Grace & Peace

Lent Day 38

Lent Day 37

Lent Day 36

Lent Day 35

This part of scripture is so simple that I think we often skip right over it, but two things are happening here. First, Jesus is asking them to do something they feel is unnecessary and kind of redundant. They have already tried all night and have caught nothing, what would have changed in the last few hours? Secondly, they acted in obedience even though they weren’t totally there with their belief and Jesus met them right at the crossroads of their faith and doubt. 

Lent Day 34

As we leave Luke 4, Jesus had gone away to a solitary place, the crowds found him and tried to keep him there with them, but he says, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” So we find him obediently teaching and preaching to the crowds, as he was sent to do. Meanwhile, in the area where Jesus was teaching, there were men going about their everyday ordinary lives. They weren’t there to listen to Jesus, they were there after a day of fishing cleaning out their nets. Nothing flashy or special, just another day. Then Jesus walks into the boat, and into their lives, and requests Simon to push the boat from shore. Simon did as he asked and Jesus continued to teach. 

Lent Day 33

Here we hear Isaiah asking God how long he has to carry out the difficult task of bringing unpleasant news to people. And God answers, “this is going to be tough.” He paints a picture of mass destruction and empty lands. His reference to “a tenth remain” while interpreted in various ways, universally refers to God’s portion, either sacrificially or as a people group set aside and purposed by God. The image of a tree and stump gives hope to Isaiah that this sacrifice, these people, will have purpose, and that the fertile seed will eventually produce new fruit. 

Lent Day 32

Isaiah, the writer of this book, and the people of Israel are the main focus in this story. This passage starts right after Isaiah's vision from God. Immediately after seeing the vision, Isaiah hears God calling out for someone. Without even knowing the task, Isaiah steps forwards and says, “Here I am! Send Me.” God then gives a message for Isaiah to deliver to the people of Israel. Isaiah, in carrying out this task, shows great faith with God as God gives him the heads up that this message will not be well received. 

Lent Day 31

This passage in Isaiah follows after the description of God on a throne with celestial seraphim by His side. Isaiah must be keenly aware of the holiness of God. With nowhere to go and nowhere to hide, Isaiah cries out in helplessness and distress, “Woe is me!” In a spiral of anguish and complete vulnerability, Isaiah can only declare his shortcomings, “I am a man of unclean lips”. Even as a prophet of God his inadequacies make him unfit to stand before God. At that humble moment, one of the seraphim moves to the altar of the temple. The altar is where sacrifices are made; the altar is where death covers sin. The angel takes coal from it and, touching Isaiah’s mouth, says the sweetest words our earthly hearts could long for, “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 

Lent day 30

In this passage of Isaiah, Isaiah opens with a vision of God in His temple. The image he paints contains typical elements in an Eastern monarch: a figure of authority in robes on a throne and attendants by his side showing proper respect for his position. However, the figures Isaiah describe are anything but typical. The “attendants,” angels, at His side are seraphim (the word seraph means “to burn”), heavenly beings who are eternal and terrifying in their own right, cover their faces and feet. The action is a traditional way to show deference in the face of royalty. The ethereal, flaming, winged, humanoid creatures at God’s side can do nothing but wait on the Lord. With great humility and reverence, they cry out with praise for God’s name and authority. While Isaiah describes the seraphim in great detail, he is incapable of describing God other than by the way his robes overwhelm the throne. If such creatures as seraphim are helpless to God’s great holiness, how incapable are we to comprehend God’s power and majesty? 

Lent day 29

In the verses leading up to this passage, the psalmist talks about how he had failed God and was rude to him. Yet, here he approaches God with such assurance. How can you show the psalmist’s confidence in approaching God again? 

Lent Day 28

The psalmist here calls out to God in his suffering. Ask God to help you be confident in His forgiveness, knowing you have a Savior who leans in when you are in distress. 

Lent Day 27

The psalmist here says that those that are forgiven will have an inheritance and close relationship to our Father. Ask God that as you continue to build that relationship, you bear good fruit and maintain His peace in your soul. 

Lent Day 26

We learn here that it is okay to tell God how you feel, even when you know that it’s not true, even when you know the theology that proves your feelings wrong and the memorized verses to go with it. Yet how prone we are to still feel this way. Spend some time calling out to God and telling Him how you honestly feel. Be vulnerable. Be as specific or broad as you feel best represents you right now. Call on God to remember. 

Lent Day 25

The psalmist, King David, asks to be taught and led in the way of the Lord. Ask God to teach you something new about Him or to show you a new piece of His character this day. 

Lent Day 24

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Grace & Peace

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