During #Lent we share #devotionals written by the #santamonicaumc community. Here is one by Ben Ing @virbing...⠀
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📖 Mark 9:33-37***⠀
💬 A couple of weeks into the Lenten season, we join Jesus and the apostles on the road to Capernaum, a familiar lesson from the Gospels. Mirroring our preparations for this solemn season, Jesus foreshadows His own fate and prepares His disciples for continuing their ongoing mission after His ascension.⠀
Instead of trying to gain greater understanding by listening and questioning Jesus about the impending events that will have major impact on their friend, their Lord, and the whole world surrounding them; the disciples turn to pride, ambition and ignorance to elevate themselves in the Lord’s eyes. They distract themselves with a petty argument over who among them is the greatest and deserves to be Jesus’ #1 disciple. Confronted by Jesus, pride and ambition turns to shame and embarrassment as He teaches them about humility and their need to be servants to the even the lowest people in society.⠀
As we struggle to understand the sacrifice and the betrayal by His friends and followers, we too search for answers that do not come easily. Do we falsely believe that we know the answers, or do we open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to seek Jesus’ true message of humility and sacrifice? Are we willing to serve those who are at the bottom of society rather than chasing the glory of leadership? Are we willing to trade our spot in God’s plan to the less fortunate and downtrodden who truly need God’s grace? On top of that, will we lend our own hand to raise them out of their suffering? Do we truly believe that we should focus on humility and service to others to live out a faithful life?⠀
Prayer:⠀
Dear Lord, in this holiest of seasons, let us not forget the humility and⠀
sacrifice Jesus bestowed upon us through suffering on the cross, that we may live by His example by fulfilling His aspiration to live humbly and serve those less fortunate.⠀
***⠀ #lentwithsantamonicaumc #devotionalsbyyou #santamonicaumc #artofthepossible ⠀ ⠀
To read all the #dailydevotionals go to link in bio.
During #Lent we share #devotionals written by the @santamonicaumc community.
Here is one by Ann & David Wilson... 🎚Joshua 4:1-13*** 💬This chapter of Joshua tells about a great miracle God performed: the seemingly impossible passage of the people of Israel through the Jordan, on dry ground, similar to how God had parted the Red Sea for Moses. Or rather, this scripture passage tells what happened after that miracle. God tells Joshua to have the people build two memorials made from stones taken from the Jordan river, to be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. (4:7)
But there is something else, something very important, that has to happen for this memorial to have meaning to others, beyond those who witnessed the miracle themselves. Someone has to explain what those stones were all about. Someone has to tell the story. God tells Joshua that “when your children ask in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you tell them the story of that miracle, and how God made the impossible possible.” We, as people of faith, are the ones who can tell the story of the amazing things God has done, and what that means to us personally. We are walking memorials to God.
Prayer: Dear God, Help us to tell the stories of the wonderful things you have done for us so that others can know, and so that we never forget. Amen. ***
To read all the daily devotionals go to link in bio https://santamonicaumc.org/lent/
#lentwithsantamonicaumc #devotionalsbyyou #santamonicaumc #artofthepossible
