Lenten Devotional for Monday March 12, 2012

Scripture: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27)

In the season of Lent many Christians make sacrifices in a feeble mimicry of Christ's temptation in the wilderness. People do it for many reasons: to better themselves, it's what you do, etc. Looking at Christ's trials there is one consistent, repetitive theme: God's word. Christ rebukes Satan using scripture and the word of God for every temptation laid before him. His focus is not on himself, his wants, or even his needs. His focus is on the Father.

As we undertake these "sacrifices" and fasts we must remember why we do such things a part from the worldly measures of bettering one’s self or repetitive practice. These sacrifices are taken so we do not worry of our flesh-driven wants, merely what is good and Godly. During this season we can consume ourselves with denying the pleasures of soft drinks or sweets or whatever we have given up, and we can do as Paul says in Philippians and embrace the admirable things. Like I said, Jesus’ focus was not on the worldly things he did not have, but on pleasing the Lord in his works. These two verses are a good reminder to seek God as opposed to seeking "not evil".

Prayer:Lord bless us in this Lenten Season. Grant us the strength we need to follow you in times of temptation and to uphold your will in our daily works. That we may see your light in a world of darkness allowing your light to consume us in spite of what may surround us. Amen. (copied)