Lent 2026 (Page 3)

Read Hebrews 2:17-18 Whenever a text starts off with words like “For this reason”, it means there is something very important that happens before it. In this case, it is the explanation of why Jesus had to be made human in order to be the perfect sacrifice for us.  Why did Christ come back as a human and not an angel or other being? The covenant God made was with man and not angels.  God favored man over angels. Angels…

Read Ephesians 2:4-5 It is hard to show mercy towards anyone who actively opposes or rejects us, but there are some who successfully do so. We have the Biblical example of the loving father who welcomes his prodigal son back home despite his rebellious, disrespectful, and arrogant behavior. We have C.S. Lewis’ example of Aslan who allows himself to be killed instead of Edmond who had displayed selfish, deceitful, and spiteful behavior. Many of us can probably think of other…

Read Exodus 34:6-9 Have you ever felt the need to “lay your cards on the table” when you first met someone? Like, “Let’s cut to the chase—this is who I am, this is what is important to me, this is what I am against.” Usually, we take our time disclosing ourselves and there is good wisdom in that. But there may be instances, perhaps with a time urgency or a need for utmost clarity that we may “lay out our…

Read John 3:16-18 Our public square buzzes with visions of paradise. Countless advertising dollars are poured into the promotion of the latest cures for society’s ailments. From skincare to fixing the government, a better tomorrow is just around the corner. So they say.  It’s not all wrong. Good healthcare does help. Visionary leaders may turn a company or even a country around. And investing wisely (if all goes well) can make tomorrow more comfortable. But the reality is these are…

ReAD Luke 19:28-42 and Matthew 23:37-39 Have you ever watched someone important to you make decisions you knew would not be for their good? What did you feel? What did you do? Sometimes these situations lead me to consider how God must feel toward all of us when we live in ways contrary to God’s guidance and, thus, not for our good. We catch a glimpse of the divine response in Jesus through today’s Scripture texts. Traveling toward Jerusalem near…

Each Saturday during Lent, we will take some time as a church family to practice a different spiritual exercise together. Today, we are practicing Service. About SErvice Service is a way of offering resources, time, treasure, influence, and expertise for the care, protection, justice, and nurture of others. Acts of service give hands to the second greatest com- mandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Isaiah 58:6-7; John 12:26; Matthew 22:37-39). For REflection: Ways to Practice SErvice:

Read Ephesians 4:29-32 When I think about frustration, I usually think about moments when something feels painfully wrong. The kind of frustration that comes from knowing something could and should be better.  That’s the kind of emotion we see when Jesus weeps at the tomb of Lazarus. His tears aren’t only about loss, they’re about the brokenness of a damaged world. Jesus knew this wasn’t how things were meant to be. That same frustration shows up in Ephesians 4:29-32. In…

Read Psalm 78:32-40 Have you ever visited the desert? Maybe you’ve gone sliding down sand dunes or even ridden a camel. Sounds fun, right? I live in the land where the Israelites likely wandered for a good part of 40 years, and I can say that the desert can be very frustrating, hot, exhausting, and dirty. It can also get very cold, dangerous during rainy seasons, and even a little green in the spring. It’s a strange juxtaposition to live…

Read Genesis 6:5-8 When we hear that something terrible and unfair happened to someone we know, or we see on the news that innocent people are suffering, it is normal to have strong feelings: anger, grief, dismay. We react because we care about these people. If we long for justice, then how much more is it God’s desire? Back in Genesis 1, when God created the world and people, He said “It is good” about everything. But over time, things…

Read Hosea 11:5-8 Throughout the book of Hosea, we read about Israel’s unfaithfulness, idolatry, and hypocrisy. They say they know God, but they don’t allow Him to truly transform their hearts; letting blind ambition drive foolish choices and misplaced faith in false gods and faithless nations. The prophet paints a picture of Israel as the rebellious son, and God as his loving but emotionally whiplashed father; in verses 5-8 we hear the latter’s frustration, the torment of watching His people…

Read Ezekiel 6:9 When I was a child, I would request that one special toy for Christmas or my birthday. When I was ten years old, I wanted Optimus Prime, the leader of the good Transformers robots. I thought if I had this, my life would be worthwhile. When I received it, it only took thirty minutes of rough play for Optimus’ arm to be broken off. What I thought would bring me joy was just a piece of poorly…

ReAD John 11:1-44 After reading John 11:1-44, re-read John 11:34-36. Think back on the last time you cried. Maybe something sad happened, maybe you were so overwhelmed, crying was all you could do. Or maybe a friend told a joke so funny, you burst out laughing and cried tears of joy! Today in our passage, we find Jesus crying tears of sadness and frustration. As we see throughout the New Testament, Jesus found sweet friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.…