Lenten Devotional 2023

One of my favorite memories from my time at the Flemington United Methodist Church is the music. Each year during Lent or at Easter, our children would begin worship in dance. It was not the movements but the strong music coming from the pipe organ that filled my heart with joy. Played by the choir director, Camilla Dudinak, this hymn would reverberate throughout the church, igniting an equal reverberation in my heart.

Matthew 21:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[a] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]

“Hosanna[c] in the highest heaven!”

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Hal Leonard and Shawnee Press Church Chora

Published on Aug 3, 2015

Text: Jeanette Threlfall, 1821-1880

Music: Gesangbuch der H.W.k. Hofkapelle; adapt. and harm. by W.H. Monk

1. Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang,through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang. To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises,the simplest and the best.
2. From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.
3. "Hosanna in the highest!" that ancient song we sing, for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King. O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice, and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice!

Here in America, most people know the Easter story in some way, shape, or form. Yet, how often do we contemplate the reason for Christ’s death and resurrection? Have we become so desensitized to His sacrifice that we dismiss it in the outward celebrations? Growing up, my family participated in a Passion Play at church; we either acted, sang, signed, or did lighting. I will never forget one particular Passion Play practice; I was sitting in the pew listening to Michael W. Smith’s The First Decade and doing some homework while waiting for my next scene. As the other church members practiced the last supper scene, the song changed to “Secret Ambition.” As I listened to the song, the actions on the stage caught my attention. There it was staring me right in the face; Jesus’ mission on stage- no longer a secret. I was immediately struck by the immense sacrifice Jesus made on my behalf, on mankind’s behalf.

Secret Ambition

Michael W. Smith

Young man up on the hillside
Teaching new ways
Each word winning them over
Each heart a kindled flame
Old men watch from the outside
Guarding their prey
Threatened by the voice of the paragon
Leading their lambs away
Leading them far away

Nobody knew His secret ambition
Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful position
Running to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambition
Was to give His life away

His rage shaking the temple
His word to the wise
His hand healing on the seventh day
His love wearing no disguise Some say, "Death to the radical He's way out of line." Some say, "Praise be the miracle
God sends a blessed sign.
A blessed sign for troubled times."

Nobody knew His secret ambition Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful position
Running to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambition

Was to give His life away

Songwriters: MICHAEL W. SMITH, WAYNE KIRKPATRICK, AMY GRANT GILL

© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

Like Jesus was physically hungry, our spirits hunger for the nourishment that only God can provide. Sometimes that nourishment comes in the form of music. “The Days of Elijah” is a recent worship song that feeds my spirit. As Jesus longed for food, I long for more of Him. But God is not miserly with His blessings, for He provides us with more than we know we need. As you listen to this song, be encouraged. Feed your spirit.

Mark 11:12-25

¹² The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[c] went out of the city.

²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[d] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Days Of Elijah

Donnie McClurkin

Songwriters: FRANCIS ROBERT MARK © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

Jesus knows the hearts of men, and He knows the past, present, and future. Despite knowing all that was to befall Him, Jesus still chose to come to earth as man. He still chose Judas Iscariot as His disciple. Jesus knew who would betray Him, and He knew that His mission would cost Him His life. I wonder how Jesus felt when He not only realized, but also comprehended the gravity of His mission. As a teenager, I loved listening to 4Him, a well-known Christian music group, and inevitably those Saturday morning Passion Play practices provided much time to listen to my favorite CDs and songs. 4Him’s “When It’s Time to Go” is one such song; just seeing the song come to life as I watched various scenes of the play put everything into perspective. Jesus was God, but He was also Man. He knew the cost, yet He chose it anyway. Jesus realized it was His time to go to save the world.

When It's Time to Go

4Him

Songwriters: BILLY SIMON, JEFF SILVEY

©Universal Music Publishing Group

I see that you are struggling; so I help you. You never asked for my help, but I could see that you needed it. There is a job that needs to be done; so you do it. If you have helped anyone, no matter how large or small the amount of help that was given, you were acting like a servant. A servant does the work that no one else wants to do, and he does it without complaining. It takes a person of strong faith to fulfill the work requirements- the faint-hearted need not apply. You do not need to be young or strong to be a servant because anyone can be a servant. Though the requirements for a servant’s job are few, the number of people willing to serve are even less. Lord, “Make Me a Servant.”

John 13:3-17

3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Make Me a Servant

The Maranatha! Singers

Songwriters: KELLY FAYE WILLARD

©Universal Music Publishing Group

Make Me A Servant With Lyrics - YouTube

Today is Good Friday. As a young child, I often wondered how this particular Friday could possibly be called Good. After all, Jesus, God’s Son, the Holy One of Israel, the One who did no wrong, died for crimes He did not commit. Why? As I grew older, I discovered why Jesus had to die. Jesus died that I might live. He died to pay my punishment for sin; He became sin so that I may be justified by faith. The song “Holy One” speaks not only to who Christ is but also what He did for me, for you, for every single person who has ever lived, is living today, and will ever live. What an incredible love Jesus has for us that He chose to take our place on the cross!

“Holy One”

Written and Recorded by Mark Schultz

You knew my name
Yet with Your hand You calmed the storm and healed the lame
As You spoke
People came
And as the crowds would gather 'round they called out
Holy One, are You the Holy One, who was sent by God to show the way
I wasn't there
The night they came
Those who saw and feared the miracles you made
You took the nails
You bore the pain
And as they hung You on the cross and mocked you
Holy One, if You're the Holy One let your God come save You from the grave
I just heard the news today
I just came to find you but they said You'd gone away
I just wanted to hear You say that you had to go
But that You'd be back again
Early morn
Break of day
Came in time to find the rock You rolled away
I found Your robe
An empty grave
And as I fell upon the ground I cried out
Holy One, You are the Holy One, and You came and gave Your life away
Holy One, You are the Holy One and You came and gave Your life away

I am the life, I am alive, I came to show the way

https://youtu.be/fkMg6vxWMJI

Every year after Good Friday, we wait. We wait all through the next day, Saturday. When I was little, we called it Holy Saturday. For the life of me, I could not figure out why it was holy. I understood that we were waiting for Easter, but why was it holy? As I grew older, I learned that Saturday has a variety of names including the Vigil of Easter. We wait every year for the next day when we commemorate Christ’s resurrection. Without the resurrection, Christ’s sacrifice would be the end not the beginning. And so, we wait. We wait for Christ to break the final chains that kept us in bondage to sin. The promise is there in Jesus’ last words- “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30) Tonight a new day will dawn, and the promise will be fulfilled, just as He said it would be.

Mark 15:42-47

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

In Christ Alone

Keith and Krystin Getty, 2002

Songwriters: ANDREW SHAWN CRAIG, DONALD A. KOCH
© Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP

“The Dogwood Tree” by Anonymous

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen

Being distressed at the use of the wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so

Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown
And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.

All who see it will think of Me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of My agony."

Every Easter, I look forward to seeing which flowers are blooming; in particular, I look to see if my nephew’s dogwood tree is opening its blossoms. As the above poem states, the dogwood is a reminder of Christ’s love for us. His death and resurrection on that cross roughly two thousand years ago forever opened heaven’s gates to every person who accepts the free gift of salvation. When you look at a dogwood tree, may the message of Easter penetrate your heart and remind you that “His nail-scarred hands hold Heaven’s gates wide open.”

https://youtu.be/77-lZJaK92U

“Wide Open”

NewSong

Heaven's gates were closed
And there seemed to be no hope
For fallen man
We were prisoners of our sin
With no way to enter in
But God had a plan
The Father knew there had to be
A perfect sacrifice
So Jesus came, a cross was raised

And when He laid down His life

[Chorus]

Wide open, wide open
They nailed His arms wide open
After three days in a cold grave
The power of sin was broken
Now with outstretched arms
He welcomes in
Everyone who trusts in Him

His nail-scarred hands hold heaven's gates wide open

For so long my eyes were closed
I couldn't see a way of hope
For someone like me
And in my despair I cried
There's got to be more to this life
Lord help me please
And the Father said
There had to be a perfect sacrifice
That's why Jesus came, a cross was raised

And He laid down His life

[Chorus]

For every weary heart that aches
For every dream this world will break
There's a promise in its place

God has made a way

[Chorus]

Songwriters: CHRIS ALAN MAXWELL, STEVE CALHOON, RICK LEE, ERIK SANKO

© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

For non-commercial use only.

When there are no words to express your deep and profound joy, you have reached the place of joy unspeakable. It is an intangible place. No form of transportation can take you to joy unspeakable. It is a place that is rarely reached, for it is not an everyday occurrence. What takes your words away may not affect me in the same way, but when hopelessness gives way to hope, faith and trust, you reached pure joy. Have you met Jesus? Have you talked with Him? Have you accepted Him? The disciples met Jesus. In fact, they walked with Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, laughed with Him, and learned from Him, for He was their teacher. When Jesus died seemingly without reason, their world was torn apart. Hopeless for three days, the disciples clung to each other for support. Belief was slow to dawn on the bruised followers, but, when Christ appeared to them, was returned to them, their joy knew no bounds. Like the disciples, we walk without Christ for a time, but, when Christ appears to us, holds out His arms to us, and embraces us, our joy knows no bounds. Sometimes it is hard to speak our joy out loud, but Jesus calls us to shout it from the rooftops. He wants you to let your joy show in what you say, in what you do, in how you live your life. Do you know the joy unspeakable? If you have not, follow the ABC’s to know Christ and know His joy.

Luke 12:3

³What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Admit: There is sin in the world. Admit that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23)

Believe: Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. (John 3:16 & 17)

Confess: Confess your faith in Jesus Christ to others. (Romans 10:9-10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QANH8MWuyaE

“No Longer Slaves”
Recorded by: Voices of Lee

Composed by: Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser

[verse 1]
You unravel, me with a melody
You surround me, with a song
Of deliverance, from my enemies

'Til all my fears, are gone

[Chorus]
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God