Devotion
The Lord Will Not Forget You
Frances Taylor
It's still Lent, we may or may not be still doing penance, it can be a tough time of the year weather-wise, and we can be ready for the promises of Spring. Does it feel as if God has not just forgotten you but the world as well. This reading from Isaiah is well chosen for this time of the year. The fulfillment of the promise made in the Garden of Eden, to send a Messiah who will open the gates of heaven, to save us from the effects of sin and death is almost here. We have been listening to the message of hope and forgiveness proclaimed by Jesus for weeks and we've watched him heal the sick and raise the dead and yet we're still not satisfied. We're not quite ready to "be joyful" and "break forth into singing." But the Lord gives us an example of love that he says doesn't compare to the great amount of love he has for us. He compares his love to that of a mother's love for her young child – and his love is greater. God's love is unconditional and undying. Easter is just around the corner.
Prayer
Lord we can feel that you are far away from us sometimes. Help us remain steadfast even when we are still in the desert of Lent. Amen.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
