Lent Devotional - April 1, 2023

Hymn: “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” (LSB #440, v. 6)
Graciously my faith renew;
Help me bear my crosses.
Learning humbleness from You,
Peace mid pain and losses.
May I give You love for love!
Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in heav’n above
Sing Your praise forever.
 
               Finally, our meditation winds to a close. Through horror and blood, to guilt and shame, to peace and forgiveness. The cross of Jesus Christ is to work this all in us. We pray that as we fixate upon it that God would steer us this way.

               The last thing that the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ is to do in us is to renew us. This historical Christian tactic of meditation is to be repeated and like fine wine, it ages over time. This meditation can be repeated for we daily need it, but it works best when we fixate on the Word of God.

               So, before we end our time of meditation on the Word of God, we are to spend time asking for God to renew us. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, may we also live a new life. Now we can see our cross, not for complaining, but for the tool that God will use to strengthen and renew us in Jesus.

               In this way, we will be made humble before God. We will also learn to love our neighbor in this way. When we are facing our own pain and loss for the Gospel, we will still have peace. It is the peace that Jesus has won for us, for whatever we place in God’s hands is never lost.

               And whatever we place in God’s hands will turn into love. What God gives us is love. Jesus helps us to grow to be like Him through this meditation, and that is the fruit it will yield.

               Finally, for all of this, for this whole meditation, we ask that our Savior hear us, that at the end, we may, like the thief on the cross who himself meditated upon the passion of Jesus, join with Him in heaven to sing His praise there forever.