Identity
Affirmation
Intercession
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (or peacemaking sacrifice) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
As sinners, each and every one of us deserves death, but Jesus died that death for all as the vessel for the Father’s abundant love, grace, and mercy. We have had no greater need than for a Savior, and God provided the perfect Savior in His only Son.
But Jesus didn’t merely die; He rose from the grave in triumph over sin and death! Death has been swallowed up and is no more for the believer because Jesus was victorious over it on our behalf. Our Savior is now at the right hand of the Father where He will reign for eternity, and His saving work made a way for us to join Him in glory forever where everything is healed and whole. (1 Cor 15:3-4, Acts 13:32-39, Rom 6:9, 8:11, Heb 10:12, 1 Thes 4:14-17). Lent is about reflection on and celebrating just that, and there is nothing more exciting for the Christian to celebrate, so lift your head and worship Him.
Monday
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (or peacemaking sacrifice) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
Think back on your life: how has God loved you first? How has He specifically initiated His love in your life? How has He drawn you to Himself? Ask God to show you how He’s been pursuing you in love throughout your life. Thank Him for the sacrifice that makes His grace toward you possible.
Tuesday
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)
You have certainly turned away from God and chosen your own way over His time and time again. You have sinned, broken the actions of the law, and not had right motives in your heart even when you have done the right thing. Why then would Jesus choose to take on your sins and take your punishment for them? What Love is this!? Listen to the Spirit; ask Him to speak to you through His Word by bringing specific Scriptures to mind. Let Him answer your questions by revealing his truth.
Wednesday
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18
Jesus choose to give His life for you. At any moment during His crucifixion He could have called down a legion of angels to take Him down, but He choose to hang there and die taking your punishment for you. What does this stir in you? Thank Jesus that He choose to die a death He didn’t deserve all for you.
Thursday
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25
Jesus is genuinely excited to present you as blameless before the throne of God. What a crazy wonderful thought! Do you believe He smiles at you constantly like that? Talk to Him about this gift of your salvation.
Friday
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18 NIV
God desires to shower you with this grace, mercy, and compassion. He’s so passionate about being gracious to you that He sacrificed His only Son. How have you seen specifically showered with his grace and compassion? List these things out to God, let them lead you to worship Him in prayer.
Saturday
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:24-25
Jesus died to bring you back to God. You were straying and He brought you Home. How was your wandering unsatisfying? How is being with God specifically better than the previous things you were living for? Talk to God about how he is better, and thank Him for being your shepherd and overseer!
Sunday
“Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:9-10
What “waste places” has God rescued you out of? Think of spiritual realities here, the once dark state of your soul. Name these out loud to God. Thank God that this is who you were, not who you are anymore! Ask God to stir up joy and genuine gratitude in your heart for how He’s rescued you. Break forth into singing! Choose a hymn or a worship song and sing it back to God with joy.
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