Devotion
Walking With Jesus
Frances Taylor
This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday and we begin the most solemn week of the year – Holy Week. How will you walk with Jesus this week? Try not to let the last minute chores of Easter preparation get in the way of your Lenten journey. Think of the ways you can use each day to walk with Jesus along his way to the cross and to his resurrection. Our churches give us many opportunities during Holy Week to gather in prayer and remembrance. Beyond that, we need to decide what we can do in our daily lives.
Perhaps on Monday we can make an attempt to help someone, call someone, do something for a stranger. On Tuesday, perhaps we can take a minute and pray for those who have served as models of faith for us, both in our families as well as for those who have served in ministry. We might decide that we can fast each day of the week instead of just Friday. As Wednesday is traditionally called "spy Wednesday" we might think of someone we need to ask for forgiveness. Thursday is a great day to appreciate the Lord's example of washing the feet of his disciples and thank those who have served us. Especially we should thank parents and others whose care for us we take for granted. Friday we can think of those times when we have complained about the problems and pains of everyday life and offer them up as a small sacrifice when we remember the torture suffered on our behalf by Jesus. Saturday, we wait secure in the knowledge that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our sins and has gained for us eternal life. Let us all walk together with Jesus this week.
Palm Sunday! The people shouted in joy as Jesus entered the city and then shouted for his death before the week was over.
Prayer
Lord, let us be people who shout for joy each day, not just for this week, but for every week of our lives in thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. 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.
