A Gift For You

Lenten Devotions for 2005

 Jesus is Condemned by the
Sanhedrin
Jesus, Name all names above;
Jesus, best and dearest;
Jesus, fount of perfect love,
Holiest, tenderest, nearest;
Thou the source of grace completest,
Thou the purest, thou the sweetest,
Thou the well of power divine,
Make me, keep me, seal me thine!1

1
Theoctistus of the Studium, cir. 890, Service Book and Hymnal: Authorized by the Lutheran
Churches cooperating in The Commission on the Liturgy and Hymnal, Augsburg Publishing
House, Minneapolis, MN, 1958.
 Mon day, February 21
“But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Luke 22:69.
At one time, God would walk in the
garden with the Adam and the Eve.
They enjoyed their time together but we
wanted more. We wanted to know and to
experience everything even though God
told us that some experiences would kill
us. We took the fruit and ate it. We
gave the fruit and ate it. And our world
changed in many different ways.
The revolution frightened us. We
disliked the way that we looked and tried
to change our appearance. We damaged
our relationship with God and we hid
from God. We no longer wanted to be
with the One who created and keeps us.
Jesus changes all of that past history. At
this moment in the confession of the
Christ before the chief priest and the
scribes, Jesus tells us that the
relationship between man and God has
been restored to its ancient state found
before our temptation. No longer will
humanity and God be separated.
Humans do not have to hide from God.
We can once again be in God’s presence
without fearing for our lives. Once
again, we can be with the One whose
passion for life created life.
The restoration of our broken
relationships is only possible because
Jesus did what we could not do. He lived possibilities for us. Through the gifts of
as God told us to live. He God, we can once again
loved God. This love between God and the live in relationship with others. Jesus
son of man is why we can was at peace with who He was.
claim to be children He did not
of God. We no hide from
longer have to hide His calling.
from God but This too is a
instead we are gift to us
welcomed into God’s because He
presence with open showed us
arms. In all of how we are to
His life, Jesus showed live with
us how to love others. ourselves.
This model opens up new

Dear God, it is easy to remember that Jesus died for my sins. I

don't always think of His being at God's right hand, a place of
unequaled honor and glory. Because He reigns on high I have the
assurance of ``a most all-powerful'' Savior. Amen.
 Tuesday, February 22
All of them asked, “Are you, then the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I

am.” Then they

In reflecting on this theme, I tried to look within myself
said, “What
to acknowledge how often I have judged others or
further
become angry about how others have perceived me.
testimony do we
Throughout my coaching career, I have often been
need? We have judged by parents, players, and administrators. I must
heard it admit that I have not always made the best decisions

ourselves from even though I attempted to be fair in all circumstances.

Jesus knew what his fate would be even though he was
his own lips!”
completely blameless. How troubled and sad that must
We see God in have made him feel knowing that others were is
our lives. We tell completely wrong in their perceptions. O Lord, help me
others that God is
to become nonjudgmental of others. Help me to see
with us. We
that all people are of your creation and deserve the
worship God. But
respect and honor that you so richly give. Send me
do we really
patience in times of strife, and help me always to keep
believe that God
my eyes on you. Amen -- Ron
here? Are we certain that no matter where
we go, God is already there? Do we
secretly hope that God is not found in
our worship services?
Jesus tells us that we have no reason to
deny the existence of God for we have
clearly said that God exists. However,
when God answers us, we turn His words
around and condemn God to death. It
seems to us that it we would be better off
if God was dead.
For if a God exists, we then must admit
that we would need to do what God asks.
Our actions would have to be the same as
our words. We would have to love others
and we would have to love God.
Even in our rejection of God, God has not
rejected us. God is still in the world.
Even our murder of God’s Son has not
kept God out of His vineyard.

Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus claimed to be Your Son. Help me to

be firm in my convections to claim Christ as my Lord and Savior.
May I always be ready to say that I believe in Jesus as my
Savior and proclaim what a difference this faith has made in my
life. Amen.
Jesus is Denied by Pe t e r
 Thou dist create the stars of night,
Yet thou hast veiled in flesh thy light,
Hast deigned a mortal form to wear,
A mortal’s painful lot to bear.2

2
St. Gregory, 540-604, Service Book and Hymnal: Authorized by the Lutheran Churches
cooperating in The Commission on the Liturgy and Hymnal, Augsburg Publishing House,
Minneapolis, MN, 1958.
 Wednesday, February 23
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said,

“You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” Matthew 26:69.

In the shadows, to the world.

we often deny the For Christ,
Lord. Our this word of
betrayal may not hope has two
occur when parts, which
someone asks us cannot be
if we were with separated:
the Christ, but telling and
our doing.
unfaithfulness
happens We as a
nevertheless congregation
when we do not only exist
do His will. because Jesus
has
Jesus has asked commanded
us to be witnesses us to go and
tell others about Him. We must teach
others the saving Word. We are required
to pass on the message of God’s love for
the world to others and to train them so
that they too may pass on God’s Passion
to others.
Along with the Word, there must be
action. Jesus has told us that we must
take care of the poor, the hungry, those in
prison, the orphan, the stranger, and the
widow. It is our responsibility to see that
everyone has a safe place to live, clean
water to drink, and good food to eat. We
cannot let these people fall into the
shadows and remain unseen. We have
been charged with their care.
When we ignore Christ’s command, we
betray the Lord.
Unfortunately, Jesus knows that
everyone of us will betray Him. We all
drive past the poor. We all turn our eyes
so that we do not have to see how some
people live in this land of plenty.
Christ forgives us of our sin just as He
forgave Peter’s denials.

Dear Lord of all, help me in my weakness to stand up for

Jesus! When recognized as a Christian, let me have my
loyalty to you be far more important than other peoples'
opinions. Amen.
 Thursday, February 24
But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

Matthew

26:70. How many times in our lives have we shown a sense of denial
of what our reality may really be at a given moment? Peter
Through our
was a man completely devoted to Jesus. Yet, he denied Jesus’
actions of
relationship with him not only once, but three times. I would
indifference
like to think that my faith is steadfast and true regardless of
to those
what life may throw my way. I was challenged by the story of
brothers and
the student who looked her aggressors in the face and
sisters in
answered, “Yes, I am a Christian”, and was promptly gunned
need, we deny
down in the Columbine massacre a few years ago. She was
the Christ just
able to steadfastly pronounce her allegiance even in the face
as much as
Peter does. of death. We all would like to think we would do the same if

When we still we were in those very circumstances. But, would we respond

have the same way? Lord, help me to remain faithful to you and

neighbors who your life-giving word. Build me up in my times of weakness,

do not have a and strengthen me in my convictions. It is only through your
safe place to mercy and grace that we can truly attain all that you have
live, we promised us. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen -- Ron
proclaim to the world that our Word does
not really mean anything. When we
have children assaulted by their
caregivers and we do nothing, we shout
out that the Lord’s justice will not come
in our day. When we have lives cut short
by violence and we just stand by and
ignore it, we lift the light of brutality
and let it shine over the world.
Christ’s Passion is for the entire world:
those who have nothing to their name,
those who are abused, and those who are
battered. He has charged us with the
action of bringing His love to each and
every one of His children. We must meet
our neighbor’s needs every day and not
just when it is convenient.
Christ’s death has freed us from death.
With that freedom in hand, we go and
free others from their shackles.

Heavenly Father, may I guard my mouth. May I speak the

truth, especially when speaking of my Lord and Savior. I pray
that Spirit of Truth will be my daily companion. Amen.
 Fr i d a y, February 25
When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the

bystanders, “This

man was with

Christian, dost thou feel them,
Jesus of How they work within,
Nazareth.” Again

he denied it with
Striving, tempting, luring,
an oath, “I do not Goading into sin?
know the man.”

Matthew 26:71-72.
Christian never tremble,
The world wants us Never be downcast;
to deny the Word.
Unfortunately, Gird thee for the battle,
each of us is a
willing accomplice
Watch and pray and fast –
in this deed, which
brings death into
Andre of Crete, cir. 660-732,
creation.
Service Book and Hymnal.

We do not want anyone to tell us of the
Word because the Life brought by
Christ’s Passion for creation shows
everyone the futility of our word. Our
words cannot give true life because we are
not true. We deny the Truth. No matter
how we try, our words cannot stop one’s
thirst for truth. We might attempt to
quench our thirst by drinking super size
drinks, but these only appease us for a
short while. We cannot speak the Word
that grants relief because that Word is
foreign to us.
God has given us the Word. And it is
this Word, which brings life into the
world through restoration. God re-
establishes our bond with God’s self. God
re-connects our connections with others.
God re-news everything in creation.

Dear Lord, I wonder Lord that if I was accused of being a

Christian would there be enough evidence to convict me? Would
someone be able to be convinced that I am a Christian? May I
be a witness instead of a denier. Amen.
 Saturday, February 26
After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also

one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an

oath, “I do not
As a teacher of high school students, I have daily witness to
know the man!” the excruciating turmoil that many relationships go
Matthew 26:73- through due to a sense of betrayal. Couples break up.

74a. Friends argue with one another. Physical confrontations

are common place. All of these things occur because
What would we
someone feels they have been betrayed in their
do if we were
relationship. The hurt and disappointment is real and
asked to be a
usually only involves the disintegration of a relationship.
witness to the
Often the turmoil occurs because of selfishness or greed.
Word? Would we
We may not truly understand why Judas betrayed Jesus,
use words to
but we all have felt a sense of betrayal. We may have even
speak against the
Word? Would we betrayed someone ourselves. Lord, help us to be

simply answer committed to you and those we have a relationship with.

yes or no? Or Help us to overcome our own greed and selfishness. May

would we offer a we be a reliable friend and companion when others look to

pledge that we us for friendship and support. Amen. -- Ron
have never heard the Word? Are we any
different from Peter?
For a quick answer to these questions, we
could turn to the great repository of all of
human history: Google. If we asked this
oracle, what would it tell us? Today it
tells us that more people have died in
Iraq, more abuse cases have been reported
to the Church, and that the NBA is
trying to limit violence at games by
stopping the sale of alcohol in the final
quarter. The truth found in these words
is our brokenness.
By ourselves, we cannot accomplish any
good thing. We might try but we will
fail. We cannot help others because we
have damaged our relationship with God.
We attempt to find a substitute for love
and in doing so we hurt others. We hurt
so much that even our attempts to deaden
the pain cause problems.
Into this world of pain, comes the Word
who shows us that we are good and that
we are loved.

Dear Heavenly Father, I wonder what I would do if I was pointed

at for being a believer in Christ. How blessed to live in a country
that lets me be a Christian without penalty, shame, or hindrance.
Thank you for this gift of freedom. Amen.
 Soli Deo Gloria
To the Trinity be glory
Everlasting, as is meet;
Equal to the Father, equal
To the Son, and Paraclete:
God the Three in One, whose praises
All created things repeat.3

3
Venatius Fortunatus, 530-609, Service Book and Hymnal: Authorized by the Lutheran
Churches cooperating in The Commission on the Liturgy and Hymnal, Augsburg Publishing
House, Minneapolis, MN, 1958.
Ann Wofford – Prayers

Elaine Lenz – Crosses

Ron Glazener – Writing on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

The Winstons – Photographs

Jody Winston – Writing