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March 5MaPhew 4:1-11 (The Message)1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesusprepared for the Test by fas@ng forty days and forty nights. That lel him, of course, in a state ofextreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak theword that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”4 Jesus answered by quo@ng Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steadystream of words from God’s mouth.”5-6 For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said,“Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quo@ng Psalm 91: “He has placed you in thecare of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.”7 Jesus countered with another cita@on from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”8-9 For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively,poin@ng out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock,stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”10 Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quota@on fromDeuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”11 The Test was over. The Devil lel. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs.Reflec8onUsing Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, The Message, I’m struck by two points in this passage thatI had not no@ced before now. One has to do with how Jesus responds to Satan’s tempta@ons and theother comes at the conclusion of the passage.In the depths of his tempta@ons Jesus shows us he’s done his rabbinical homework. Even withthe crushing burdens of fa@gue and hunger, Jesus firmly resists Satan’s challenges to Jesus’ iden@ty byquo@ng Deuteronomy. He knows the laws of Moses! And he had those Mosaic laws in mind as herecalled the command to worship only one God and to keep God’s commandments by doing what wasright. Obedience to God in this case, meant that God’s way was the only way, no mamer howcompelling Satan’s way must have seemed to him at the @me.We know that Jesus is both fully divine and fully human. Being fully divine means Jesus couldhave turned stones into bread without any goading from Satan. He could easily have relieved his ownmisery using his divine power. When we recognize that Jesus obeyed God rather than turn away fromGod’s teachings, we can understand that Jesus authen@cally intercedes for us because he has sufferedand been tempted as we are too. Knowing that Jesus was fully human means he has experienced allthat we humans experience – including tempta@on. A line from our hymn “Out of Deep UnorderedWater” summarizes this idea beau@fully: “Life is hallowed by the knowledge God has been this waybefore.” We can know, then, that no mamer the pain or tempta@on, God has not only experienced it,but God suffers alongside us. We are not alone!The second startling point illustrated by Peterson’s paraphrase of this lesson comes followingSatan’s departure and the end of this round of tempta@ons. Angels come to care for Jesus, unbidden.Isn’t it startling to realize the angels assist Jesus not because he called on them, but because God, whowitnessed and suffered with Jesus throughout the tempta@ons, met Jesus’ needs at the most cri@cal@me? God reveals his faithfulness to us by taking care of Jesus. This act reminds us that God will alwayskeep His promises to care for His people. I don’t see this as sugges@ng a kind of asce@c approach togeXng what we really need, but instead as showing God’s faithfulness to those who put their trust inHim. Fred Craddock explains this as “to the extent that Jesus’ tempta@on serves as a model for theChris@an, it might teach that to be a child of God means to have a trus@ng rela@onship to God thatdoes not ask for miraculous excep@ons to the limita@ons of an authen@c human life.” Jesus did just

that. Our task then is to learn the stories and lessons of Jesus’ life through our scriptures well enoughthat they will always help point us toward God’s way the way Jesus has already walked and all alongthe way that he will walk with us.PrayerGod of every season and place, help us learn well the stories of Jesus so that we may not live infear, or be tempted to turn from God. Instead, may we see new mercies through all that God hasprovided for us and be at peace.—Rachel Kaufmann

Psalm 32Blessed is the onewhose transgressions are forgiven,whose sins are covered.2 Blessed is the onewhose sin the Lord does not count againstthemand in whose spirit is no deceit.3 When I kept silent,my bones wasted awaythrough my groaning all day long.4 For day and nightyour hand was heavy on me;my strength was sappedas in the heat of summer.5 Then I acknowledged my sin to youand did not cover up my iniquity.I said, “I will confessmy transgressions to the Lord.”And you forgavethe guilt of my sin.March 66 Therefore let all the faithful pray to youwhile you may be found;surely the rising of the mighty waterswill not reach them.7 You are my hiding place;you will protect me from troubleand surround me with songs of deliverance.8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way youshould go;I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,which have no understandingbut must be controlled by bit and bridleor they will not come to you.10 Many are the woes of the wicked,but the Lord’s unfailing lovesurrounds the one who trusts in him.11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;sing, all you who are upright in heart!Reflec8onFor the longest @me, I felt uncomfortable with what is the crux of our Chris@an faith. I also feltsecretly ashamed of that feeling. Sacrifice, blood, death, Atonement—in all of its forms—have alwaysmade me feel deeply unsemled. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t comprehend how, in the Old Testament,death and blood of animals had to rou@nely make up for the sins of humans. I didn’t get how Godcould or had to sacrifice His only son for us in the ul@mate Atonement. Couldn’t He, our mercifulCreator, just forgive us and reconcile with us, sparing Christ’s suffering and bloody death? Why did themoment of forgiveness, redemp@on, and reconcilia@on with humankind have to be associated withblood and death, and not life? Perhaps I was being “like a horse or a mule” who “can’t understandanything” (Psalm 32:9). Perhaps I was trying to understand it through my intellect and not through myfaith.As my Chris@an faith matured, I understood that I was just hung up on the wrong part of theevent. God, in his mercifulness, helped me understand. He helped me focus on the fact that GodHimself, in Christ’s flesh, died for us paying for our sins so we could share in His glorious, eternal life.There is no greater sacrifice, no greater love. I was simplis@cally focusing on death, while missing thepoint that God became human and lived like us so he could understand our suffering, and then died sothat we could have a shot at having eternal life. I was focusing on the darkness of death, and not onthe light of life and resurrec@on.“Blessed is the person whose lawless acts are forgiven,” says the Psalmist, for “their sins havebeen taken away.” My transgressions were forgiven right there, at the cross, taken away. From thebeginning, God’s ul@mate wish has been to reconcile with us. Through Christ’s death, He has ini@atedthis reconcilia@on and He is wai@ng for us to reach out, to understand and accept Christ’s sacrifice and,with repentant hearts, embrace Grace.This Lent, as I reflect on my faith journey and prepare for Easter, I thank God for illumina@ng myheart and, limle by limle, given me understanding of His great mysteries. Psalm 32 says, “I will guide you

and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you with love” (Psalm32:8). All I need to do is surrender with abandonment and “trust in Him”. It sounds simple but I olenstruggle with this.The representa@on of the event at the Calvary will always encompass death, life, and blood.Blood as a sign of death, and blood as a sign of life. As my Chris@an faith con@nues to mature, I havelearned to focus on the light and life in Christ’s blood, be grateful for what God has done for me, andmake peace with the mysteries of Atonement.PrayerDear God, Thank you for reconciling with us at the cross and every day, despite of ourtransgressions. Thank you for your forgiveness and Grace. In our daily lives, “when troubles come like aflood,” please meet us in higher ground and remind us to always hand over control to you. During Lentand always, illumine us to fully understand the eternal dimension of Atonement and of your eternallove. Amen.—Bebel Delgado

March 7Romans 5: 12-21Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so deathspread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is notreckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over thosewhose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.15 But the free gil is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, muchmore surely have the grace of God and the free gil in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, aboundedfor the many. 16 And the free gil is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment followingone trespass brought condemna@on, but the free gil following many trespasses brings jus@fica@on. 17If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surelywill those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gil of righteousness exercise dominion inlife through the one man, Jesus Christ.18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemna@on for all, so one man’s act of righteousnessleads to jus@fica@on and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were madesinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 But law came in, with theresult that the trespass mul@plied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that,just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through jus@fica@onleading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Reflec8onThere is bad news and good news, says the Apostle Paul in effect as he writes to the Jewishfollowers of Jesus in the great city of the Roman first century CE (AD) world. The bad news, says Paul, isthat sin con@nues to be rampant in our @me as it has been since Adam. The good news is that we havefound at last our Messiah in Jesus whose life and death amest to the gracious and forgiving nature ofGod.This is indeed a sweeping statement, somewhat like the broad stroke of an ar@st in a hurry! Notonly that, but Paul understands this good news to apply also to the many Gen@les who are alsoamracted to it. And to those Jews who object to sharing this message with non-adherents to the Torah,Paul insists that Jesus has ushered in a new age in which all humanity can par@cipate, that the Kingdomof Grace is the free gil of God to a wicked and corrupt world. One need not subscribe to a set of laws(even good laws) to be “jus@fied” as an acceptable child of God. Real unity can include diversity amonggroup members who may differ in background as together they live out their vision and hope for aworld where love conquers hate and life conquers death.How “current” this message of the great theologian and missionary of the Early Church turnsout to be for our 21st century world!PrayerOh for a world where everyone respects each other’s waysWhere love is lived and all is done with jus@ce and with praise.We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice.That opens us to unity and gives our vision voice.Amen.—Louise Winfield

Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17Blow the trumpet in Zion;sound the alarm on my holy hill.Let all who live in the land tremble,for the day of the Lord is coming.It is close at hand—2 a day of darkness and gloom,a day of clouds and blackness.Like dawn spreading across the mountainsa large and mighty army comes,such as never was in ancient @mes.----------12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart,with fas@ng and weeping and mourning.”13 Rend your heartand not your garments.Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in love,and he relents from sending calamity.14 Who knows? He may turn and relentMarch 8and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offeringsfor the Lord your God.15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,declare a holy fast,call a sacred assembly.16 Gather the people,consecrate the assembly;bring together the elders,gather the children,those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his roomand the bride her chamber.17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,weep between the por@co and the altar.Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.Do not make your inheritance an object ofscorn,a byword among the na@ons.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”Reflec8onThe word for the verb “repent” in Hebrew is one of my favorite Hebrew words. It’s ‘shuv,’ and itcan also be translated as “to turn.” I like this because it gives a concrete image to an abstract concept.When God is asking us to repent, God is asking us to turn toward God. I like the image of turningbecause it makes me think that when we repent, we leave something behind. We leave behind thosesins, those things we have to repent for, and we make a conscious effort to turn toward God. Thosethings that separated us from God, they can no longer be in our line of sight.When we repent, we literally turn around, we stop walking away from God and start walkingtowards God. Turning to God with our whole heart, as God begs us to do through the prophet Joel, is tochange our minds, reconsider our ac@ons, to orient ourselves wholly toward God.The prophet calls for repentance, and not just for the whole person. God wants the whole city,the whole people, the whole na@on of Israel to join in this repentance and worship. Repentancehappens in our hearts, but it also happens in community.PrayerGracious God, help us to turn away from sin and hatred and fear and to turn toward you. Helpus to orient our lives so that we face you and all that you have to offer us. As we move through thisseason of Lent, help us to leave behind that which separates us from you and from each other. May wealways be turning toward you, O God. Amen.—Rev. Shelby Etheridge Harasty

March 9Acts 3: 1-10One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the @me of prayer—at three in the alernoon. 2Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beau@ful, where hewas put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John aboutto enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look atus!” 5 So the man gave them his amen@on, expec@ng to get something from them.6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christof Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet andankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into thetemple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking andpraising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate calledBeau@ful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.Reflec8onThe passage represents, to us, that faith in God has the power to change. A person may haveemo@onal obstacles in their life to being the person they want to be. Or perhaps there are obstacles fora person to find joy or apprecia@on for someone in their daily life. This passage teaches us that theseobstacles are surmountable and can be overcome. You can be the person you want to be or have therela@onship you want to have. Belief in God has the power to change you, improve you, and give youstrength when you are emo@onally crippled.PrayerGod, hear our yearning to live in faith, to be true followers of your way, to be the person weknow we can be. Diminish those obstacles we see as so insurmountable, so that we can realize ourpoten@al. Amen.—Alison Dewey and Brian Hooker

March 10Psalm 19 (NIV)1The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands.2Dayaler day they pour forth speech;Night aler night they display knowledge.3Thereis no speech or language where their voice is not heard.voice goes out into all the earth,Their words to the ends of the world.4TheirIn the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,5which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,like a champion rejoicing to run his course.6Itrises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;Nothing is hidden from its heat.7Thelaw of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.8The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.9The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.11By them is your servant warned;in keeping them is your great reward.

12Whocan discern his errors?Forgive my hidden faults.13Keep your servant also from willful sins;may they not rule over me.Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.14Maythe words of my mouth and the medita@on of my heart be pleasing in your sight,O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.PrayerLord, I sing your praises. Your world is awesome and makes us breathless. Your laws are perfect.Forgive me for not adhering to them bemer, but help me to come closer each day. I am here to pleaseyou and bring glory to you. Amen.—Jane Karakashian

March 111 Corinthians 1: 18-25For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved itis the power of God. 19 For it is wrimen:“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the worldthrough its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preachedto save those who believe. 22 Jews

Each entry lists a daily scripture reading and excerpt from this reading, as well as a reflec@on and prayer. At the conclusion of the reading for each day, we invite you to offer a prayer for the writer, as we grow in community with each other. . Lent Devotional 2017 .