Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 29

Devotion for Wednesday after Lent 2

So they reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.
Appoint a wicked man against him;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand. ~ Psalm 109:5-6

As we read further in this psalm, we hear David calling for all sorts of evil against his enemies. The imprecatory psalms always make us a little uncomfortable. How can we ask God to curse another person? But David is asking for justice to be done and for God to be glorified. As should be the case with us, God’s enemies were David’s enemies. He wanted the wicked punished because they deserved it. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, but that doesn’t mean justice should be ignored. God’s justice was served for all who love Him by Jesus taking our punishment on the cross for us. Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t cover anyone who refuses to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. Elsewhere in the Bible, especially in Revelation, we learn of the terrible punishment that God has in store for those who deny Him. He is a just God and cannot and will not let evil go unpunished. Glory be to Him that if we give ourselves to Him, Jesus suffered everything that we should suffer, and we are made righteous.

Almighty God, You are a gracious, merciful, and loving God, but You are also a just God. Thank You that my sins have been punished—but Jesus took my punishment. I pray for all who are destined for eternal punishment. Open their minds and turn their hearts to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Devotion for Tuesday after Lent 2

Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. ~ Matthew 27:3-5

As Jesus knew he would, Judas betrayed Jesus to the chief priests and elders for thirty pieces of silver. What was his motive? Did he do it only for the money? Or was he trying to force Jesus to reveal Himself as the Messiah to save Himself? When Jesus was condemned, Judas changed his mind—but it was too late. Unlike Peter, who repented after denying Jesus three times, Judas condemned himself and took his own life. Could he have been forgiven if he had repented and asked for forgiveness? We know that we can always be forgiven when we sin. Instead of condemning ourselves to hopelessness—as we often do, we need to recognize God’s grace and mercy, confess, change our ways, and be forgiven.

Lord, sometimes I condemn myself and think I’m not worthy of forgiveness when I sin. And it’s true that I’m not worthy of forgiveness—no one is, but You are always ready to forgive me when I truly repent. Give me true repentance for my own sins and the willingness to forgive those who harm me. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Devotion for Monday after Lent 2

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
~ Isaiah 61:1-3

Looking toward Easter, we see the time of the Lord’s favor. Through His resurrection, Jesus proclaims liberty to the captives, comforts those who mourn, and gives us a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. We are in the time of mourning for our sins now during Lent, but the time of rejoicing is coming.

Father God, I mourn for my sins that put Jesus on the cross. I praise You and thank You for His sacrifice that once and for all redeemed me and gave me eternal life. I can be called an oak of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, for Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for the Second Sunday in Lent

Thus says the Lord:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
    lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
    she refuses to be comforted for her children,
    because they are no more.”

Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
    and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
    and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 

There is hope for your future,
declares the Lord,
    and your children shall come back to their own country. ~ Jeremiah 31:15-17

This prophecy was about God’s people carried off into captivity for their disobedience; parents were separated from their children, and they mourned. During Lent, we are lamenting our sins—not crying because they are no more, but weeping and repenting because our sins are still here. But just as the Lord promised an end to the weeping of His people who would be returned to their homeland, we look forward to Easter when we will rejoice in the resurrection that redeems us from our sins.

Lord God, I look forward to the joy of Easter, but let me never forget to mourn for my sins and to repent. I thank You and praise You that Jesus redeemed me from my sins, but I weep that I caused Him that suffering, the pain that He endured for my sake. Forgive me and lead me in Your holy ways. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Devotion for Saturday after Lent 1

He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young. ~ Isaiah 40:11

Jesus will carry the lambs, the weak and helpless, in his bosom—next to His heart. He wraps His arms around them and holds them against His chest, where His heart beats with love for them. How wonderful to be one of His lambs; Jesus carries even elderly human beings who love Him as a shepherd carries the weakest and tiniest lamb. How amazing that the strong heartbeat that provides comfort to those held snugly against His body is the beat of His love.

Lord God, thank You that Jesus carries me like a shepherd carries a lamb. I am old and overweight, but to Jesus, I am a tiny, helpless lamb. You—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—love me more I can comprehend. Help me to love You as much as humanly possible. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Friday after Lent 1

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert. ~ Isaiah 35:5-6

We are now in the wilderness of Lent, wandering in the dry desert. We are blind and deaf and lame and mute. But one day, waters and streams will break forth to refresh us and restore us. We will be healed of all our weaknesses. After the desert of Lent comes the oasis of Easter—an oasis that is as large as all eternity.

Lord, I can look forward with confidence to Easter, but now I am in the season of penitence. I need to suffer the arid heat of the desert before I enjoy the refreshment of the eternal oasis. Cleanse my thoughts, actions, words, and attitudes that are not in alignment with Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Thursday after Lent 1

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.          ~ Ezekiel 34:15-16

Sheep may be the stupidest animals God created. The shepherd has to lead them everywhere, ensure they have food and water, find and return the strays, and take care of them when they are sick or injured. The Lord is telling us in this passage that He does that with His sheep—His people. Although we like to think of ourselves as independent and powerful, we are like sheep who wander and go astray, who need a shepherd to guide in the right paths. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. If we follow Him, He will lead us.

Lord God, I am in the hands of the Good Shepherd. I will follow where He leads and trust Him to provide for me and care for me. If I go astray, He will bring me back to You. That is where I want to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Amen.

Devotion for Wednesday after Lent 1

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah ~ Psalm 49:15

Sheol was the place of the dead. Centuries before Jesus came to earth, His victory over death was prophesied to His people. Now we have no reason to fear death if we love the Lord and follow Jesus. We can look forward with confidence and joy to living for eternity in Heaven rather than being confined in a place of the dead.

Lord God, I’m so blessed to know that when I die, it will not be the end. It will be a transition to a better place—a place beyond my imagination. I can think of the most amazing place I would want to be, and Heaven will be superlatively better. Thank you that I will be there with all my loved ones that have gone before me and eventually with all those who come after me—if they love You. Help me to be a witness to those who don’t know You so they will be there, too. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotional for Tuesday after Lent 1

May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations serve him!
For he delivers the needy when he calls,
    the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and saves the lives of the needy. ~ Psalm 72:11-13

We Americans like to think we’re strong and self-reliant. We don’t like to see ourselves as weak and needy, but that’s exactly what we are without the Lord. When we rely on our own desires and plans, things usually don’t go very well. We find ourselves in trouble when we don’t call upon God, confess our weakness and neediness, and ask for His guidance. The Holy Spirit lives within us, and He will lead us in the paths we should walk. But if we fail to admit our needs and rely on our own wisdom, we are likely to be far away from God’s plan for us and close to falling into Satan’s grasp.

Lord God, even though I want to believe I’m strong and independent, the truth is that I am weak and needy. My own thoughts and plans that seem to good to my flesh, my human nature, lead me away from Your will. Open the eyes and ears of my heart and mind to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Monday after Lent 1

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.” ~ Jeremiah 23:7-8

Israel was exiled because they turned from worshipping the one true God to worshipping idols, but He promised to return them to their homeland. He promises to forgive us our sins, our worship of idols—money, fame, sex, achievement, family, whatever we put before God. Lent is a time for self-examination and repentance. What is more important to us than the Lord? We can look at how we spend our time and money to see where our values lie. Let us examine ourselves and vow to put God first.

Father God, I want You to be first in my life. You are my Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. No one and no thing is more important—indeed nowhere near as important. Let me listen to the Holy Spirit within me, read and inwardly digest Your Word, and spend time with You in prayer and worship rather than serve the false gods of this world. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.