Devotions written by Rev. Kazimera I.H. Fraley and Rev. Christy Gunter-Leppert for our congregations during the season of Lent.
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Daily Meditation One
Jeremiah 31:31-34
The heart of the covenant is, “I shall be their God and they shall be my people.”
God’s desire is for who we are to belong to God and for our belonging to God to define our lives. The covenant given to God’s people showed them what they would do if their belonging was lived out. Not only did they neglect and break this covenant but they allowed the guidelines of what covenant life looked like to define their lives.
God does not want people to simply live by a set of rules which can easily be broken but rather wants the covenant to be written on our hearts so our thoughts, words, and actions are born out of God being within us. God wants more than simply people being forced to conform to an outward standard. God wants us to be transformed.
Reflection Questions:
How is Christianity sometimes lived like an outward standard?
How can you allow God to write the covenant upon your heart?
How would this change the way you live?
Prayer:
God, I belong to you. And because I belong to you—you transform all of creation with who you are making me.
Write your promise to create me anew on my heart—so that I might be who you created me to be.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
The heart of the covenant is, “I shall be their God and they shall be my people.”
God’s desire is for who we are to belong to God and for our belonging to God to define our lives. The covenant given to God’s people showed them what they would do if their belonging was lived out. Not only did they neglect and break this covenant but they allowed the guidelines of what covenant life looked like to define their lives.
God does not want people to simply live by a set of rules which can easily be broken but rather wants the covenant to be written on our hearts so our thoughts, words, and actions are born out of God being within us. God wants more than simply people being forced to conform to an outward standard. God wants us to be transformed.
Reflection Questions:
How is Christianity sometimes lived like an outward standard?
How can you allow God to write the covenant upon your heart?
How would this change the way you live?
Prayer:
God, I belong to you. And because I belong to you—you transform all of creation with who you are making me.
Write your promise to create me anew on my heart—so that I might be who you created me to be.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
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Daily Meditation Two
Psalm 119:9-16
Hey you! Yes, you. Who else would I be talking to? Come here. I need to talk with you. I need to show you who I am. I need you to search for me, to seek after me, even when I seem to be hard to find. If you feel you cannot find me the first time, keep searching with your whole heart. I am always here. You will find me. And I will show you my love. I will teach you how to live like me; how to follow my ways and how to walk in my paths. Delight in my guidance, find joy in my teachings. Do not forget me. Do not forget what I have taught you.
With Love and Mercy,
God
Reflection Questions:
If God wrote you a letter what would write back?
What do you thing God would say to you?
What would be the important things you would want to tell God?
What would you want to ask God?
Prayer (Conversation with God):
Hey you! Yes, you. Who else would I be talking to? Come here. I need to talk with you. I need to show you who I am. I need you to search for me, to seek after me, even when I seem to be hard to find. If you feel you cannot find me the first time, keep searching with your whole heart. I am always here. You will find me. And I will show you my love. I will teach you how to live like me; how to follow my ways and how to walk in my paths. Delight in my guidance, find joy in my teachings. Do not forget me. Do not forget what I have taught you.
With Love and Mercy,
God
Reflection Questions:
If God wrote you a letter what would write back?
What do you thing God would say to you?
What would be the important things you would want to tell God?
What would you want to ask God?
Prayer (Conversation with God):
God,
It’s me; the human. I am here. I am seeking you with my whole heart. I know you’re there. I love you and want to be like you.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
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Daily Meditation Three
It’s me; the human. I am here. I am seeking you with my whole heart. I know you’re there. I love you and want to be like you.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
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Daily Meditation Three
Hebrews 5:5-10
The God of creation came to the earth. Jesus Christ became one of us, and walked humbly through life, showing us how to live. He was of the order of Melchizedek; our passage here in Hebrews tells us. Christ is like Melchizedek, a priest who ministered to Abraham along his journey, in the fact that like Melchizedek, Christ has not earthly lineage. Nowhere in the Old Testament is Melchizedek’s lineage given. He is simply a priest of God. Christ who truly is not of this world is also a priest without a lineage; a priest who comes to this earth, ministers, changes everything, and then returns to the place form which he came leaving an everlasting impression. We are called to be like Christ, to leave an everlasting impression of God where ever we go.
Reflection Questions:
If you do not leave a Godly impression what kind of impression do you leave?
What can you do to leave a Godly impression everywhere you go today?
Prayer:
Jesus—thank you for becoming one of us, for suffering; for showing us how to live. May we be living reflections of you.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
The God of creation came to the earth. Jesus Christ became one of us, and walked humbly through life, showing us how to live. He was of the order of Melchizedek; our passage here in Hebrews tells us. Christ is like Melchizedek, a priest who ministered to Abraham along his journey, in the fact that like Melchizedek, Christ has not earthly lineage. Nowhere in the Old Testament is Melchizedek’s lineage given. He is simply a priest of God. Christ who truly is not of this world is also a priest without a lineage; a priest who comes to this earth, ministers, changes everything, and then returns to the place form which he came leaving an everlasting impression. We are called to be like Christ, to leave an everlasting impression of God where ever we go.
Reflection Questions:
If you do not leave a Godly impression what kind of impression do you leave?
What can you do to leave a Godly impression everywhere you go today?
Prayer:
Jesus—thank you for becoming one of us, for suffering; for showing us how to live. May we be living reflections of you.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
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Daily Meditation Four
John 12:20-33
Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me,” and, “where I am, there will my servant also be.”
A group of outsiders asked to see Jesus. Instead of simply taking the people to Jesus, two of them discuss whether or not these people should get to see Jesus and then go and ask Jesus. Jesus does not give them a straight answer but tells them his servants are where he is and those who serve him follow him.
These people want to be where Jesus is; we might assume they want to follow Jesus. However because they do not fit these two disciples mold or understanding of who is worthy to be with Jesus, they are kept away.
Reflection Questions:
Are there people in your life, who if they asked you about coming to church with you, you would be hesitant about inviting them?
In what ways do you keep some people away from knowing and following Christ?
Prayer:
God, I want to serve you and follow you. I want to walk alongside others who serve and follow you—no matter how different they are from me.
May the grain of my heart die and bear much loving fruit for you.
I give up my life for you.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me,” and, “where I am, there will my servant also be.”
A group of outsiders asked to see Jesus. Instead of simply taking the people to Jesus, two of them discuss whether or not these people should get to see Jesus and then go and ask Jesus. Jesus does not give them a straight answer but tells them his servants are where he is and those who serve him follow him.
These people want to be where Jesus is; we might assume they want to follow Jesus. However because they do not fit these two disciples mold or understanding of who is worthy to be with Jesus, they are kept away.
Reflection Questions:
Are there people in your life, who if they asked you about coming to church with you, you would be hesitant about inviting them?
In what ways do you keep some people away from knowing and following Christ?
Prayer:
God, I want to serve you and follow you. I want to walk alongside others who serve and follow you—no matter how different they are from me.
May the grain of my heart die and bear much loving fruit for you.
I give up my life for you.
Weekly Action:
Write down the name of the first person you meet today, who is not a family member. Think about your interactions with that person. How did that person see God in you today? In what ways did they not see God? How can you change to be certain that people see more of God in you?
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