

Give Up

2

Expectations

Seek Refuge
Psalm 118:8-9
Sunday, February 25th

We are familiar with the story of the "Three Little Pigs." The wolf watches and seeks out any mistake the little pigs make. He does so hoping to overcome them to fill his hungry stomach. They seek shelter: a house of straw, sticks, and bricks. Each little pig finds comfort in his shelter. Yet, with one huge gust from the wolf, the house of straw blows over; the house of sticks comes crumbling down. But, the story ends with safety in the house made out of bricks!
You and I look around this world and see dangers everywhere we turn. In response, we can take things into our own hands and create temporary places of safety. We may turn to drugs, alcohol, social media, or even "self" to find comfort and satisfaction in a broken world. But we know something about these types of safeties we create for ourselves. They only hide our brokenness or relieve the pain. They do not last. Worse yet, we can hide behind them as we blame others or produce a reliance on one’s self!
In our Psalm for today, we find a place to turn to in our times of distress, fear, or anxiety. This Psalm foreshadows the pain and suffering the Lord would endure during his time on earth. When he came to earth, he experienced loneliness and disappointment. Why? His very own disciples disowned him. His own people rejected him. He felt the pain of distress. Mocked and beaten and nailed to the cross! Yet, in all these times of despair, agony, and brokenness, he provided us an example of where to turn. In his distress he turned and spoke to his Father. Jesus, as true God, possessed the power and strength. He could have come down from that cross and passed on the pain and suffering. Instead, he turned to his Father in heaven for true peace and comfort and says, “Father, forgive them.” What comfort! What confidence! What an example for us!
As you walk down the streets of this world, you see that even the brick buildings will crumble and fall over time. Those three pigs found temporary safety in the house of bricks, but they would need to come out at some point. We don’t have to worry, fear or hide because we have a God who has been, always is, and will be forever our refuge and strength. Seek refuge in the loving arms of our eternal God!
Prayer: Almighty God and Father, we often look to ourselves or other earthly items for comfort and security. Forgive us and fix our eyes on Jesus -- our refuge in times of distress. Amen.
Activity: Reflect on times you felt alone or afraid. What did you do or where did you turn? Discuss Bible stories where others have been in the same position, and discuss solutions and comforts God gives to us through them. What refuge did they find and how long did it help?

Confidence in the Plan
Jeremiah 29:11
Monday, February 26th

The history project became more difficult and the child grew increasingly frustrated. He wondered if things would always be this way. As a result of his anxiousness, he began to take shortcuts. Because he did not faithfully follow the instructions, consequences resulted. The tasks began to pile up. The project became even more difficult. Would this ever end?
As you reminisce about your past, can you find a time when you thought you were at life’s deepest and darkest hour? Can you remember the feeling of despair, questioning if God was really there? At some point, we have been in that moment where darkness overshadows us. Satan had a firm grasp on our lives and we didn’t see any possible escape. Fast forward out of that dark spot to today. Can you see how that dark moment made you a stronger person? Or better yet, how it re-focused your attention on Christ who helped you through the situation? Or best of all, how God removed you from it?
In our lesson today, Jeremiah wrote to God’s people who were going off to captivity in Babylon. They were not happy about having to leave Jerusalem and had many doubts. They didn’t want to hear this was part of God’s plan. They didn't see how this would make them a stronger people. They were skeptical this would make them a people more focused and reliant on God -- putting full trust in his plans. In the moment, this was the farthest thing from their minds.
Still, God showed them his continual love and care. He provided them with the confidence and certainty they needed. How? He promised through the mouth of his servant, “I know the plans I have for you … not to harm you, but to give you hope and a future.” He would bring them back to Jerusalem. He would make make them into a great and powerful nation. What wonderful words of encouragement! Yet, they wanted to fix the situation themselves. They wanted control over the situation. They didn't fully understand God’s plan. They didn't trust God was in complete control. They didn't believe he was preparing them for more prosperous times to come.
Does that sound familiar? Like the overwhelmed and frustrated child, we find ourselves feeling that same way at different moments in our lives. Have you ever questioned why things are not going the way you planned? As God did for the people of Israel so he does for us. He gives us a promise and we can trust it. God has our life planned out and is watching over us daily. He is guiding us along the paths of this life to his glory everlasting. Trust God! He promises: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
Prayer: Almighty God, we know that you watch and guide our every step. Forgive us for the times we forget that. By your Spirit help us remain faithful to you, trusting in you along life’s difficult paths with the hope of eternity waiting for us through the redemptive work of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Activity: Reflect on a time in your life that you felt alone. Share how God helped you and made that into a blessing and strengthened you as a Christian living in today’s society.

Eternal Value
James 4:13-15
Tuesday, February 27th

(Activity: Have someone grab a piece of paper and something to draw with -- colored markers for each family member make it better. In the middle of the of paper draw a timeline that starts around when Jesus came year 0AD all the way to 2500AD dividing it in 500 year increments. Starting around their birth year, have everyone fill in how long they potentially will live.)
Even if we live 80, 90, or even 100 years our lifespan will end up being only a small dot. What does that say about us? In the grand scheme of history our lives turn out only to be a tiny dot on a timeline. That's what our Bible verse reminds us of today, "you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
That doesn't mean our lives are insignificant or worthless. Our lives are valuable. We show that by what we do to care for it and set great ambitions for our life here. Yet, we are mindful that our time on this earth is temporary and fleeting compared to the rest of history! Who will remember us 100 years from now? Anyone? When our time comes to an end, we die. We are forgotten. Our great earthly ambitions die with us.
(Activity: Look again at the timeline you drew. Have each person draw their own line below the first timeline. Start on the year they were born. At the end of the line draw an arrow.)
Look again at the timeline you drew. At the end of this timeline is an arrow. What does that arrow mean? It means the line keeps going. It never stops. That's what God gives us. Rather than allowing that small dot (first timeline) be the history of our life, God gives us life that never ends. How? In his love sent his Son to die making our lives valuable, eternally valuable. He gave us an eternal future in Christ! It was God's will that Jesus live for us and die in our place. It is his will that our life with him would never end -- a never-ending line!
(Activity: Circle your eternal life lines.)
Wouldn't you agree these are most important for us? 80-100 years of a good life on earth may be good, but a good life for eternity is better! God would agree! It would be foolish to get caught up in ambitions of this life that might endanger or distract us from the certainty of the coming life. It would be foolish to put off building our relationship with our heavenly Father who WANTS us to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). That is why we joyfully say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that," because it is for our eternal good!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in your love you sent your Son so we might have eternal life with you. Direct us to put aside selfish ambitions and those things that lead us away from you. Strengthen us to walk according to your will so we can be certain of the life that has no end. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

False Expectations
Matthew 10:34
Wednesday, February 28th

You might call the Devil a master of tricks. From the moment he's introduced in Genesis 3:1 he is called "more crafty than any of the wild animals." He doesn't fail to live up to that name. He tricked Eve to take the fruit from a tree which God commanded them not to take. Still worse, he convinced her it would be good for her. When both Adam and Eve ate of the fruit they realized their sin. Thousands of years later we see the Devil up to the same tricks. Scripture tells us how the Devil filled the heart of Jesus' disciple, Judas Iscariot. For thirty pieces of silver Judas was willing to hand Jesus over to be crucified! By the time Judas realized what he had done it was too late. The guilt was too much for him. He ended his own life!
What possessed Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? What motivated Judas to sell Jesus out? What did they think would happen? Did Eve think she would get smarter? Did Judas think a little more money would make him happier? Perhaps they thought it would be good for them? They believed the false promises the Devil made to them would give them something better than what God had already given them.
Here's a crafty trick the Devil dangles in front of us… the promise of earthly peace. Its appeal is undeniable. A world with no more wars or fighting would be great! We could live in comfort and security! He promises that we can all get along if we just work hard at it. There are even whispers of, "Wouldn't Jesus be proud of this peace?" The Devil has dressed up this peace so beautifully. He's made it look so noble to convince us that peace must be reached at all costs! But hidden and unmentioned in his "noble" concept of peace is this fact: the sinful world always opposes the peace God gives to his children (Romans 8:7). The world hated Jesus because he did not compromise with evil or to make peace with it! Instead, he came to triumph over it with the cross.
Jesus, our Prince of Peace, has given peace to the world! His triumph over sin brings real peace with our heavenly Father. It's a full, harmonious, joyful relationship we have with him. The sinful world opposes it and despises it. The Devil still uses his tricks and false promises to distract us from it. But thanks be to Jesus that we already have peace. Praise God that he has given us peace from sin and death, a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Prayer: Savior of all, defend us from the tricks of the Devil and bring us confidence in the true peace you have given. Amen.
Activity: Discuss the ways in which earthly peace and God’s peace are different. Here are some helpful passages: Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 26:3,12; John 14:27; Hebrews 13:20.

Expectations of Life and Death
John 11:21-22
Thursday, March 1st

To have an expectation means to have a strong belief that something you want to happen will happen. Many times our greatest expectations revolve around life and death. “I will easily live into my nineties, as long as I have a healthy and structured diet.” Or, “I’m as fit as a fiddle, death is a long way off for me.” We all know that none of us can escape death. Yet, we live expecting to live as long as humanly possible simply because we think we are living the right way. On what do your expectations of life and death rely? Is it on yourself, that as long as you take the necessary steps you hold the key to a long and happy life? Or do your expectations rely on God, trusting that your time of grace is in his hands?
Martha knew the power of Jesus. She knew that he could stop her brother Lazarus from dying. What’s more, even though her brother was dead, she knew Jesus had the power to raise him back to life if he chose to do so. Martha had zero expectations in herself! Death had already come for her brother, and she realized how powerless she was to do anything for him. She placed all her expectations on Jesus. She believed she would witness the glory of God; the raising of her brother Lazarus.
Sometimes we are forced to give up all expectations of ourselves just as Martha was. The doctor diagnoses you with cancer, revealing the weakness of your cells. You’re in a tragic car accident, paralyzing you from the waist down, revealing the weakness of your body. Where do we turn? By giving up expectations in "self" and turning to Jesus, we find the only place of comfort there is—Jesus. We begin to lay our expectations on him, because he holds the power of life and death. Martha received comfort from her Savior. He promised that he is the resurrection and the life. He gives us that same comfort throughout our lives. Our expectation, our belief that we too will be raised from the dead relies solely on our Savior. He alone has the power to make that expectation a reality.
Prayer: O Lord, forgive us for the times we lay our expectations on ourselves instead of you. Strengthen us through your Word that we trust in your power over life and death and give us comfort, knowing that your power over life and death is what gives us life everlasting. Amen.
Activity: Name at least one expectation you have governing your life that you can give over to Jesus.

Unrealistic Expectations
John 16:33
Friday, March 2nd

You know you have them, we all do. They fester in your mind as you lie awake at night. They pester you during the day as you go about your work. For months the same idea occupies your thoughts. What are they? Unrealistic expectations. All the things we want to make our lives better here on earth but never seem to grab hold of. More money, a bigger house, a fancier car, a maid to clean up after us, the list goes on forever. And it doesn’t stop with things; our unrealistic expectations can be as simple as wanting our grief to end. No matter what we do the grief and trouble of this world seem to follow us around like a sad puppy. So we add expectation upon expectation of what we want to make all the sorrow and trouble disappear. The problem is that it never does.
You read book after book claiming to have the answers that will rid you of all your troubles. Preachers preach, “if you just try hard enough all your troubles will end. If you pray harder, love deeper, feel closer, all your troubles will vanish.” But they never do and before you know it, your unrealistic expectations drive you to despair.
Enter Jesus into the situation. Listen to what he says —“But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus doesn’t sugar coat it for us, he tells us the reality of the world we live in, “Now is your time of grief” (John 16:22). It’s time to give up your expectations of a better life here on earth. As dearly loved children of God we know there is something better. We know that the plush life here on earth pales in comparison to the one we are destined for in eternity. It's far better. Jesus said, “but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22). Expectations about this life are replaced by the promises God gives us about eternal life. That gives us peace. That gives us reason to give up our expectations of a better life here on earth. Jesus promises us riches beyond our imagination—eternal life in the presence of our God. Jesus overcame the world by his innocent death and miraculous resurrection. Showing us that the grief and troubles we face in this world are but a blimp on the radar. For, “our sufferings at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, by your mercy you came down from heaven to conquer the world by destroying the power of sin through your death and resurrection. Give us the strength to trust in the better life you have waiting for us. Amen.
Activity: Write out at least five blessings you have been given by the grace of God in your life.

Righteous Expectations
Galatians 2:16
Saturday, March 3rd

A commercial air-conditioning technician is at his second week on the job. His supervisor tasks him with diagnosing their largest rooftop unit, the Intellipak! The technician climbs up the ladder to the roof of the building, goes to the unit, opens up the panels and is immediately overwhelmed. Before him are hundreds of feet worth of wire, circuit boards, relays, contactors and so much more. Terrified, he gets out his tools and begins checking every piece. Frantically, he tries to find out why the unit is not cooling. He is worried that if he doesn’t find the problem soon enough they won’t let him work again. After 10 minutes he hasn’t found a single problem. His supervisor sees how stressed out he is and yells to him, “Calm down, stop trying so hard!”
You might not be an air-conditioning technician but have you ever felt that way before with God’s law? You hear over and over all the demands and commandments God asks of you to do and not to do. You try so hard to be a good Christian and rule follower. But soon you become distraught with fear and anxiety. You don't always do what God demands and commands. You begin to see your failings and think, “God will never accept me or my attempts at keeping his laws.” It’s time to give up your righteous expectations that you can be perfect on your own. It's not because we are pretty good people or do some pretty good things that we can stand before God. It's not what we do that gives us a clean slate with God. We can't fulfill God's law perfectly and completely. We need someone else. That someone else is Christ. Our faith and trust are in him. He has fulfilled God’s law perfectly and completely. Now, through faith in Christ we are credited with his righteousness and his holiness.
That changes the way we live. We stop trying to be perfect because Jesus lived perfectly for us. He has earned salvation for us. We live with confidence and trust in Christ who has made us holy. We live our lives in thankfulness for what he has done. We let God's law and commandments guide our lives because he has filled our hearts with gratitude. We want to do what he wants and not do what he doesn't want. And sometimes when we're overwhelmed and forget, remember the work of Christ. He came to be perfect in your place. That's your comfort and your peace. His work has made you holy and righteous in the eyes of God.
Prayer: Gracious Lord, calm our hearts and fill us with peace knowing that your Son has justified us not by our works but by his perfect life and innocent death. Amen.
Activity: Name three laws that you are especially thankful for that Jesus obeyed perfectly for you.

Give Up

3

A Sense of Security

Within Your Community
Matthew 10:16
Sunday, March 4th

Talking to other people about Jesus isn’t always easy. Even Jesus himself understood how challenging this would be for his own disciples. He spends nearly all of Matthew Chapter 10 giving the disciples detailed instructions about what to say and why their message was so important for people in their community to hear. Jesus realized his disciples would be giving up their physical and spiritual sense of security, but it was time for them to transition from being disciples (followers) to being leaders in sharing the gospel with their Israelite neighbors.
But this would not be an easy task for the disciples. When Jesus tells them “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves,” I am guessing he knew their thoughts and feelings as they were preparing for their mission. They were likely afraid and maybe even hesitant to believe that anyone would really listen to what they had to say. They were just uneducated, seemingly unqualified, often faith-lacking followers. He even warns them that there would, in fact, be people who would not welcome them or listen to their message; some would even be arrested and flogged by government officials.
Jesus has given all of us the same commission he gave to the disciples in Matthew Chapter 10. We are to spread the message of salvation to the lost sheep of (insert your city or town), but that task can seem daunting if our focus is on only the worldly wolves. People won’t listen to me; I’m just a (insert your excuse). What if people, even my friends, make fun of me for being a Christian? Sharing the gospel is more of a pastor’s job.
Despite the dangers, the disciples boldly preached throughout Israel because their focus was not on the words “like sheep among wolves”; but on the assurance “I (Jesus...the Son of God...King of Kings...Lord Almighty...) am sending you out.” They understood that the One sending them was greater than their sense of security.
Like he did with his twelve disciples, Jesus needs you to give up your sense of security in your community. Whether you are reading this in an urban apartment or in a rural village, you know people around you who urgently need to hear about their loving, forgiving Savior, the one who longs to spend eternity with them in heaven. Is there a better time to do this than during the Lent/Easter season?!
While the task may not be easy, Jesus assures you that He is sending you out with His message. So give up your sense of security and your hesitation and start sharing the Easter message in your community!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, This world needs to hear about your love. Thank you for assuring me that I have the greatest message to share with my community. Forgive me for times when I make excuses and am even ashamed to share my faith with others. Through the Holy Spirit, empower me to give up my sense of security and be a bold ambassador for you. Amen!
Activity: Make a list of specific people in your community that you can invite to your church’s Easter service.

Give Up Your Security In Yourself
1 Peter 5:8
Monday, March 5th

Now is the time of the church year when it may be easy for you to feel good about your level of Christianity. You’re going to church not only on Sunday, but also on Wednesday night. Maybe you are practicing to sing in the upcoming Good Friday service. You might be giving up a luxury (meat, ice cream, even coffee) for the Lenten season. You feel like you are more aware of your sin and the vices in your life. In the back of your mind, you may be thinking you have this whole ‘leading-a-Christian-life’ thing pretty figured out.
It is during times like these when you need to be extra aware of the caution in our Bible reading of being self-controlled and alert. Peter warns that relying on yourself for spiritual security can lead to letting down your spiritual guard. The devil will attack and tempt you at any time, including when you are relying too much on yourself for spiritual strength.
It is important to remember this advice is coming from Peter because he experienced this same scenario in his own life. Rewind to Maundy Thursday night. Peter was feeling confident in his high level of discipleship. Even when Jesus told the disciples about how they were all going to fall away and deny Jesus, Peter boldly declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29). Peter placed his confidence and commitment in himself.
I think you know how the story ends. Peter fled with the other disciples and vehemently cursed and swore he did not know who Jesus was multiple times that very night. Peter let down his spiritual guard, lost his sense of awareness, and the devil devoured him.
This Bible passage and lesson from Peter’s life stress the importance of not relying on yourself for spiritual strength. You need to give up! Give up your sense of security in yourself. Your self-control and awareness can be formed and fostered only with God’s help.
Just to clarify, there is nothing wrong with feeling spiritually strong during Lent and Easter, as long as that strength is grounded in Christ alone. May God bless the rest of your Lent and Easter celebration as you give up your sense of security in yourself and focus on security and strength your risen Savior gives you.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, today I ask you to help me be self-controlled and alert for the devil’s attacks. Forgive me for times when I rely too much on myself for spiritual strength. Help me to give up focusing on myself and focus my thoughts, words, and actions on your life, death, and resurrection. Amen!
Activity: As a family, name other people in the Bible who relied too much on their own spiritual strength. How did that work out for them?

Remember the Lord
Deuteronomy 8:10-18
Tuesday, March 6th

A number of years ago a pastor began serving a congregation in Canada. The pastor needed to contact some of his fellow pastors to see if they wanted to serve in various capacities in their pastors’ conference. It was a Monday morning in October and the pastor figured it was a good time to find his fellow pastors in their studies so he began to make some phone calls. When he made the first call the phone rang and rang and rang and finally the answering machine picked up. He tried the next name on his list. Same result. Call after call there were no answers. He began to wonder why no one was picking up the phone. On his next call he got his answer. After a good number of rings a real live person actually picked up on the other end. “Good morning,” the pastor said, “is pastor so-and-so there?” “He is,” the voice on the other end answered, “but can he call you back after the service? It is Thanksgiving.” You see in Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October. Because the pastor was familiar only with Thanksgiving Day in the United States, he had missed Thanksgiving.
When you think about it, the idea of missing thanksgiving is something that is not uncommon to us living in this country today. The abundance which God provides can lull us into a sense of complacency and self-satisfaction. There are always groceries on the shelf and gas at the station. We have jobs which we work hard at to earn our money. We can start to think that we are the reason for all of our blessings. It was my sweat and labor. It was my intellect. Maybe you’ve never said those things but when you fail to give thanks to the Lord, your true heart is revealed. When times are good it’s easy to forget about the Lord. Where prosperity and wealth abound right relationships with God tend to suffer. Why? God’s gifts are so amazing that those gifts often become gods to those who receive them.
That is why God reminded his Old Testament people as they were about to enter the Promised Land to be careful not forget the LORD. These people had been greatly blessed by the LORD, rescued from Egypt, and given a land flowing with milk and honey. Even more, God had promised them spiritual blessings beyond compare in a Messiah who was coming. These are the same blessings God has provided to us. He gives us the ability to work and earn a living. He provides us with blessings from sources we never knew existed. And, even more than that, he kept his promise to send the Messiah into the world to secure our eternal blessing by his life, death, and resurrection. Remember where our true security – both temporal and eternal – comes from. It comes from God’s gracious hand alone. Remember the LORD, thank him, and give yourselves to him in faithful service.
Prayer: Lord, help us remember where everything comes from. Then let us live lives of thanksgiving to you. Amen.
Activity: Come up with a list of gifts God has given to your family. Thank God for them and discuss how you can use them in thankful service.

Rich Toward God
Luke 12:16-20
Wednesday, March 7th

What’s your net worth? I think you know what I’m talking about when I use that term, right? You take your assets (the money and things you have) and subtract your liabilities (your debts and obligations) and what is left over is your net worth. So what are you worth? The thought could be depressing for some. Others might do the math and think, “Hey, I’m doing okay!” Either way that whole concept of net worth is kind of misleading. But, it totally fits with this world’s mindset. What makes something worth something? It’s how much money it costs. It’s how much money is invested in it. It’s how much money you could sell it for. Money makes the world go round, right? Wrong. This world’s view of money and possessions is totally out of whack. That point is made very clear in the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 12. Money is a good thing. It’s a gift from God. It serves a purpose. But if we begin to look at money and stuff the way the world does (and we absolutely do) then money is meaningless. Then, no matter how much money you have, you will not be rich, at least not where it really counts. The only thing that counts is being rich toward God.
The problem with the man in Jesus’ parable was not that he was rich. The problem is that this man was a fool! He thought his abundance of possessions assured him of a life of ease. He failed to recognize that his wealth did not dictate his future; God did. And God had set that very night as the limit of his life. All of his earthly riches would now be used by others. And what was even worse, since these were the only riches with which he had concerned himself, his death left him an absolute beggar. Death separated him from his only riches and he faced God’s judgment with no spiritual resources at all.
If your whole life is devoted to gathering earthly possessions, if your entire purpose is finding your contentment and security in what earthly wealth can afford, then you will spend this life and the next in abject poverty. Only what you have invested with God is permanent. Death is coming, and it’s the wages of sin. You need something else to deal with death. You need Jesus. Jesus always wants more for you than you want for yourself. So often we only think about what it will take to enjoy our years to come. What will that be? A few decades of retirement? A couple of getaways or a vacation home? Jesus wants to give you an eternity in the comforts of his kingdom! You want proof? The One who has all authority gave it up for you. The One who owns everything gave it up for you. Jesus has made you rich toward God by giving you every spiritual blessing there is. Your bank account is full of forgiveness. Your portfolio is diversified with investments in God’s grace and mercy. You are heirs of an eternal kingdom. You are spiritually rich beyond compare. All because of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to always find true wealth in you. Amen.
Activity: Take this opportunity to teach your children about stewardship. Faithfully make a plan to use the blessings God gives us (including our offerings to him), but do not worry about our future because that is in our Savior’s hands.

True Security
Job 31:24-28
Thursday, March 8th

Job was a man who had it all. He was the Bill Gates of the ancient near east. He was the richest man in the land, blessed with flocks, herds, servants, and ten children to boot. And not only that, but Job feared God and shunned evil. He was truly blessed, righteous by faith in his Savior God.
Job was also a man who lost it all. Satan desperately wanted Job’s soul (as he wants each of ours) and he thought the way to get it was to rob Job of all of his earthly blessings. In rapid succession, Job’s earthly life came crashing down around him. His herds of donkeys and oxen were stolen by raiding bands. His flocks were consumed by fire. His camels were carried off by and servants put to the sword. Even his beloved children were killed when the roof of the house they were gathered in collapsed. Then, to add insult to injury, Job’s health quickly deteriorated. He was covered with painful sores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. In his misery and suffering even Job’s wife offered no comfort. “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die’” (Job 2:9)! But Job didn’t do that. “He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2:10).
Maybe at some point, in some small way, you have felt like Job. Maybe things were going great for a time, but then it all fell apart. Maybe you lost a job, a relationship, your family, or a loved one to death. Those are painful losses! Especially when you’ve been seeking your security in them. Sometimes losing earthly blessings helps us realize we’ve been depending on created things instead of the Creator. I can’t give you a specific reason why God has allowed you to experience loss in your life, but I can tell you that the trials God allowed Job to endure were to reveal and strengthen Job’s faith. Job knew that none of the things he had in life provided true security because all those things can be lost. However, Job knew that what (or rather who) provides true security is the one whom Job would never lose – his Savior God. That means even if we have no material possessions at all, but we have the one who loved us so much that he came to live and die for us, we have everything we need. We have an eternity of blessings that cannot spoil, fade, or perish, because we have a God who has forgiven us, saved us, and promised us a forever home with him. That’s the only true security there is.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see that all I really need is you. Amen.
Activity: Make a list of the things we have that are really nice, but we could live without. Point out that this list does not include just things we would consider luxuries, but finally everything except our Savior God. Remember Job’s attitude: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).

Give Up a Sense of Security
Psalm 112:1,6-8
Friday, March 9th

Do you have alethephobia (the fear of hearing bad news)? Do you cringe every time you get an oil change because you expect your mechanic to give you a long list of repairs needed for your car? Do you dread going to the doctor because you’re afraid of what your doctor might say? Do you fear telling your loved one how you really feel because of how your loved one might react?
The temptation is real, to fear bad news, because so often, bad news can shake us right to the core. When the phone rings and we hear, “Mom just died,” or when the doctor comes in and we hear, “It’s cancer,” or after years of a struggling marriage, we hear a spouse say, “I’m leaving you”…bad news can destroy any sense of security we have in this life.
So what does God say? Give up your sense of security. Don’t allow your heart to anchor its security in the things or the people of this life. For if you do, they will fail you, and you’ll carry this alethephobia wherever you go. Instead, in Psalm 112, God says, “Blessed is the one who fears and trusts in the LORD, who finds delight in him and his commands. He will never be shaken, he will have no fear of bad news, his heart is secure, he will have no fear.”
The only true sense of security one can have in this life is the security that we find in the God of the Bible. For if you examine God’s track record, if you look at his relentless desire to save you, if you scroll through the pages of Scripture, this is what you see: A God who was willing to give up his own Son, a Savior who was willing to give up his own life, all for a sinner like me. And when through the eyes of faith you know that to be true, here’s the only conclusion one can logically come to: God loves me. God has saved me. Heaven is my home, and God won’t rest until he brings safely there. But this place isn’t heaven. This life won’t be perfect. I may lose money, I may lose my health, my loved ones may die. But in the grand scheme of life, that is all ok. For my security does not rest in the things and the people of this life. My security rests firmly in my loving God.
Prayer: Lord God, may you continue to be my refuge and strength. Amen.
Activity: Describe one piece of bad news that you’ve received this week. Explain how your security in Christ gives you confidence in the face of this bad news.

Give Up a Sense of Security
1 Corinthians 10:12
Saturday, March 10th

One of Aesop’s fables goes like this: Two roosters fought for supremacy in the farmyard. Finally one was defeated and he went and hid himself in a corner of the hen-house. The victor flew up to the roof of the barn and began to crow, “I’ve won, I’ve won!" An eagle swooped down and carried him away and the rooster that had been defeated suddenly found himself the unchallenged master of the farmyard. The moral of the story: Pride goes before the fall.
Human beings by nature are proud. When we look at a group photo, the first person we automatically look to is ourselves. When someone is trying to talk to us, often we either fail to listen or we interrupt them. When we actually take the time to listen, many times our reaction is to one-up the person who is speaking. Human beings are proud by nature.
Unfortunately, that pride does not go away when it comes to our relationship with God. We go to church, we read our Bibles, we do something nice for our neighbor, and we think, “What a great person I am. This church is lucky to have me. My spouse could never find anyone so great as me. I know I’m not perfect God, but I’m certainly better than most of the people on this earth”. Human beings are proud. But what does God say? “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
We’ve been talking about giving up a sense of security, and the sense of security God specifically warns us about in 1 Corinthians 10 is the false security that human beings may place in themselves. The nation of Israel often fell for that temptation. Instead of repeating the sins of their history, God urges us to give up the security of self, and instead watch out and be careful so that we too don’t fall.
During Lent, we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to guard against a false security in self, as we humbly confess our sin to God. Make use of opportunities to confess your sins privately to your Pastor, publicly with fellow Christians, and individually to your God. And then, dear Christian, rejoice in knowing you have a Savior who has washed your sins clean in his blood.
Prayer: Lord God, forgive the sins of my pride. May I never look to myself for the security of my salvation. Instead, may I always look to you, my God and Savior. Amen.
Activity: If you have a copy of Christian Worship—a Lutheran Hymnal, open it to pages 154 and 155, and either by yourself, or preferably with another Christian, walk through the section entitled, “Private Confession”.

Give Up

4

Judgementalism

Be Humble
1 Peter 5:6
Sunday, March 11th

Perhaps you are familiar with the concept of the acronym GOAT? No, it is not a new government program or the latest text speak. It stands for:
Greatest
Of
All
Time.
Maybe you have heard someone use it in reference to a debate over which quarterback should be at the front of the line of all of the hall of fame signal callers. You might hear the phrase used in the realm of politics when folks are wrangling over which president had the biggest impact on our country. Have you ever been part of any discussion or debate when it comes to being the GOAT?
Each time we are confronted with God's law, we are humbled by our sins. The law brings us to our knees when we realize in no uncertain terms that we are the GOAT in the realm of violating God's Law. We must echo the words of Paul
Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed his blood for me,
Died that I might live on high,
Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine,
I am his and he is mine!
The gospel shines through in the verse of this often used hymn. It is that good news that lifts us up, dusts us off and gives us the utmost confidence. In due time, Jesus went willingly to the cross, earned eternal life for us, and placed his name on us!
Prayer: O God, pride is a real and present problem. Give your grace to those who are humble. Give us the humility of your Son, that we may embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Activity: Discuss in what ways Jesus humbled himself in order to earn salvation for the world.

How Humble?
Ephesians 4:2
Monday, March 12th

I am writing this devotion during the season of Advent. The theme of our worship services during this season of preparation is that Jesus is coming soon as the Savior of nations. We prepare for the arrival of the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. Yet we also look past his initial arrival as we prepare our hearts in repentance for his second coming in the clouds.
What do we do while we wait? I am somebody who loves to read. Before I head off to the doctor's office, I want to be sure to have a paperback or my kindle in hand to make the time move along in the waiting room.
What do we do while we wait for Christ's return? We have a to do list of "Bs" in these words from Ephesians 4. These are marching orders that are more easily said than done. These are things to be done to the glory of God, not to earn the salvation that Christ has already won for us.
Be completely humble- as we realize our unworthiness before God, as we remember our baptism and the fact that our sins are washed away, we marvel at the love of God and the impact of that love on us. In humility we look to serve those neighbors around us in many ways, especially by sharing the words of hope that the Holy Spirit used to bring us to faith.
Be gentle- endure the irritations and aggravations that we might deal with from others with love.
Be patient- this might be in particularly short supply for sinful people living in a sinful world. When will Jesus return so we don't have to deal with the challenges and to do lists that mount up? In the mean time we rejoice at all times- even when we have to wait.
Bear with each other in love– empathy is part of our lives of service as we serve our neighbors. Often times we are better off understanding that less might be more. Bearing with each other isn't making somebody else's rough situation better in order to have the spotlight shine on yourself.
The word “completely” lets us know that God's expectations for us can be daunting. His love covers all of the times that we fall short in the areas of being patient, loving, and gentle.
Prayer: Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. Amen. (Verse 1 of “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” by John Fawcett. #494 in Christian Worship—a Lutheran Hymnal.)
Activity: We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear, And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear (Verse 3 of “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” by John Fawcett). Discuss what we might do to humbly serve folks in our congregation and community.

Forgive Like God
Ephesians 4:32
Tuesday, March 13th

Forgiveness is something we like to get more than we like to give. This is nothing new- Jesus dealt with his own disciples struggling to conceive of forgiving each other. It's no surprise that Peter is bold enough to come to Jesus to ask.
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Have you been stingy with forgiveness? Those sins have been washed away! We can rejoice that past tense is used in our reading "in Christ God forgave you." This gives us confidence God's love which we see in Christ makes this a done deal!
Prayer: O Savior, when we loved you not, You loved and saved us all; O great good Shepherd of mankind, Oh, hear us when we call. Send us your Spirit; teach us truth to purge our vanity. From fancied wisdom, self-sought ways, O Savior, set us free. Amen.
Activity: Discuss the various things we do to stay healthy. According to the Mayo clinic, people who hold grudges have increased blood pressure and heart rates. The benefits of forgiving include less anxiety, stress and hostility, lowered blood pressure, decreased symptoms of depression, and will lower the risk of alcohol and drug abuse. The act of forgiveness can change one’s life by bringing peace, happiness, along with emotional and spiritual healing. Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Adult Health.” Forgiveness: Letting Go of Grudges and Bitterness.Mayo Clinic, 11 Nov. 2014. Web. 27 Dec. 2015.

Jesus Shed His Blood for Them
Acts 10:9-16
Wednesday, March 14th

It was a given. If you were a Jew faithful to the Old Testament Law of God given through Moses, there were just some things you didn't do. For instance, you didn't eat unclean foods, because that was strictly forbidden. In fact, you avoided anything that could make you unclean, even if it wasn't forbidden. After all, being unclean cut you off temporarily from worship of God and from fellowship in the community. So you would just stay away from those unclean things as much as possible. And certainly that included staying away from Gentiles.
What a shock to Peter, then, when God gave him this dream filled with unclean animals. “Kill and eat,” said the voice. “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke again, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
And right after the dream, Gentiles arrived asking to see Peter. The message of the dream was unmistakable: the old rules about what is “unclean” no longer applied.
Most Christians today probably aren't worried about becoming unclean by being around Gentiles—after all, most of us are Gentiles. I certainly pray that getting hung up over whether someone is the right skin color is a thing of the past among us, too. I think the bigger challenges are the self-created “unclean” categories we all have.
“They're beyond saving. Just look at the unclean, sinful life they lead.” “They're beyond saving. Just look at the unclean political beliefs they hold.” “They're beyond saving. Just look at the unclean tattoos, piercings, and hair-dye they've got.”
Fact is, we're all beyond saving if we are judged by our sin-corrupted thoughts. No one is “clean” enough to deserve salvation. Not you or me. Especially not people who judge others as though we are more righteous than they.
That's where Jesus comes in. Jesus shed his cleansing blood to wash away your every sin. Jesus shed his cleansing blood to forgive you for any contemptuous thoughts against others. Jesus shed his blood to forgive you for every time you shunned someone else, whether publicly, privately, or just in your own head. Jesus shed his blood for every time you scorned someone for not following your personal preferences. Jesus' blood flowed from his cross to you through faith. You have since received it in the Lord's Supper, making its’ gift personally yours. You are cleansed. Forgiven.
And here's the thing: whoever you've looked down on in the past, Jesus shed his cleansing blood for them, too. Which means, it's our joy to give up judgmentalism and share our Savior with them.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to give up all judgmentalism because you will judge me according to your righteous life. Help me to reach out in love to everyone I meet, remembering that you shed your cleansing blood for them, as well. Amen.
Activity: Think of someone you know or interact with regularly that you have some judgmental feelings toward. Pray for them without condescension.

Even When the Judgment is “Good”
1 Samuel 16:7
Thursday, March 15th

Every year in sports, some team will draft a college player with eye-popping physical attributes, only to discover one little problem: they don't have what it takes “on the inside.” Maybe they lack smarts in general. Or maybe they lack a keen understanding of the game. Either way, they don't have what it takes to translate their physical attributes into success in the game.
God's prophet, Samuel, also got lured into judging by looks. When he was sent to anoint a new king at the house of Jesse, Jesse's first son walked by. He looked the part. “Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord,” thought Samuel.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Isn't God's assessment correct? We easily judge by outward appearances. St. James once spoke of the sin of showing favoritism. “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism … [by doing so] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1,4). What really leads us to this sin is that we think we'll get something from it. We think that if we hook our wagon to their train, we'll come out ahead of others in some way.
By contrast, “[Jesus] had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him … and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:2,3). Yet he is the one who “took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). He is the one who was “pierced for our transgressions … crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). He bore “the punishment that brought us peace … and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). In fact, our unselfish Savior, Jesus, suffered complete abandonment by God to forgive you for every time your judgmental heart showed sinful favoritism toward someone.
Now, instead of favoritism toward things this world considers valuable, you know that what your Savior has done for you is the most valuable treasure of all. The Lord has opened your eyes to the heart of the matter: that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). What's more, you see that “God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him” (James 2:5). Therefore, led by the Spirit, you reject favoritism. You give up judgementalism, even when the judgment is “good.” You do not judge by appearances. You proclaim Christ to all, and let the Lord judge the heart.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me see everyone the way you see them, as precious souls who you died to save. Amen.
Activity: Evaluate whether or not you show favoritism to certain people and who you tend to ignore. Make a point to have a friendly conversation with someone you might normally ignore.

Of Whom I Am the Worst
1 Timothy 1:15
Friday, March 16th

Isn’t it a dangerous thing Paul does? I mean to unabashedly confess before the almighty judge and God of all, “I am the worst of sinners.” Isn’t that a risky thing?
In 1960 a motion picture was released called Spartacus. The movie is set in the first century BC. In the movie Spartacus is part of an army of slaves who do a lot of dirty work for the Roman Empire. Spartacus separates himself as a leader and he is made into a gladiator. Eventually a group of gladiators, including Spartacus, overpower their Roman guards and they escape. Spartacus becomes their leader and they fight for their freedom, but their luck runs out. The fugitive fighters are surrounded by Roman armies and the Roman commanders call for Spartacus to be handed over dead or alive. As Spartacus begins to stand up to identify himself all his surviving fugitives begin to stand and yell one by one, “I am Spartacus.” They won’t let their leader be handed over to be crucified alone. They are all led away to be crucified.
As the Apostle Paul calls out, “I am the worst of sinners” don’t you find yourself standing up next to him and saying, “No Paul, I’ve looked into my own heart and it is me. I am the worst of sinners.” We are not going to let Paul stand alone confessing to be the first place sinner. We have come to know and sadly experience Jesus’ words, “Out of the heart (my own heart) come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19). We know it all too well.
Knowing our sin all too well we are led away to the site of a crucifixion. Amazingly, it is not us who will be punished for our rebellion against God. There we see the holy Son of God crucified for us.
Like Paul, we have been led to do something risky and dangerous. The Holy Spirit has worked in us the same confession. It would be altogether risky and dangerous to confess such things before God unless … unless we were convinced with Paul, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). There are no exceptions: the sinner who confesses and repents of their sin finds grace in Jesus. The sinner who is sorrowful over offending God, the sinner who wishes they had never angered God and turns to him - that sinner finds grace and salvation in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed his blood for me,
Died that I might live on high, Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine, I am his and he is mine! Amen.
(Verse 1 of “Chief of Sinners, Though I Be” by William McComb, #385 in Christian Worship—a Lutheran Hymnal)
Activity: Look up the rest of the verse of the hymn “Chief of Sinners Though I Be” quoted above as the prayer. What verse means the most to you?

It Is Enough
1 John 2:2
Saturday, March 17th

Be amazed at the extent of God’s love: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7,8). But God doesn’t stop there. He keeps going. For the one whose conscience condemns with, “You are the worst of sinners,” for the one who judges their own heart and life as “not good enough,” God keeps going. God announces to you, “Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
If God loves the whole world, then he loves me too! If God loves the whole world then I am not condemned. If God loves the whole world then those sins that I thought God’s grace couldn’t cover – they are covered. If God loves the whole world, then the atoning sacrifice of Jesus satisfied God’s anger that was directed towards me.
If God’s sacrifice for sin is for the whole world, then it applies to the one I judged “not good enough” to be forgiven. If God’s sacrifice for sin is for the whole world then it applies to the one I deemed “not worthy” to receive God’s grace. Certainly the latest news stories make us shake our heads over the gross sins of our world. We remember God’s atoning sacrifice is enough for my sins, yes, and not just for my sins, it is enough for the sins of the whole world.
Instead of judging who is worthy of God’s grace and who is not worthy of God’s grace we turn our attention to the place where God judged the whole world of sinners. At the cross we can estimate the nature of our sin and the sin of the whole world. We look to the cross and learn how God deals with sin, our sin and all sin. It took the Son of God dying to pay for sin. God judges that his Son’s sacrifice is enough. We go to the cross and find the only one who is perfect. We put our trust in him. We direct others to his sacrifice. It is enough.
Prayer: Dear Lord, set me free from the sin of judging others to be worthy or unworthy of your grace. Give me eyes to see all people as souls for whom your sacrifice is enough. Amen.
Activity: Pick up the nearest magazine in your living room. Look at all the different faces in that magazine. Skim the pages of the magazine looking at all the different faces and reminding one another that Jesus’ sacrifice is for the whole world.

Give Up

5

Living in the Past

Let Go of the Past
Psalm 32:1-2
Sunday, March 18th

It started innocently. All he did was look. It was late and he couldn’t sleep. When he got up and walked around, he noticed the neighbor’s window was open. Perhaps to his surprise at first, he noticed his neighbor’s wife bathing through the open window. Why didn’t he just look away? That would have saved him so much pain and trouble. But he didn’t. He kept looking. The lustful desire was already planted in his heart. This lustful desire led him, against the advice of his servant, to inquire further about this lady. The inquiry led to a sexual affair. The sexual affair led to an unwanted pregnancy. The unwanted pregnancy led to lying, which eventually led to murder. All of this pain and trouble came from innocently looking at the neighbor’s window when he couldn’t sleep. This question haunted him: Why didn’t he just look away?
How many times don’t we look back at our sins, and feel haunted by the same question? Oh, the shame and embarrassment and guilt we experience all because we didn’t look away! Oh, how foolish we feel as we look back at situations that could have been avoided if we had just stopped our thoughts and actions as soon as they started to stray! But we didn’t. We didn’t look away. And those initial thoughts and actions led to increasing sins, and resulting consequences that we feel to this day. Perhaps we are still haunted by shame and guilt from foolish actions that happened years and years ago. If only we had looked away!
While David knew guilt and shame from his sin, he also knew the blessing of God’s forgiveness. God didn’t condone David’s sin, but he did take his sin away. When God saw David confessing his sin and trusting in God for forgiveness, he saw a man covered in the perfect life Jesus would live. He saw a man washed as white as snow by the perfect death Jesus would die. Even though Christ wasn’t due to be born for 1,000 years, David had the blessing of God’s forgiveness in the coming Savior.
You have that same blessing. However foolish you feel, whatever guilt and shame that you carry for sins you have done, God offers you the gift of free forgiveness in Jesus. The past need not haunt you any longer. God doesn’t excuse your sin, but in Jesus he has forgiven it, covered it up, and removed it from his sight forever. You can let go of the past and move into the future blessed by Christ.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, forgive us for all the sins we have committed against you. Help us to let go of our sinful past, and fill us with your peace as we marvel at the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Amen.
Activity: Have each family member write on a small sheet of paper a sin that haunts them from the past and fold up the sheet so no one else can see it. Then have each person take their sheet and tear it into little pieces, to illustrate how God no longer sees your sins or counts them against you.

Short Term Pain, Long Term Pleasure
Psalm 32:3-4
Monday, March 19th

Nathan would later confront him with the accusation: “You are the man,” but deep inside he already knew it. And it was slowly killing him! The short-term pleasure of sleeping with Bathsheba – and then the additional sins of lying, coverup, and murdering Uriah - had turned into long-term pain. How could a man whom God described as “a man after God’s own heart” have done such horrible and heinous things? In our Psalm verses for today, David describes the physical and spiritual effect that his sins had on him. It didn’t last for just a few days. David carried these sins on his conscience for roughly a year, trying each day to hide his guilt and shame. But he couldn’t. His conscience continued to accuse him of the wrath of God which he deserved for his sin. Deep down, he knew the pain he felt now was only a foretaste of the hell he deserved for the sins he committed.
We know it’s true from sad experience, don’t we? Short-term sinful pleasures tempt us to act quickly without considering the consequences. We click on a website link and feast our eyes over things we should not be looking at. We “snap” in anger, and unleash a barrage of demeaning and condescending words on a loved one who has wronged us. We keep pouring just one more drink when we know we’ve already had too much. The short-term pleasure seems worth it at the time. But then comes the long-term pain. Guilt and shame from things we did 10 or 20 or even 30 years ago may still feel as real and present and intense as if we had just done it. The weight seems unbearable. We grow exhausted and depressed from thinking about how foolish we were. More to the point, we know that earthly pain and regret is only a foretaste of the hell we deserve for the sins we have committed.
But God has given both us and David another option: take our sin to the throne of God’s grace, lay it before him and hear God’s beautiful words: You are forgiven! Jesus paid the price for our sins. God has removed them from his sight. We are released from the past. The punishment has been paid and the consequences removed. Now, the short-term pain of confessing our sins turns into long-term pleasure as we go forward in the peace and certainty of forgiveness. The Lord has taken away our sins. We will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Prayer: Almighty God and Father, in your love you sent Jesus to be the sacrifice you demanded for our sin. Now send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to assure us of your forgiveness and to fill us with your peace and joy. Amen.
Activity: As a family, sing or read together hymn “Drawn to the Cross” by Genevieve Irons (#387 from Christian Worship).

Confession is Good for the Soul
Psalm 32:5
Tuesday, March 20th

“Open confession is good for the soul.” So goes the Scottish proverb. But we may ask, “Why is it good for the soul?” Many live under the thought that confessing our sin benefits God in some way. But does God know our sins before we already confess them? Or course he does! God knows all things. God knew about our sin from the moment that the desire to do it was planted like an evil seed in our heart. Nothing is hidden from the ever-present, all-knowing God.
So why do we hide our sins? The reality is, we are trying to hide it from ourselves. Hiding sins and keeping them secret is a way to convince ourselves that they really weren’t that bad. Confessing sins, on the other hand, makes us come face to face with the ugly reality of our not only our sins but our sinful nature itself.
Confession – uncovering and admitting our sins – doesn’t benefit God. It benefits us! It unburdens us from the guilt associated with our sin. It strips of the pride we showed by keeping that sin to ourselves. It acknowledges our sin before God and begs for forgiveness, trusting in Jesus.
When David confessed his sin to the prophet Nathan, he finally admitted that he had done something truly damnable. He had sinned against the great God of heaven, and deserved his eternal wrath. David’s confession made him very well aware of his need for a Savior. What comfort he received when God’s prophet spoke words of absolution! The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die” (2 Samuel 12:13).
Confession is good for the soul. It is more than just a cathartic act which clears our mind. It leaves us bare before God, and then he securely covers us in the perfect life and death of Jesus. This is God’s promise: when we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and forgives us our sins and purifies us from all unrighteousness.
With all this in mind, why would we ever be afraid to confess our sins to God? God already knows what we have done. He wants us to confess it, acknowledge our guilt, and lay our sins at his feet. . . . so that he may lift us up in the joy of his perfect forgiveness.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, you know all things. You know our heart and see our actions. We confess our sins of thought, word and deed to you and beg for your forgiveness. We are confident that your forgiveness is ours in Jesus. Amen.
Activity: Without judgment, go around the table and have each person confess one sin they committed during the day. Assure each person of God’s forgiveness in Christ and of the peace that is theirs from Jesus. Hold hands together and say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the forgiveness he offers.

No Condemnation Now
Romans 8:1
Wednesday, March 21st

Imagine what it would be like to be a criminal on death row. You know the inevitable is coming; you’re going to be put to death. Then imagine what it would be like to be exonerated from death row. One moment you’re facing death, then all of a sudden you’re set free and the charges against you have been dropped! Since 1973, the U.S. Death Penalty Information Center has recorded the number of people exonerated from death row. As of this writing, the total count is 160. Over the past 45 years, only 160 people have ever experienced what it’s like to be set free from death row. Chances are, you aren’t one of them.
However, you do know exactly what it’s like to be set free from a death sentence. You once lived under a condemnation. You were once faced with the inevitable fact that you were going to die for your crimes. There was plenty of evidence that you were guilty of breaking the many laws God set before you in his Word. Your sin was evident to others and to God. The hope of getting your death sentence overturned seemed impossible.
And yet, the charges against you have been dropped. There is no longer any condemnation for you. Instead of facing a death sentence you have been set free to live, and more than that, to live forever. All this is possible only because Jesus took your spot on death row and suffered your death sentence for you. The sins that you committed became his sins. The life of righteousness he lived became your life. You are free from condemnation!
There is no condemnation for you because you are in Christ Jesus. Earlier in Romans, Paul explains what it means to be “in Christ.” Being in Christ means you were baptized into Christ’s death. You were buried with him through baptism into death. Now, just as Christ was raised from the dead, you too will live a new life!
You can give up living in the past. You don’t have to live as someone under a death sentence. Instead, you can live every day as someone who has been set free from death row. Jesus set you free from the consequences of sin. Now live your life as a thank-you-note to the one who freed you from condemnation.
Prayer: Dear Loving Savior, thank you for freeing me from my death sentence. Help me live in you as you live in me. Let my life be one of gratitude to you for taking away my condemnation. Amen.
Activity: Ask this question to yourself or those reading this devotion with you: “What is the first thing you would do if you were set free from death row?” Now ask: “How will you live your life differently today knowing that Jesus set you free from your death sentence?”

Walk in the Light
1 John 1:7
Thursday, March 22nd

What’s the best time for going on a walk? Some people may enjoy going for a stroll in the early hours of the morning before the sun comes out. Others may prefer walking after the sun has set, a sort of “night hike.” Most people, however, prefer walking in the daytime. There are quite a few benefits of going for a walk while it is actually light outside. You can see where you are going, and thus avoid bumps and cracks in the sidewalk that might trip you up during the night. You can see what is around you, both enjoying the beautiful scenery and avoiding any unsavory characters who may be lurking in the shadows. Walking in the daytime even gives you a chance to work on your suntan!
Spiritually, there are also many benefits to walking in the light. God says that if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. Walking in the light means we don’t have to walk alone. We get to walk with Jesus, because he is the light. We get to walk along with our many brothers and sisters in Christ. We have fellowship with them all. Walking in the light means we’re in good company.
Sadly, there are times when we’d rather walk in the dark. There are times when we are the unsavory character hiding in the bushes, not wanting anybody to see what we are doing. When we walk in the dark like this, we stumble and are tripped up by sins and worries. We become entangled in guilt, and start to think that we aren’t worthy of walking in the light with Jesus ever again.
But Jesus is the one who pulled us out of the dark and into the light in the first place. He will continue to walk with us, and beckon us back to walk with him in the light. Walking with Jesus in the light means his blood purifies us from all sin, even the sin of wandering back towards the dark. Walking with Jesus in the light means his forgiveness shines all around us and chases the shadows away. Walking with Jesus in the light means we can see where we are going. Jesus is leading us to a place where we will no longer need the light of a lamp or the sun. He’s leading us to heaven, where God will be our light forever.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for calling me out of darkness into light. Help me resist walking in the darkness of sin and keep me by your side as I walk in the light. Amen.
Activity: Remind yourself that you walk with Jesus. Read or listen to stanza 5 and 6 of the hymn “I Walk in Danger All the Way” by Hans Brorson (#431 in Christian Worship—a Lutheran Hymnal).

The Savior Sings
Psalm 130
Friday, March 23rd

As his earthly ministry was coming to an end, Jesus made the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem one last time. We can imagine, as was the Jewish custom, that Jesus, Peter, Judas, and the rest of the disciples sang the Psalms of Ascent as they climbed the mountainous road to the City of David for the annual Passover Festival. Likely, they would have sung these words from Psalm 130, “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”
For these men called by Jesus, Holy Week seemed like madness! They watched Jesus enter Jerusalem to joyful shouts of “Hosanna,” and yet they knew all the while that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus and might come after them, too. Tension rose throughout the week as Jesus repeatedly preached at the temple courtyards, growing more and more direct with his warnings against the self-righteous religious leaders. Finally, Thursday night came, providing some quiet time for Jesus and his disciples to relax and enjoy the Passover celebration together. Yet, even at this sacred dinner, there was to be no rest. Jesus spoke of death at the hands of his enemies, abandonment by his friends, and in the case of Peter and Judas, outright betrayal.
Though the disciples could scarcely believe these terrible predictions, within just a few hours it had all come true! When the Shepherd was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, all his sheep scattered. The next day, as they hid in the darkest places of Jerusalem, news reached them that their Lord was dying on a tree - alone! To make matters worse, the devil had tempted one of them into such guilt and despair that he (Judas) had taken his own life. The tempter came to the rest of the disciples as well. With the same voice of doubt and condemnation that whispered to Judas, he whispered to them. And he also wants to whisper to us. “Look at the terrible things you’ve done. Do you really think that God will forgive you?”
It is in those moments, hiding in the darkness like the disciples, that we must listen closely for another voice. Like a shepherd out looking for his lost sheep at night, the voice of Jesus – the voice of Truth - calls for you by name. He isn’t angry or shouting. In fact, surprisingly, the Good Shepherd is singing. He is singing the words of Psalm 130. “With [me] there is forgiveness...with [me] is unfailing love...with [me] is full redemption” (vs. 4,7). Just as the Lord graciously appeared to the disciples on Easter Sunday and said the words their souls longed to hear, “Peace be with you,” may the Lord bring his peace to you this Lenten season through the words of Psalm 130 and other beautiful portions of Scripture.
Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned, sometimes unknowingly but more often than not by choice. Forgive me, and create in me a new heart, O God, that I may serve you all my days. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Activity: On your computer or cellphone, go to YouTube and search, “Sons of Korah Psalm 130” and enjoy this very beautiful Psalm put to music!

Remember Me!
Psalm 25:7
Saturday, March 24th

“Satan!” Peter still couldn’t fathom that Jesus had called him Satan! Surely Jesus didn’t mean it. Couldn’t he see that Peter was just trying to save him from the Pharisees who were plotting to take Jesus’ life?
“You of little faith!” Peter’s faith wasn’t little, was it? Had anyone else walked on water in the middle of a storm? Did any of the other disciples even try to get out of the boat like he had? Yet it still wasn’t good enough for Jesus, who asked him, “Why did you doubt?”
Three betrayals? No way! Surely the teacher was mistaken! Peter vehemently protested that he would never forsake the Lord, even if everyone else did. In fact, as they headed toward the Garden to pray, Peter took a sword along and resolved, that if necessary, he would even kill for his Messiah!
Fear and regret. Those two emotions dominated Peter’s heart and mind throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Despite his previous youthful bravado and brash self-confidence, Peter now hid in a dark room in sheer disbelief. Had he really denied even knowing Jesus?
If only he could take it all back! Not just the obvious sins of the past few days, but all the mistakes he had made during the past three years - selfish ambition, arrogance, doubt, pride, and fear!
Do you ever feel like Peter? In our youthful excitement and desire to live life to the fullest, we run ahead of our Good Shepherd only to find the path we have chosen leads to pain, suffering, and years of regret. Often the decisions we make are motivated by fear: fear of what others may think, fear of failure, fear to get out of the boat and simply trust God. If your rebellious past is still producing feelings of guilt or shame, then let these beautiful words of God, penned by David, bring you comfort, “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways according to your love remember me for you, Lord, are good” (Psalm 25:7).
Love! On Easter Sunday, Christ came to Peter and his friends, proclaiming “peace” and not condemnation. During his resurrection appearances, no word is recorded in any of the gospels about Jesus rehashing their failings of the past week. Instead, in love he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them! In his grace and love he came to Peter (the one who had denied him three times) and once again called him to be his disciple.
During this season of Lent, Christ comes to you as well. He offers only words of forgiveness and life because he has already endured the full penalty of God’s wrath on Calvary. He has already called you to be his child, and now calls you back to repentance and trust in his promises. One day he will call you to be with him in the eternal kingdom of heaven.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in my youth I often pursued my own ways. Forgive me and take away my guilt. In love remember me as your holy child because of your only child, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Activity: Each person is to “remember” his/her favorite story of Jesus and share why it their favorite.

Give Up

6

Defending Yourself

It’s On the Scapegoat
Psalm 22:5
Sunday, March 25th

The moment that Jesus commandeered the donkey…that was the beginning. The second he entered into his city of Jerusalem to shouts and palm branches…that was the line on the sand. War was declared by Jesus…declared on our sin; declared on our death; declared on our nemesis, Satan.
War was declared on each of the times you felt the impulsive need to defend yourself. “I didn’t mean to hit my sister!” “They made me do it!” “It’s not my fault!” Each one of these empty defenses Jesus picks up and carries to the end of this week. There he will climb onto your cross to make these words become forever true: “In you…they trusted and you delivered them.”
Listen to the David recount words which will come out of Jesus’ own mouth by the end of this week: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” There was a very special day each year in the Old Testament called the Day of Atonement. It was a day when the entire nation of Israel would gather together with two goats. One goat was the Lord’s and was scheduled to be sacrificed as an offering. The other goat was the “scapegoat.” The priest would confess all of faults and foibles of the people of Israel and put them on the goat’s head. Then the scapegoat was taken out to a solitary place in the desert where it would wander until it died carrying all the sins and wrongs of the people.
This yearly event was a planned picture by God to show us that when our sin is paid for by Jesus’ sacrifice…then are sins are no longer with us. They are removed from us and are as far away from us as going in an east direction will mean you will never hit a destination in the west.
Jesus is now the scapegoat for you and your failed defenses…and, every other sin you have committed. Since your sin is on Jesus and he pays for it with his precious blood spilled from his veins as he dies on the cross…you have been delivered from your sin; from your death; from your nemesis, Satan.
Jesus has declared war so you can give up defending yourself. When you trust in him you will be delivered and not disappointed.
Prayer: Humble Lord, thank you for being my scapegoat and being forsaken by God so that I will never know what that is like. Help me to always trust in you and look to you to be delivered from my sins. In your name is my prayer made. Amen.
Activity: Act out the scapegoat scene with your family. One person volunteer to be the scapegoat and another put their hands on his head and put the family’s sin there. Send the scapegoat into another room. If the sins are on the scapegoat, where is it impossible for them to be?

The Anger Absorber
Psalm 22:6-11
Monday, March 26th

Did you see the video of Keaton Jones talking about how he was being bullied at school? Keaton, an 11-year-old boy for Knoxville, Tennessee, was tearfully recounting his experience with middle-school bullies. Keaton tells about how he suffers at the whims of his classmates. They mocked his nose and called him ugly and said that he had no friends. They threw milk on him and put ham down his shirt. I would think you would have to be a pretty angry individual to do these types of things to another person.
Do you think Keaton’s bullies have an explanation for why they chose to do those things? I’m not exactly sure what they might say…but I can imagine a few things. “He had it coming.” “He deserves it.” “I’m just trying to help him toughen up.” Do you ever take your anger out on somebody around you? Maybe it’s your spouse. Maybe it’s your kids. Maybe it’s your classmates. Maybe it’s your brother. Maybe it’s your co-workers. “They had it coming.” “They deserved it.” “Maybe they should have treated me that way.”
This day of Holy Week is often called “Angry Monday.” It gets that kind of name because this is the day Jesus cleansed the temple for its focus on something other than worship, curses a fig tree that has no fruit, and curses the Pharisees who are intently interested in themselves. Those are some examples of Jesus displaying anger (and, isn’t it amazing how he doesn’t sin like we would in his situation?!). Did you know he also absorbed anger?
This is Jesus absorbing anger: “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: ‘He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’”
Jesus not only absorbs the anger of the people around the cross who treat him so cruelly; he absorbs God’s anger over our sins. Our sins of anger we display to others…anger in our actions or in our words. Jesus absorbs the God’s anger that states the paycheck for sinning like that…or any other way…is an eternity in hell. Jesus absorbs all of that anger into himself and for you. His absorption of God’s anger makes it so he can give you this promise, “I have removed and deleted each one of your sins from your record. You are clean. You are washed. You are free. You are forgiven.”
Now, knowing that Jesus is the anger absorber, that sets you free to be kind and compassionate and forgiving to all those around you.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for absorbing all of God’s anger for my sins so I can be forgiven and with you in heaven. Please help me to treat all people with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. In your name I say this prayer. Amen.
Activity: Go around the table and recount a time when you became really angry. Discuss how Jesus has absorbed that sin for you and, now that you are forgiven and free, can handle that situation differently in the future.

Things We Shouldn’t Carry
Isaiah 53:4-5
Tuesday, March 27th

One part of life that is equal parts frustrating and exciting is watching kids growing up and becoming independent. Recently this has been playing out in my life in the form of my preschooler “helping” carry in the groceries. When the bags are filled with cereal boxes, things go smoothly. When there’s a full gallon of milk or a glass container involved, things can be a bit more dicey. I’d rather not deal with my child’s failure to carry those groceries. At this juncture in life, it is just better if I carry those things.
There are a handful of emotional and spiritual issues that people (believers and unbelievers alike) carry around. Worries about the future, emotional scars from the past, and guilt brought about by our sins are all uncomfortable burdens. What should you do? How does God want you to carry these burdens?
Scripture makes it clear that your only hope for relief from these burdens is to give up. Give up worrying. Give up fretting about the past. When worried about disease and death, both Jairus and a woman with a bleeding condition gave up and relied on Jesus who could take up their infirmities (Luke 8:40-56). When Joseph met his brothers after years apart, he gave up on vengeance and pointed to the work of God who could carry his sorrows (Genesis 45).
More important than giving up in these temporal matters is the giving up that we need to do when faced with the guilt of our sin. We dare not stand up to God claiming an excuse. We can’t hope to hide our “small” sin in the shadow of another person’s “big” sin. No matter how hard we try to mold and adjust God’s immutable will, we can’t change it or make our sins acceptable. When we try to carry the guilt of our sins, we find ourselves in a far worse condition than a four-year-old carrying too many glass bottles. We have no hope. We have no defense. Give up! Repent!
Jesus has taken your sorrows. He has taken your sickness. He has taken your guilt and your punishment. He is your Savior.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, strengthen me with a firm reliance on you. Remind me that I cannot hope to carry all my guilt and sorrow. Make it plain to me that you have carried these for me. Enable me to share this message with others. Amen.
Activity: Read Luke 8:40-56 and Romans 4:1-8. Find evidence of Jairus, a sick woman, Abraham, and David giving up on themselves and putting their trust in God.

Paths We Shouldn’t Take
Isaiah 53:6
Wednesday, March 28th

Years ago, my wife and I got to spend some time in Bako National Park in Malaysia. We got a great rate on our travel because our trip was right at the end of the monsoon season. For the most part, the weather was fine and the trip was lovely. Since we were in such a special place, we opted for a hike and an opportunity to see some truly unique plants and animals.
What we failed to fully grasp, however, was that the previous weeks of rain had left certain hiking paths under water. We also didn’t realize that some portions of the paths were closed to visitors. Furthermore, the water made it easy to miss a few important forks in the path. Our failures and nature’s treachery conspired to turn our leisurely stroll into a nine-mile slog.
When I think back on that hike, I tend to make mental excuses that explain why my wife and I should not have been culpable for our missteps. Chief among these is the fact that the closed paths were not marked. I also attempt to outweigh the bad with the good. We did see some amazing sights and make it back safely, after all. In fact, if I’m honest, when I share the story it’s much more fun to make my wife and I out to be intrepid explorers rather than bumbling soggy foreigners.
When we find ourselves astray of God’s will revealed in his word, we often try to rationalize our sins. We like to carve out explanations for why our sins aren’t really sins. We like to find mistakes in others that make our sins seem insignificant. Sometimes, in fits of perverse thought, we try to justify our behaviors by showing that they achieved some worthy cause. This rationalizing, explaining, comparing, and justifying really gets us nowhere. We have to give up this failed defense and trust our Savior who carried our sins on himself.
In our Scripture for today, Isaiah lays out the universal nature of this problem as well as the singular solution. All have gone astray. No one can defend themselves before the judge. But all sins have been laid on our Savior Jesus. Our own defense is unnecessary. Our true defense is Jesus.
When your feet stray, when your heart is angry, and when your eye is jealous, repent. Know that your God has taken your guilt and placed you back on his path.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, work through the Word to strengthen me. Increase my trust in God and his love. Build in me an unassailable confidence that Jesus speaks in my defense and has secured my salvation. Amen.
Activity: Read Psalm 22. As you look forward to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, consider the things that Jesus did in order to be your perfect defense and your freedom from punishment.

The True Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:1-13
Thursday, March 29th

Give up defending yourself, it won’t work. It can’t work. Not just because the attitudes and orientations of your heart are indefensible (you shouldn’t be trying to paint them as godly), but because your attempts at defending yourself have failed, do fail, and will always fail in the future.
Give it up, it is not working, it cannot work. Like a child in the 1960’s being taught to hide under the desk as a protection from the A-bomb, all your defense efforts will do is give you the illusion of safety.
Some of the plagues in Egypt affected Israelites and Egyptians alike. Others afflicted only Egyptians. The final plague, the plague of the firstborn would fall across the whole land. Death was coming, “I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn” (Exodus 12:12). This destructive plague would take the lives of people and animals alike, but for the Israelites there was a defense.
What stood between the Israelite firstborn and death on that great and dreadful night was not impenetrable armor plating or a robust verbal argument. It wasn’t an ever vigilant guard outside the door or a king’s decree declaring the firstborn to be untouchable. What stood between the firstborn and certain death was blood, the blood of the lamb.
Spotless and innocent, the lamb had received special care in the home for 5 days. Then the family would gather to watch the lamb’s slaughter and the blood painted on the doorframe.
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt (Exodus 12:13).
Blood seems to be a pitiful defense against a destroying angel. Yet the blood of the innocent was shed to spare the firstborn from death. The blood of the Passover lamb on the doorframe showed that death had already come to that house and death would not come again. The Passover lamb died and its blood was the only defense that the family needed.
On this night we recall how the true Passover Lamb gave his body and blood to us, to eat and to drink, to forgive our sins, to mark our hearts, to defend us from death, and to deliver eternal life. Jesus, the true Passover Lamb purchased a perfect defense with his holy precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death. With him, I can gladly give up defending myself.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, my true Passover lamb, defend me from the terrible danger of my sin and bless me with the peace of forgiveness. May your precious blood shed and body given always be for me the greatest protection from death and the promise of everlasting life. Amen.
Activity: Google search “Luther seal” and answer the question: if the picture of the heart is like doorframe of my heart, what is painted on it like the lamb’s blood of the Passover? Draw your own picture of the Luther seal and rejoice in Jesus your sure defense.

He Kept Quiet
Isaiah 53:7
Friday, March 30th

Give up defending yourself, it won’t work, it can’t work, and you don’t need your self-defense to work.
That doesn’t mean you don’t need a defense. You do.
We call this Friday ‘good’ because early this morning the innocent Lamb of God was betrayed and arrested. He was dragged before earthly judges and accused falsely of blasphemy and sin. He was indicted for a crime against the holy and righteous God that deserved death as a punishment.
Of course the accusations and indictments were unjust. Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime, he had committed no sin. Never once did he fail to love God with all his heart, to gladly hear the Word, and patiently endure hardship. Never was Jesus disobedient, proud, or unforgiving. Not once was he selfish, lazy, envious, or quarrelsome. He did not lie or deceive or give anyone a bad name. He did not abuse his body or permit indecent thoughts to linger in his mind. He never failed to do what is right and good.
In fact, of that reminder from page 156 in the front of Christian Worship, the only thing that Jesus was truly guilty of is ‘taking something that was not his own.’ Like a wonderful thief Jesus stole away all your guilt and the blame for your disobedience, pride, selfishness, lust, and greed. Jesus took it all on himself and made himself guilty of your lack of love for God and his Word. He took the indictment for your blasphemy.
So when he was accused, Jesus did not seek to defend himself. He remained quiet. To the slaughter he willingly went without complain. He went to death without defense to protect you perfectly from the consequence of sin. On this Good Friday we rejoice to give up defending ourselves because in Christ Jesus we have the surest defense.
Prayer: Dearest Jesus, on this day you gave yourself over to death for me, in my place, for my sin and guilt. Your payment for me stands against my fear of death and punishment and gives me joy in the promise of eternal life. Praise be to you for this priceless gift. Amen.
Activity: Don’t do anything, or rather, don’t say anything. See if you can go for one hour without speaking. Do this, not to be silly, but to remember how Jesus did not open his mouth to defend himself so that he could defend you.

Rest in Peace
Romans 6:3-4
Saturday, March 31st

Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder
und rufen dir im Grabe zu:
Ruhe sanfte, sanfte ruh,
ruhe sanfte, sanfte ruh!
We sit down in tears
and call to you in the grave:
rest in peace, peacefully rest,
rest in peace, peacefully rest! (BWV 244)
Give up defending yourself, it won’t work, it can’t work, and it is just too hard, too exhausting to do. Instead rest in peace, peacefully rest.
The final chorus in Bach’s monumental St. Matthew’s Passion finds the hearer gathered with the singers outside the sealed tomb with tears that will only be wiped away by the joy of finding it empty on Easter morning. Bach’s work is achingly beautiful as the chorus sings- We sit down in tears and call to you in the grave: rest in peace peacefully rest. Yet mixed with tears is great comfort: Your grave and headstone shall, for the anxious conscience, be a comfortable pillow and the resting place for the soul.
We know the power of the cross and resurrection on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but we may not often think of Saturday and our Savior’s time in the belly of the earth. But it is also there that we find great comfort. Paul connects this yet-to-be emptied grave with our baptisms. All of us who have been baptized into Christ have died and been buried with him. His death as a payment for sin is our death as a payment for sin- so the payment for sin has been made. And just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too have new life now and the promise of eternal life to come. Through our baptism we are linked to Christ so that where he goes, we go – to the grave and up from it.
Trying to defend yourself from the wages of sin will leave you always fearful and never at peace. But on this Holy Saturday we know we have a place to rest secure. Bach calls the grave of our Savior a comfortable pillow and resting place for my soul. By our baptism into Christ it is that.
Give up defending yourself- Ruh sanfte, sanfte ruh. Rest in peace, peacefully rest.
Prayer: O dearest Jesus what you have done by your cross and tomb has created for me a place of peace and rest for my soul. Continue to calm my troubled heart with the message of sins forgiven and death defeated. Grant peaceful rest to all this night, that we may arise tomorrow to sing and shout the joy of your resurrection. Amen.
Activity: Find a recording of Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion and listen to that closing chorus. Marvel at the beauty and comfort that is ours through our connection to Jesus in baptism.

Give Up

7

Death

No Death Today
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Sunday, April 1st

A teenager rises up in bed, rubbing her bleary eyes. She’s reluctantly waking up to a new week of school. The thought of it exhausts her. She slumps grumpily back into her pillow. She knows one thing for sure:
Not much to look forward to today.
That’s the kind of morning that is dawning over a hillside park near Jerusalem. Light, reluctantly rising up over the eastern hilltops. Olive trees, lifting gnarled branches in the early hours like sleepy arms stretching for a new day. But as sunrise arrives on Easter dawn, Jesus’ friends felt one thing for sure:
Not much to look forward to today.
Today was funeral day for their friend. He had died earlier that weekend. He wasn’t yet properly laid to rest. Because they loved him they wondered: How do we show honor to a body so shamefully abused and pierced and discarded? Their only task on this third day after death would be to wrap his remains in pleasant smelling spices. Love - and the pressing schedule of death’s decay - made them do it.
But the day was about to take a new direction.
No lifting limbs and wrapping legs as if making a mummy. Instead, a bright and cheerful greeting from a bright and heavenly being: “He is not here. He is risen!” There was no dead body, just a living, breathing Lord! Jesus was alive! No death today!
This resurrection news made the day new. In fact, it makes the world new! Jesus’ friends give up any expectation of doing death work. Life and its daily schedule changes as first Mary, leader of the funeral crew, meets Jesus, alive again! Then Peter, then the Twelve. Alive again! Then a crowd of five-hundred wide-eyed onlookers. Alive again! Then James, then Paul!
These Easter eyewitness want us to know: death is done. Jesus, and those who know him by faith will not be abandoned in a grave. There is no fact more important for you to remember each morning. Just as you awake from sleep each morning, so also will you awake from death someday.
On our own Resurrection Morning, we’ll sit up, stretch out our arms and grin, knowing one thing for sure… There’s lots to look forward to today!
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for replacing death with life. Remind me that because you live eternally in heaven, I will too. Let this good news brighten my day today. Amen.
Activity: Imagine waking up on your first day in heaven. Write a list (or draw a picture of) three things you hope to feel or do on your first day in paradise. Share your hopes with each other.

Giving up the Keys
1 Corinthians 15:14,17,20
Monday, April 2nd

“Hand over your keys, son!”
Jared is grounded. He both earned it and deserved it. He obediently hands over the car keys to his dad. He’s stuck at home this weekend.
Without those keys, it doesn’t really matter that there’s a set of wheels waiting in the driveway. It doesn’t really matter that there’s gas in the tank. It doesn’t matter that there’s valid insurance on the vehicle. Without those keys having a car is futile.
In a few short sentences from the so-called “Great Resurrection Chapter of the Bible,” the Apostle Paul tells a similar story. 1 Corinthians 15 contemplates the story of a Christian who has everything necessary for a good future… except the “car keys.” Without the keys, the Christian is going nowhere.
You see, Jesus preached of new opportunities for our inner life. That old nagging conscience, hounding us with threats and warnings of our damning misbehaviors can be silenced with the truth: “I will remember your sins no more!” The deep-rooted anxiety that the holy God on heaven’s throne actually hates who I am is dissolved in the reality: “God demonstrates his love for me in this way: even while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me.” The truth that Christ, God’s Chosen One, has forgiven me today means today is filled with good news!
But a today always leads to a tomorrow.
Follow this chain of days long enough, and we realize that all the todays and all the tomorrows always lead to an eventual end that is our death. Once you are dead, the great thinkers of the Apostle Paul’s day reasoned, no todays matter anymore. Daily memories, joys, loved ones, accomplishments, family members, friends… everything is wiped out. If death takes all from me in the end, then my life is already futile. If death is the end, living as a Christian is futile. Without resurrection, I am futile.
But listen to this: Jesus showed that death is not the end. For as Paul testified, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” And he’s just the first! After his first personal resurrection inevitably comes the resurrection of more people: the second and third and fourth… and more. Because Jesus lives, we too will live! Somewhere in this number line of personal, powerful, physical resurrections, is your number.
Jared’s car means nothing until he holds the keys again. But with keys in hand, the door unlocks, the engine starts and off he goes!
On Easter morning, Jesus handed us the keys. As his people with hope and a good future, off we go!
Prayer: Lord, when I feel trapped by discouragement or powerless over my problems, remind me that I am forgiven, dearly loved, and heading toward a good future through Jesus. Amen.
Activity: Find a set of keys. For every key on the key ring tell what the key unlocks. Then, tell one earthly or eternal blessing that Jesus unlocks for you that you especially appreciate.

Waiting for Easter to Stick
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Tuesday, April 3rd

“It’s not sticking!”
My daughter and I were building a model airplane from a kit. Tiny plastic molded pieces filled a tabletop. A pamphlet of numbered instructions methodically (and confusingly) explained how to transform the kit’s bits into an airplane by gluing them together.
Everything needed was here. We had the parts, the instructions and the glue. We applied the glue to the parts as the instructions told us to do. But the glue took its time. It dried so slowly, in fact, that it almost seemed it wasn’t doing any gluing at all!
As Christians wait for all God’s Bible promises to solidify, it may seem like heaven’s Word just isn’t sticking. For example, if Jesus truly defeated death on Easter morning, why must I still die? Why did my Christian church have funerals this year? Why do my parents have a gravesite reserved? Why can I visit grandma and grandpa’s cemetery plot? After all, grandma was a Christian who followed Jesus, the Lord of life! And yet she died and is currently dead and probably will be dead tomorrow too.
It’s as if Jesus’ victory over death didn’t really stick.
In 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, the Apostle Paul teaches us to change our expectations about death. The final victory of life over death will happen…but it takes time. Like slow-drying glue, the final restoration of life to those who die in Christ is a slow process, at least from an earthly perspective.
Jesus is working, and he’s not done yet. So far he has accomplished victory over sin’s condemning power, by dying in our place on the cross. That step is completed. He has also accomplished victory over the law’s power: he kept every good rule of God in our place. That step is completed. The Lord is pleased with us and our lives, right now. Our salvation is complete. But the last gift, the final triumph of the resurrection of the body is yet to come. That step is not complete.
So be patient, Christian. When your body aches because of age or illness… be patient. When your heart hurts because your wife or husband, child, or friend is lowered in coffin or urn to their final resting place… be patient.
Like building a model kit with many steps over time held together by a slow-drying yet strong adhesive, God’s project, the rebuilding and restoration of life is not yet complete.
But make no mistake, once Resurrection Day arrives, no part of body or heart will ever come loose again.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me patience with my body’s flaws and weakness as I looked forward to that day when I will become immortal. Amen.
Activity: Test the limits of your current physical body by holding your arms straight ahead for as long as you can. Time yourself. How long can you hold them before they droop down? Then, remember that your resurrection body will never grow weak like your arms did.

Give Up Death
Psalm 23:4
Wednesday, April 4th

God is with you. You are not hidden from his sight. He is near.
I probably have not told you anything new. I'm sure you've heard that before. I'm also sure you have sometimes forgotten that God is with you. Sometimes I have.
Why? Why do we forget?
Maybe your fears led you to forget. Or maybe you were so busy that this just slipped your mind. But our forgetfulness doesn't change reality. The Lord is with you. Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he is with you. Even if you don't feel it, he is with you.
That's true even in the face of death. It hurts so much to say goodbye to the people we love. Yet not even death can separate God from his people. Death loses some of its sting when we remember that God uses it to usher his flock into heaven. God will be with you, even when death stings.
Think about Lent. A lot of people gave up things for Lent. Maybe they gave up candy or coffee or some meat. Maybe they avoided a vice and temptation. If that is what you did, more power to you.
But don’t miss what God gives up for us. Jesus suffered to give up and end our prospect of suffering in hell. Death for you isn’t an unknown mystery. Death is the beginning of eternal life in paradise. You do not need to be afraid. Your Good Shepherd won’t leave your side, not even on your death bed.
Think about Easter. Jesus conquered death. He destroyed death’s domain, he simply left his tomb alive. You will live, just like Jesus lives. You will rise, just like Jesus rose. Your body will be glorified, just as Jesus’ body is glorified. Give up death. Death isn’t your end. You won’t have an end. Your Good Shepherd is with you now and forever.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me from sin and death. Remind me of your promises when I am discouraged. Give me a hunger for your Word and keep my faith fed until it is time for me to go to my heavenly home. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Activity: Jesus is our Good Shepherd. Using the internet or an encyclopedia, figure out why this is such a beautiful picture of our relationship with God. How do shepherds deliver their sheep from death? How do sheep know who their shepherd is? How do shepherd provide for the needs of their sheep? Lastly, how is Jesus your Good Shepherd?

Give Up Death and Take in Life
Psalm 23:6
Thursday, April 5th

You have your good days. You have your bad days. But no matter the day, one thing remains constant. God's goodness and God's mercy will be present today, tomorrow, next week, and next year.
God's goodness and mercy won't leave your side, no matter how matter how heavy the cross you carry is. Your weakness will not remove God's strength. The Lord is not going anywhere. He will stay by your side. He will show you mercy.
Goodness comes from God even though you aren’t always good. Everyone sins. Everyone has been selfish at least once in their lives. Everyone struggles to put God first in their lives. God’s goodness is so amazing because it is undeserved.
God does not give you what your sins deserve. We call that mercy. God in his mercy will continue to forgive you. He restores you. He helps and protects you, despite the fact that sinners like you and me deserve punishment. God instead brings mercy.
Because of God's mercy you have something even better than all the goodness combined in all the earth. You will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Heaven is your home. Give up death and take in and appreciate your eternal life. You will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Prayer: Jesus, you are alive. You live and provide me with goodness and mercy every day. Remind me of your blessings when I wrestle with doubt. Comfort me with the hope of eternal life when I am sick. Bless my loved ones and keep them in your tender care. Keep my place in heaven in front of me and help me live a thankful life to your glory. Through you, and through you alone are all things possible. Amen.
Activity: God fills our lives with so much goodness and mercy. He does not want that goodness and mercy to be a secret. He wants us to share that goodness and mercy with other people. Think of someone who is going through a hard time. Write them an encouraging card that reflects the goodness and mercy God has given you. If someone you love in the hospital or in a retirement home, make it a priority on your calendar to visit them soon.

Give Up Death and Belong to the Lord
Romans 14:8
Friday, April 6th

When I was young we used to play a game in the winter when the snow got piled up high called king of the mountain. Basically try to be the one standing on top of the snow pile while everyone else tries to throw you off so they can stand there. Now I’m not even sure how the game ends officially, other than friends all at the bottom laying in the snow wishing they could be on top.
This is kind of what the resurrection of Jesus is like for him. Jesus went through an entire life of humility and always being something that he wasn’t. He went through life aching at the sight of individuals who he knew would turn away from him. He lived only to suffer and sacrifice. He hung on a cross till he died as a criminal who had done nothing wrong. Now, after his resurrection, Jesus stands above all others because he came through all that back to life again. Jesus pushed death aside and gave it up. He stands as king of life.
Instead of being thrown down to make room for another at the top, instead of laying down at the bottom looking up and wishing you could be there at the top, you are there. You are with Jesus, living and dying to the Lord. If you find yourself going through difficult times, suffering, and pain right now there’s good news. You die to the Lord. If you feel like you might be standing on the top, but you know people are coming for your position in your career field, your class, your home, there’s good news. You live to the Lord. It doesn’t matter if you’re on top or on the bottom, Jesus is on top because of his resurrection. And because he lives now you live with him. Because he has died you die to him. Whether you live or die, good times or bad, health or health crisis, you belong to the Lord. The resurrection of Christ promises you that.
Prayer: Resurrected Christ you have lived, died, and now live again. There is no greater message than that. Help me to have the knowledge that right now, whether I feel on top of the world or feel like the world is on top of me, you are there. You are there for me, with me, and in me. Lead me to realize I live because of you and I will die to you. Give me confidence that no matter what, I belong to you. Amen.
Activity: Each member of the family make a notecard with their name written on it followed by “belongs to the Lord because Jesus lives”. Put it on the mirror, on the refrigerator, in a desk, in a book. Put it someplace you’ll see it often to be reminded of this verse.

Our Present Reality in Jesus
John 11:25-26
Saturday, April 7th

It’s completely natural to grieve those who die. If the person died years ago or just a couple of days ago, so often the grief is real. If you thought about it long enough the tears would probably still stream down your face. The sadness doesn’t completely go away, it just lessens. Grief like that is natural because the person isn’t around anymore. We won’t see them again in this life. That brings sadness, hurt, and even frustration.
Those are all natural feelings for something that isn’t natural. Death isn’t natural. It’s just been happening for so long it feels that way. Death isn’t a part of the life cycle. It’s an intrusion on the life God intended. It’s not some wonderful finish, a beautiful thing, or something sweet and precious. Don’t let the enemy fool you. Sin entered the world and that resulted in death being in the world. It’s an ugly addition to life that’s worthy of grief.
Jesus never told Martha he was preparing to perform a resurrection. But Jesus certainly didn’t just cover over grief with promises of resurrection. He’s much more powerful than that. Jesus declared himself to be The Resurrection. Martha’s brother who died believing in Jesus believed in the one who was the triumph and victory over death. Jesus spoke and death changed from a permanent loss into a triumphant gain for everyone who believes in him.
The present reality because of the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead is yours too. Death will be a sleep. People come out of sleep, it’s temporary. Hear the Resurrection speak. Hear Jesus in his Word. Trust him in the Spirit. Live and believe in him. Death won’t touch you, it can’t, the Resurrection promised it. You will only pass through death, and because of the resurrection from the dead, you will hear the voice of your Savior welcoming you home to heaven.
Prayer: Jesus you are the resurrection and the life. What you accomplished means that for me and all those who die trusting in you, our death need not make us afraid. Make us confident of that when we have reason to grieve those who die. Help us always remember your victory over death is our victory. Amen.
Activity: Make a list of all those you know who died in the last year. For all those who died in faith consider how their life is a lesson in faith for you. For those who didn’t have faith let their death serve as motivation to speak to others about Jesus with more eagerness.

Acknowledgements
Writers/Editors
Pastor John Backus, Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Clearwater, FL
Pastor Daniel Berg, Sola Fide Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA
Pastor Lucas Bitter, Intown Atlanta Mission, Atlanta, GA
Pastor Craig Born, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Navarre, FL
Pastor Dan Burgess, Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Panama City, FL
Pastor Isaac Crass, Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Columbia, TN
Pastor Caleb Free, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Lakewood Ranch, FL
Pastor Patrick Freese, Trinity Lutheran Church, Abita Springs, LA
Pastor Paul Horn, Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church, Hiram, GA
Commander Bob Kaylor, Saving Grace Lutheran Church, Mobile, AL
Pastor Jonathan Kehl, Crown of Life Lutheran Church, New Orleans, LA
Teacher Ryan Kirchoff, Divine Savior Academy, Doral, FL
Pastor Michael Kober, Sola Fide Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA
Teacher Erik Landwehr, Divine Savior Academy, Doral, FL
Pastor Harmon Lewis, Messiah Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, GA
Teacher Jeff Loberger, Christ the King Lutheran School, Palm Coast, FL
Pastor Eric Melso, Living Hope Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, TN
Pastor Brian Pechman, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Pooler, GA
Pastor Jonathan Quinn, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Moncks Corner, SC
Pastor Joel Russow, Faith Lutheran Church, Tallahassee, FL
Pastor Duane Schmeichel, Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Madison, AL
Teacher Jeremiah Schmiege, Sola Fide Lutheran School, Lawrenceville, GA
Pastor Andrew Schrimpf, Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Pastor Joel Schwartz, Peace Lutheran Church, Trinity, FL
Pastor Ben Steenbock, Abiding Grace Lutheran Church, Hampton, GA
Pastor Andrew Stuebs, Living Word Lutheran Church, Johnson City, TN
Pastor Jim Turriff, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Memphis, TN
Pastor Charlie Vannieuwenhoven, Northdale Lutheran Church, Tampa, FL
Pastor Benjamin Zahn, Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Myrtle Beach, SC
Pastor Jason Zahn, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Palm Coast, FL
Scripture References
The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Artwork/Fonts
Cover art: Image Copyright : Thatchakon Hin-ngoen https://www.123rf.com/profile_tomnamon
Cover/Intro Pages: Amatic (free from fonts.google.com)
Devotion Pages: Source Serif Pro, Source Sans Pro Light (free from fonts.google.com)

Put together by the South Atlantic District Adult Discipleship Team

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