Lent marks a season in the Christian calendar with special emphasis on the sacrifice our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ made for us. Many of us observe this time with fasting and other spiritual disciplines to foster greater reflection on the life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of our Messiah. As a result, we often become more aware of our sins and shortcomings and experience a greater depth of repentance in our lives. The good news is that when we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful to forgive!
In addition, Lent reminds us that Jesus came for a purpose - to reconcile the world back to the Father. That includes you and me! And so, during this Lenten season, we reflect intentionally on the promise of Jesus brings us of reconciliation and the assurance of life in Him. He tells us that He is "The Way, the truth, and the Life." Christ is our Intermediary. Through Him, we are restored and can look forward to an even greater reward - an eternal place of our own in the Father's house. It is no wonder that early Christians referred to themselves as "followers of The Way."
This devotional is centered around this promise found in John 14:1-14 as well as the prophecy found in the Book of Isaiah. Each Sunday, with the exception of Easter, you will read through this entire passage. While this may seem repetitive (and it is), my prayer is that you will find yourself immersed in what our Savior has done for us. All the other days, you will read through passages from Isaiah and the Gospel according to John that further increase our understanding and immerse ourselves in God's will for the people of God to follow The Way.
I pray that you will use this devotional guide to help you reflect and to draw nearer to God during this season when so many distractions vie for our attention. Each day is divided into seven segments. You will be given a song (which may be found on youtube.com), a Scripture passage, and a reflective thought within each devotion. The rest comes from your own prayerful reflection and the Holy Spirit. I recommend that you utilize a journal or print the attached electronic version to record your thoughts and reflections. You may complete this time in 10 minutes or an hour-it's up to you! Below, you will find a summary of what each segment means and intends to accomplish. If you have further questions, feel free to contact me directly.
In Christ,
Rev. Cheryl