Christ Church Rockville Lenten Devotion
Jer. 11:1-8, 14-20
Rom. 6:1-11
John 8:33-47
Jeremiah 11:1-8
God is commanding Jeremiah to speak to the people of Judah that if they don’t repent, judgement is coming to them and God will curse the people if they don’t obey His word, and
bless those who do obey.
Jeremiah 11:14-20
God wants Jeremiah not to pray for the Israelites as they are idol worshippers. Israel was compared to an olive tree and all its fruitful beauty but they the people are sinners and were not good.
God is asking us, begging us even to sin no more, to do only good on this earth so that we may be blessed to be with him in Heaven one day. A pretty big request from God to us.
One that we can strive for by simply “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Something to think about as I open my eyes and wonder what the day brings.
Perhaps I can make a difference in others’ lives today.
Romans 6:1-11
St. Paul is telling the Romans that God will sanctify the believers and those who live a holy life— never reaching perfection, but striving for it. At conversion we died to sin, spiritually baptized into Christ given God’s grace, buried with Him in death, and then rising to new life in Heaven.
St. Paul would like us to strive to be more Christ-like. Learning everyday how to have more patience and practice more kindness to each one we meet.
John 8:33-47
The Jews believed that because they were descendants of Abraham they were entitled to have an inner sense of freedom to do what they desired. Jesus was teaching them about being slaves to sin. They just weren’t acting like they were sons of God by doing what they wanted to and not living by the rules laid down by God through Abraham.
All of these teachings are lessons for us to think that God is with us every day all day. Keeping us on the path to being with Him one day, but taking the journey away from sin and living in the grace he gave us (through Baptism) to love our neighbor as ourselves.
