Thursday of the Week of Lent V
Today’s readings: Jeremiah 26:1-24; Romans 11:1-12; John 10:19-42
“Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying, ‘The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will repent of the evil which He has pronounced against you’” (Jer 26:12-13).
As we’ve been reading, periodically, through Jeremiah in these devotions taken from the LBW daily lectionary, we heard the prophet foretelling judgment and exile, as well as promise for restoration. Now, push comes to shove for Jeremiah. The people have tired of hearing his message and they have “laid hold” of him, saying, “You shall die!”
Prophets and preachers calling people to repent and amend their ways and their doings have often faced opposition. An important part of confession and repentance is amendment of life! Now that you have acknowledged your sin, how will you change your behavior so that you don’t go and sin again? Most folks will confess their sins, want forgiveness freely given, and then go out to do the same thing they did before!
Have you been particularly mindful of your sin and disobedience during this Lenten season? Has your participation during the rite of Confession and Forgiveness on Sunday morning been heartfelt, especially during the Sundays of Lent? Do you, then, leave with an intention and a plan for how NOT to do the same disobedient things over again? The words of Jeremiah come to us across the ages: Now therefore amend your ways and your doings and obey the voice of the Lord!
Prayer: Lord God, I confess that I have sinned against you this day. In the name of Jesus, I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me, that I may amend my life and obey your voice. Amen.
Lenten Response: What is the sin you struggle with most? What might you change or do differently to avoid repeating this sin in the future?
Today’s devotion was written by the Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism.
Click video to play.
Video of each day’s devotion is available here. The 2017 Lenten Devotional, based on Year I of the LBW and written by Pastor David Wendel, is available for download/printing in two formats and as a daily text/email message.
• 8.5″ x 11″ large print version for one- or two-sided printing on letter-sized paper
• 8.5″ x 11″ booklet (folds to 5.5″ x 8.5″) designed for two-sided printing on letter-sized paper
To receive daily devotionals via SMS, please text @NALCLENT to 614-682-8693.
To receive daily devotionals via email, please visit: NALC Lenten Devotional.
The 2017 Lenten Devotional is also available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Search for NALC WALK OF FAITH. If you already have the NALC Walk of Faith app, just update it by clicking the “download” button next to the devotional for Lent.