March 3 – 4, 2025
As we enter into Lent this year we will be using the Lent devotional provided beginning March 5th all the way through Easter. So for Monday and Tuesday prior to using that devotional I want us to begin to prepare our hearts. To do that begin by reading Colossians 3:1-17:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Monday, March 3, 2025
Focus on the first paragraph of the text today, verses 1 to 11. Reread those 11 verses specifically. The major theme we read about is putting off. Phrases such as put to death, put them away and put off the old self are used with the text. As you allow yourself to meditate on these verses ask God to bring to mind things that need to be put off in your life, so as to let Christ be all. Go to the Lord in prayer today as we prepare our hearts for the Lenton season.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Focus on the second paragraph of text today, verses 12 to 17. Reread those 6 verses specifically. The major theme we read about is putting on. Yesterday, we allowed God to focus our heart on things that needed to be put off, so today we seek God’s guidance as to what we need to put on. As you read through those verses underline words or phrases that touch your heart. Go to the Lord in prayer today and ask for his help and guidance to put on what he has touched your heart with today.