Lenten Devotions and Scripture, Week 6
Lenten Devotions and Scripture, Week 6
Pick three days this week to dive deeper into scripture using the prompts below. Note: Devotions from MinistryPass.com
Week 6, Day 1:
Matthew 26:56 (ESV)
[56] “But all this has taken place that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
The Heartache of the Scattered: The Cost of Discipleship
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the reality of discipleship shifted from a triumphant parade to a terrifying arrest. When Jesus was taken by the authorities, the disciples—who had promised to die with Him—fled into the night. Discipleship is often celebrated when things are going well, but its true test is found in moments of hardship and persecution. Following Jesus doesn’t exempt us from heartache; in fact, it often leads us directly into it. The disciples’ flight reminds us that our own strength is insufficient for the trials of faith. True discipleship requires a dependence on Christ that remains even when the world turns against Him. Today, consider if your commitment to Jesus is based on the “Hosannas” of the crowd or a willingness to stand by Him even when the shadows grow long.
Questions to Consider
- Have you ever felt the urge to “flee” from your faith when things became difficult or socially costly?
- Why does God allow His disciples to experience the “heartache” of trial and opposition?
- How can you lean on God’s strength today rather than your own resolve?
Week 6, Day 2:
John 16:33 (ESV)
[33] “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
In the Midst of Tribulation: Finding Peace in the Pain
Jesus didn’t hide the truth from His followers: He promised them tribulation. As the authorities led Him away, the disciples began to experience the weight of that promise. Tribulation isn’t a sign of God’s absence; it is often a hallmark of our alignment with a King the world rejects. We often expect the Christian life to be a path of increasing comfort, but Jesus points us toward a peace that exists within the pressure. This “heartache” the disciples endured was necessary for them to move from a political understanding of the Kingdom to a spiritual one. When we face our own seasons of hardship or persecution, we are invited to “take heart.” Our peace isn’t found in the removal of the trial, but in the presence of the One who has already overcome it.
Questions to Consider
- What “tribulation” are you currently facing that tests your identity as a disciple?
- How can you distinguish between “worldly peace” (circumstances going well) and “Christ’s peace” (internal rest during a storm)?
- What does it mean for you practically to “take heart” today?
Week 6, Day 3:
Luke 24:21 (ESV)
[21] “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.”
The Holy Wait: Faith in the Silence
Between the arrest and the Resurrection lies the “silent Saturday”—the agony of the wait. The disciples on the road to Emmaus spoke these heartbreaking words: “But we had hoped…” They were living in the gap between the King’s departure and His promised return. This is the tension of the modern disciple: we live in a world that is still broken, waiting for our King to return and make all things new. The heartache of waiting can feel like abandonment, but God is often doing His deepest work in the silence. Learning to wait with hope—even when the authorities seem to have won and the tomb is sealed—is the ultimate act of discipleship. We are called to be a people who wait well, trusting that the story isn’t over just because we can’t see the next chapter yet.
Questions to Consider
- Where in your life are you currently in a “waiting season” where God seems silent?
- How does “hope” differ from “wishful thinking” when it comes to the King’s return?
- How can you support others who are struggling with the heartache of “unmet expectations” in their faith?