The Lord provided for the Israelites

10 March 

Read Deuteronomy 8:1-9 and reflect on the passage.

When I was seven, I was in the hospital for a procedure to extract spinal fluid for testing. I screamed out in pain as nurses held me down, and my parents tried to comfort me. The needle punctured my back repeatedly as the doctor struggled to find the right spot. Through tears and gritted teeth, I started to repeat out loud a Bible verse I learned at VBS that past summer: Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” As I did, the room got still and quiet, and the doctor decided to try the procedure again the next day with anesthesia.

God does not let us suffer needlessly. He uses our pain to make us stronger and to help us learn to trust in Him. The 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert must have been incredibly difficult. They had to learn that if they followed God’s commands, He would provide for them. God promises to bring us out of suffering and into a land beyond imagination, as long as we surrender to Him. That verse still gets me through hard times, because I know that through Him, the light overcomes the dark.

Questions

1. Why is it so difficult for us to completely put our trust in God?

2. Has there ever been a time in your life where you put all your trust in God, and experienced Him working in your life?

Prayer

Dad, thank You for always providing for us. Help us to put our trust completely in You—in good times and in bad. Amen.

—Bekah Morlock

God led the Israelites for 40 years

March 9

Read Nehemiah 9:9-12 and reflect on the passage.

The word “desert” implies barrenness, hostility, thirst, heat, danger, death. The name “God” suggests love, fullness, comfort, joy, growth, life. Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the desert? Why would God lead His people into a desert?

When God delivered His people from Egypt, He provided a way at the Red Sea, and drowned the Egyptian army; He made a name for Himself. He guided His people through the desert by a cloud and fire for 40 years, bringing glory to His name. If the way had been easy, who among the surrounding nations would have known or respected God? Who in Israel would have realized their continued dependence on the Lord and remained faithful?

Immediately prior to the desert experience, God revealed His presence and power in miraculous ways. They knew God was real, He loved them, and He would guide, grow, and sustain them.

The desert makes more sense when we realize that God’s concerned about growing His church and expanding His kingdom. We can only survive in the desert if we depend on the Lord. When others see us thriving there, they’ll know something is up. God is making a name for Himself through us and our stories.

Questions

1. When you walked through a barren, hostile, thirsty, dangerous place in your life, how did God comfort, grow, guide, and sustain you?

2. Who noticed? How did you give God glory?

Prayer

Lord, we know that you are God. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. We depend on You. Use us for Your glory.

—Jane Bruns

God Moves Into the Desert

March 5

Scripture: Luke 22:66-71

After Jesus was arrested, He was taken to the Roman governor, a man named Pontius Pilate. When the people brought Jesus to Pilate, they said all kinds of unkind things about Him. Pilate asked Jesus if He was really the “Son of God.” Jesus said, “Yes, I am.” But Pilate did not believe Jesus. Instead, he decided to believe the unkind and untrue things the people said about Jesus. And so he sentenced Jesus to die on the cross.

Peter was Jesus’ closest friend and the leader of the disciples. The night Jesus was arrested however, Peter was afraid for his own life and ran away from Jesus. Some people in the courtyard recognized him and began to ask him if he was a disciple of Jesus. Peter got angry and said that he had never even seen Jesus. He denied Jesus. Even though Peter denied Jesus three times that night, Jesus loved Peter very much. After Jesus rose from the dead, He forgave Peter for denying Him.

Read and reflect on the passages.

1. Did Jesus receive a fair trial? Why or why not? While on trial, why do you think Jesus wasn’t clearer about who He was and what He had come to do?

2. What is one of the ways we can know Jesus is the Son of God?

3. Why do you think Peter denied Jesus? How did Peter feel when he realized what he had done?

—Jodi Coleman

Prepare to love

God on the Move Lenten Devotional                                                                                March 2

Read Romans 12:9-20 and reflect on the passage.

Lent gives us a dedicated time for self-examination and reflection. When asked by a scribe about the greatest commandment for us to follow, Jesus responded (1) “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and(2)“love your neighbor as yourself” (cf. Matt. 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28). In your time of self-examination, is this “Greatest Commandment” important to you? Do you understand what it looks like to be a Christ-follower in this way?

Perhaps, like us, the early church in Rome needed help understanding this concept as well. That’s why Paul goes into great detail about what the marks of a true Christian really are by writing a list of over a dozen Christian virtues that can demonstrate our love for the Lord as well as our love for our neighbors.

If you are at all like me, you might look at this list and instantly identify your own shortcomings and failures. The good news is that not only is it impossible for us to change and be transformed on our own, but we aren’t expected to! The glorious undertaking of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us is working to conform us to Christ’s image. As Martin Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” Let’s commit together toward growing in these virtues and confessing our weaknesses during this Lenten season!

Questions

1. Which of these virtues did you identify as your greatest weakness?

2. Are you afraid of asking for the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance? Why or why not?

Prayer

Thanks be to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which Thou hast given us; for all the pains and insults which Thou hast borne for us. O most merciful redeemer, may we know Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, and follow Thee more nearly; for Thine own sake (St. Richard of Chichester).

—andrew fuller