Devotions
In a world that is running short on truth, here is an indisputable truth, Jesus is Lord and Christ. This is the greatest confession we could ever make. Jesus has dominion and supremacy over any other god. He is Lord of all. He is not just one of the variety of ways to get to heaven as some false teachers would have us believe, Jesus is the only way, because he is the risen Lord and God has made him Lord and Christ.
Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
During Lent, we remember Jesus, the One who “…humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:8).” It is sometimes tempting to sanitize and romanticize the cross, but this ancient ritual introduced to Rome by the Phoenicians in the 3rd century BC was no romantic matter. Death on a cross resulted in a brutal and violent death which lasted anywhere from 4-6 hours, and which resulted in, among other things, hemorrhage, asphyxia, dehydration, and cardiac arrest.
In ancient times when a king was going to visit a city, he would send a herald before him to announce his coming. The herald would go around the city shouting, ‘The king is coming!’ Upon hearing this the city dwellers would clean up their streets, fix the roads and lock up the criminals to avoid being punished.
Our Father, you alone are Sovereign over all the affairs under heaven and on earth. No one can thwart your divine plans (Job 42:2; Isaiah 14:27).
Before time was you were and after time is passed, you will be, eternal God. Indeed, as your word says, you are the Alpha and the Omega (Rev 22:13), the one and only true God and we worship you, O King of Glory.
Lord we bow before your throne today to ask for your forgiveness. We, your people who are called by your name have created a mess down here, O LORD. We have participated in tearing the heart of our nation (2 Chronicles 7:14).
