John 5:19–25 (Listen)
The Authority of the Son
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Thursday of the Second Week in Lent
Do you ever get ahead of God? I know I do. Sometimes I make decisions, gather resources, create programs, recruit volunteers, and then ask the Lord to bless what I’ve already done. How much easier and more appropriate it would be to join God in the work that He is already doing! Jesus did nothing of His own accord, but only what He saw His Father doing. This was Christ’s way of asserting that He was the Son of God.Jesus sought first God’s will and kingdom, and then joined the Father in His restorative work, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This way of praying and obeying led Jesus to the cross, where His sacrifice became the means of our forgiveness, life, and salvation. In this passage, Jesus is giving us an example of true sonship, which always involves carrying out the will of the Father.
The pattern of discernment that Jesus describes here simplifies our callings as baptized believers, who are sons of God ourselves (John 1:12). We don’t need to rely on our limited insight, creativity, power, or resources in order to serve our neighbors and make disciples. When we ask God to show us what He’s up to, and then join Him in the work that He is already doing, the outcome is no longer our burden to bear. God is always initiating and acting. In fact, the resurrection of the dead only happens because the deceased hear His voice and are raised!
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain,” Psalm 127:1 reminds us. Any effort that is not God-initiated will eventually fail. As we move toward Easter, are you willing to set aside your own agenda and ask God to order your steps?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, would you show me where the Father is at work today in the lives of those around me? Give us all courage to die to our own wisdom, plans, and desires, so that we may join You in Your work of proclaiming release to the captives and good news to the poor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Devotion written by The Rev. Jeff Morlock
Romans 2:12–24 (Listen)
God’s Judgment and the Law
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Morning Psalms
Evening Psalms
This daily prayer and Bible reading guide, Devoted to Prayer (based on Acts 2:42), was conceived and prepared by the Rev. Andrew S. Ames Fuller, director of communications for the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). After several challenging years in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been provided with a unique opportunity to revitalize the ancient practice of daily prayer and Scripture reading in our homes. While the Reading the Word of God three-year lectionary provided a much-needed and refreshing calendar for our congregations to engage in Scripture reading, this calendar includes a missing component of daily devotion: prayer. This guide is to provide the average layperson and pastor with the simple tools for sorting through the busyness of their lives and reclaiming an act of daily discipleship with their Lord. The daily readings follow the Lutheran Book of Worship two-year daily lectionary, which reflect the church calendar closely. The commemorations are adapted from Philip H. Pfatteicher’s New Book of Festivals and Commemorations, a proposed common calendar of the saints that builds from the Lutheran Book of Worship, but includes saints from many of those churches in ecumenical conversation with the NALC. The introductory portion is adapted from Christ Church (Plano)’s Pray Daily. Our hope is that this calendar and guide will provide new life for congregations learning and re-learning to pray in the midst of a difficult and changing world.