Lent Day 27
by Lisa H.
2 Chronicles 36:14-23, Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the LORD, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah. In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.’ ”
Psalm 122
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the LORD— to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.
There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
Ephesians 2:1-10, As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
John 6:1-15 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The Cyrus Cylinder, believed to be one of the oldest declarations of religious freedoms and human rights.
Dear fellow pilgrim in this foreign land,
This road may seem weary and bleak. Find your resting place in the arms of the God of the Israelites who persistently pursues us, who has compassion on us, who stirs the hearts of those who are in power over us (2 Chr. 36), whose dwelling place is peace (Ps. 122), who provides for us, who is the miracle worker (John 6), who rescues us in the midst of darkness, who is rich in mercy and love toward us, who has had grace on us and continues to have grace on us (Eph 2).
God continued to have grace on the Israelites and pursued them though they disobeyed and worshipped other gods. Even in their tribulation, He was turning the heart of king Cyrus towards providing His people with opportunity to worship Him freely. This shows that God is ever patient and has a heart of continual pursuit towards His people. Amazing. He is indeed a gracious, forgiving, loving, compassionate God.
Sometimes in our lives, it feels like our world has been taken over – not by a Persian army, but by other burdening forces. Rest assured that the God who pursued and provided for the Israelites when they were constantly rebelling is the same God who pursues us when we are tired, rebelling, or surrounded by darkness. Even when we cannot see, God is working and is in control.
Perhaps today, meditate on an attribute of God in your quiet time. Close your eyes and fixate your heart and thoughts on who He is. Focus on how you have experienced God in this way in your life. Thank Him and praise Him for who He is, and go about your day remembering this attribute.
May your journey today feel lighter in the presence of our God who is continually pursuing you with His love, compassion, and grace.
Lisa H. began going to church 9 months before she was born. Her spiritual journey has been one full of valleys and mountaintops but always always by the grace of God. She lives in Iowa with her family and her yellow dog and attends church where her boyfriend is the worship director.