“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
—Psalm 20:7

Scripture ReadingsPsalm 20 – A prayer for deliverance and trust in God, not in human power.
Habakkuk 3:2-15 – A vision of God’s power and justice, bringing salvation through divine action.
Luke 18:31-34 – Jesus foretells His suffering, yet His disciples do not understand.

The Final Journey BeginsToday’s devotion is the last before we step into the final journey of Holy Week—the betrayals of Maundy Thursday, the suffering of Good Friday, and the silence of Holy Saturday. Rome will use violence to try to silence Jesus. The religious authorities will conspire, the crowds will turn, and even His closest friends will falter. Yet, through it all, God is working redemption.
Habakkuk’s vision reminds us that God is not absent in the face of injustice. Though the world seems overrun with corruption and cruelty, God is still acting, bringing salvation in ways we cannot always see. Jesus tells His disciples that He must suffer, but they do not yet understand. How could they? The idea of a Messiah who suffers rather than conquers is utterly foreign to them.
Yet, this is the heart of the atonement—that Jesus enters into suffering to redeem it. Fleming Rutledge, a scholar of atonement theory, reminds us:
“The crucifixion is the most important historical event that has ever happened. It is the unique instance of God’s self-giving to the uttermost, the moment when the Creator enters into the deepest abyss of human suffering, shame, and death, in order to transform it forever.”
The powers of this world—the chariots and horses of Psalm 20—cannot bring true salvation. Only the cross does that.

The Silence of Death, The Voice of ResurrectionWhen Christ is crucified, it will seem that God has been silenced. But the resurrection will declare what Paul so powerfully affirms:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 8:38-39
In the sin of violence, Christ is crucified for all of us, so that we may know, without a doubt, that even death cannot separate us from God’s love. The world’s violence cannot silence God’s voice. The resurrection is the final and eternal answer to every betrayal, every injustice, and every suffering we endure.

How Shall We Respond?

1. Trust in God, not earthly power.
   
   • Psalm 20 warns us against placing our hope in rulers or military might. When the world feels unstable, we must remember that true security comes from God alone.
     
2. Stand firm in the face of darkness.
   
   • Like Habakkuk, we may look around and see injustice. But God is still moving. Even when all seems lost, we hold onto hope.
     
3. Prepare for the cross, but look to the resurrection.
   
   • Jesus calls us to take up our own cross. This Holy Week, we walk with Him in sorrow so that we may rise with Him in joy.
     

Lenten PrayerLord of suffering and salvation,
As we enter the darkest days of the church year,
Help us to trust not in the powers of this world,
But in Your boundless love,
Which no betrayal, no violence, not even death can overcome.
Prepare us to face the cross,
And open our hearts to the glory of the resurrection.
Amen.

Friends, I thank you for allowing me to share my Lenten preparation with you.  May you face all your days with courage and hope!
​Lorne

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
—Psalm 20:7

Scripture Readings
Psalm 20 – A call to trust in God, not in earthly power.
Judges 9:7-15 – Jotham’s parable of the bramble king, a warning against corrupt leadership.
1 John 2:18-28 – The warning about false Christs and those who betray from within.

A Crucifier from Within
As we journey through Lent, we remember that Christ was not just betrayed by His enemies—He was betrayed by one of His own. Judas, a disciple, handed Jesus over to be crucified. The chief priests, religious leaders of Israel, aligned with Rome to destroy the one they claimed to serve. The crucifixion was not only an act of external oppression but a betrayal from within.
Christian Nationalism is one such betrayal in our time. It seeks to marry the cross to political power, turning the gospel of love into a weapon of dominance. It replaces Christ’s kingdom of humility with a throne of earthly ambition. Like the bramble king in Judges 9, it offers false security but ultimately brings destruction.

Theologian Stanley Hauerwas warns:
“When Christianity becomes an instrument of national pride rather than a challenge to it, it ceases to be Christianity.”

John tells us that many antichrists have come—figures who claim to represent Christ but instead distort His message. Christian Nationalism turns faith into an idol of the state, crucifying Christ again by betraying His teachings of love, justice, and humility.

If betrayal can come from within, where is our hope? The same place it always has been: in Christ Himself.

Early Church Father Tertullian wrote:
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

Even when betrayed, even when persecuted, even when false teachers rise up, the true Church cannot be destroyed. Christ is not bound by corrupt leaders or nationalist agendas—His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), though it includes it.

How Shall We Respond?

1. Examine Ourselves – Are there ways we, too, betray Christ? Do we seek power over service? Do we put politics before the gospel?
2. Resist False Messiahs – Just as Jesus stood before Pilate and did not bow to earthly power, we must reject versions of Christianity that seek control rather than compassion.
3. Hold Fast to the True Christ – As 1 John 2:28 urges, “abide in Him.” Our hope is not in worldly leaders, but in Jesus, who reigns forever.

Lenten Challenge
Spend time this week reflecting on where you place your trust. Do you find yourself seeking security in human leaders or ideologies rather than in Christ? Pray for discernment to recognize false teachings and the courage to follow Christ faithfully, even when it means standing apart.

Prayer
Lord of Truth,
You were betrayed by Your own, yet You remained faithful.
Help us to see the ways we betray You in our hearts and in our world.
Give us the wisdom to resist false gospels,
The courage to follow You alone,
And the hope to trust in Your coming kingdom.
Amen.

Holy Week begins with the triumph of Palm Sunday, but soon the shouts of "Hosanna!" will turn to "Crucify Him!" We enter this sacred week knowing that suffering lies ahead, yet we do so with faith, because we know how the story ends—with Resurrection.
Psalm 20 reminds us not to place our trust in earthly powers but in God alone. Exodus 40 tells of God’s presence filling the Tabernacle, a sign that God dwells among God's people. And Hebrews 10 calls us to hold fast to our faith and encourage one another as we see "the Day approaching."
The Sabbath, a time of holy rest, teaches us to pause and trust in God’s faithfulness even when darkness looms. As we enter Holy Week, what does it mean to practice faith when all seems lost?


The early church knew what it meant to endure dark days. Persecution, suffering, and uncertainty were constant threats, yet their faith remained steadfast. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, encouraged believers with these words:
“Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again, for forgiveness has risen from the grave.”
Even in the hardest times, we are called to remember the promise of resurrection.
Here are three ways we can face the dark days ahead with faith:

1. Sabbath Rest & Prayer – Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, seeking strength from God. In dark times, we must pause, pray, and trust in God’s presence.
   
2. Community & Encouragement – Hebrews 10 reminds us to support one another. Walking through darkness is easier when we do not walk alone.
   
3. Confidence in the Resurrection – The cross is not the end. No matter how painful our circumstances, we hold on to the promise that light will break through.
   

Lenten ChallengeAs Holy Week begins, set aside intentional time for Sabbath rest and reflection. Where do you need to trust God more deeply? How can you encourage someone else who is facing a dark time?
PrayerGod of mercy,
As we enter the shadows of Holy Week,
strengthen our faith and renew our hope.
Teach us to trust You in the darkness,
to rest in Your promises,
and to walk with confidence toward Resurrection.
Through Christ, our Living Hope, Amen.

Scripture Readings
Psalm 126 – A song of restoration and joy.
Exodus 12:21-27 – The institution of the Passover.
John 11:45-57 – The religious leaders plot against Jesus.
The story of Passover is the story of liberation. In Exodus, God commanded the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so that the angel of death would pass over them. This act of faith was not just about survival; it was about trust in a God who rescues.
For generations, the Jewish people have remembered Passover as a defining moment: God’s deliverance from bondage. Psalm 126 echoes this theme, reminding us that when God restores God's people, joy follows suffering.
In John 11, we see another Passover approaching. But this time, the religious leaders plot against Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest, declares that it is better for one man to die than for the whole nation to perish. What he does not realize is that Jesus is becoming the ultimate Passover Lamb. His sacrifice will bring true liberation—not just from Egypt, but from sin and death itself.

Today, we may not mark our doors with lamb’s blood, but we all long for deliverance from something. What burdens, fears, or injustices do we need God to remove from our lives?

• Economic oppression: Many in our world live paycheck to paycheck, trapped by financial systems that seem designed to keep them struggling.
  
• Systemic injustice: Racial injustice, corruption, and broken legal systems continue to oppress the vulnerable.
  
• Personal burdens: Fear, grief, addiction, or shame can weigh on our souls, keeping us from living in freedom.
  

As theologian N.T. Wright reminds us:
“The story of Passover is the story of rescue. But the story of Jesus is about how that rescue is fulfilled, once and for all.”
Jesus is our Passover. His sacrifice opens the door for hope, freedom, and joy.

Lenten ChallengeDuring this Lenten season, reflect on what needs a "Passover" in your life. Is there a fear or burden you need to release to God? Is there an injustice you feel called to confront? Consider reaching out to someone in need or supporting a cause that fights for liberation.

Lenten PrayerGod of deliverance,
You rescued Your people from slavery,
and through Christ, You set us free again.
Help us to trust in Your power to save,
to let go of what enslaves us,
and to live in the joy of Your redemption.
Through Christ, our Passover Lamb, Amen.

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
—Psalm 126:5

Scripture ReadingsPsalm 126 – A song of hope, recalling God’s past deliverance.
Isaiah 43:8-15 – God declares His power and faithfulness.
Philippians 2:25-3:1 – Paul commends Epaphroditus, a faithful servant.


Lent is a season of looking backward and forward—remembering where God has brought us from and trusting where He is leading us. Psalm 126 speaks of a people who had been in exile, weeping, waiting, and longing for restoration. Yet their tears were not the final word. God brought them home, and their sorrow turned to joy.
Isaiah 43 reminds us of why this happens: because God is who He says He is. The passage paints a picture of a God who rescues, who leads, and who declares, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King” (Isaiah 43:15). This is not a distant or indifferent deity but an active and involved Redeemer.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us a tangible example of faithfulness in the real world. He speaks of Epaphroditus, a man who risked his life for the sake of the Gospel. Epaphroditus was not a prophet or king—he was simply faithful. He served where God placed him, even in suffering.
Today, we might think of healthcare workers who exhausted themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, or aid workers who serve in war-torn regions. Their work is demanding, sometimes heartbreaking, but it is not in vain. They are sowing in tears, and God promises that one day, they will reap in joy.
Theologian Walter Brueggemann writes:
"Hope is the deep conviction that God has not quit."
This is the heart of Lent: even in the wilderness, even in suffering, God is still working.

Lenten ChallengeWhere in your life do you need to be reminded that God has not quit? How can you, like Epaphroditus, serve faithfully even in difficulty? This week, reach out to someone who is struggling—offer a word of encouragement, a prayer, or an act of kindness.

PrayerGod of hope,
When we are weary, remind us of Your faithfulness.
When we weep, remind us that joy is coming.
Help us to serve You with courage and to trust
that You are always working for our redemption.
Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
—Psalm 126:5
Scripture ReadingsPsalm 126 – A song of restoration, remembering God’s faithfulness.
Isaiah 43:1-7 – God's promise to redeem and gather His people.
Philippians 2:19-24 – Paul’s example of faithfulness in service.
Lent is a season of waiting, longing, and trusting in God’s faithfulness. Psalm 126 captures the tension between sorrow and joy--between what is broken and what God is restoring. The psalmist recalls times when God rescued God's people and prays for that deliverance to come again.
Isaiah 43 echoes this assurance:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)
Even in exile, even in suffering, God’s love does not falter. God gathers God's people, not because they have earned it, but because God is faithful.
Lent reminds us that we are still in the “sowing in tears” phase. We repent, we fast, we wait. But resurrection is coming. As the poet Wendell Berry writes:
"Practice resurrection."
In Philippians, Paul speaks of Timothy, a servant devoted to Christ. Paul himself is in chains, yet he encourages the church, knowing that suffering for Christ is never wasted. Even in hardship, we serve, we love, we trust.
Theologian N.T. Wright reminds us:
"The point of the resurrection… is that the present bodily life is not valueless just because it will die. What you do with your body in the present matters because God has a great future in store for it."

Lenten ChallengeWhere in your life do you feel like you are “sowing in tears”? This Lent, hold onto the promise that joy is coming. Choose one act of faithful service this week—an act that anticipates resurrection.

PrayerFaithful God,
In our sorrow, remind us of Your joy.
In our waiting, remind us of Your promise.
Teach us to serve You with faith like Timothy,
To trust You like the exiles of old,
And to sow in hope, knowing we will reap in joy.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Scripture ReadingsPsalm 53 – A reflection on human corruption and the absence of goodness apart from God.
2 Kings 4:1-7 – Elisha and the miraculous provision of oil for the widow.
Luke 9:10-17 – The feeding of the five thousand, with twelve baskets of leftovers remaining.

The Significance of What RemainsOne of the most striking moments in Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand is not just the miracle itself—it is what happens afterward. When everyone has eaten and is satisfied, the disciples gather up twelve baskets full of leftovers (Luke 9:17). In 2 Kings, a widow's small jar of oil miraculously fills every available vessel, and when there are no more jars, the oil stops flowing.
Why do these stories emphasize the surplus?
The spiritual importance of leftovers is profound. They show us that God does not just provide barely enough—He provides abundantly. God’s grace is not merely sufficient; it is overflowing. When we trust in God’s provision, we move from a mindset of scarcity to abundance.
But there is a deeper mystery here. The twelve leftover baskets in Luke’s Gospel correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing that God’s provision is not just for the present but for the future. The excess points toward resurrection—God’s ability to take what seems finished, spent, and useless, and make something new.


During Lent, we reflect on the reality of death—of Christ’s coming suffering and of our own mortality. The world tells us that when something is used up, it is gone. When a person dies, they are no more. When hope runs out, it is over.
But God is a God of resurrection, of multiplication, of leftovers that become the beginning of something new. Every ending is a new beginning. The widow’s oil does not run dry; the five thousand are fed and there is still more. Jesus Himself will be laid in a tomb, and yet He will rise.
The 20th-century theologian Jürgen Moltmann captures this beautifully:
“God weeps with us so that we may someday laugh with Him.”
The disciples thought the cross was the end. But God had leftovers. The resurrection is the ultimate sign that nothing is wasted in God’s economy—not suffering, not loss, not even death itself.

What This Means for Us Today

1. God’s grace is never exhausted.
   
   • No matter how weary, broken, or unworthy we feel, there is always more grace in God’s storehouse.
     
2. What seems empty can be filled again.
   
   • Whether it’s our faith, our strength, or our hope, God can multiply even the smallest remnants into something abundant.
     
3. Resurrection is the ultimate "leftover" miracle.
   
   • Jesus was crucified and buried, but He was not left in the grave. His resurrection is proof that even when all seems lost, God is still working.
     

PrayerGod of abundance and resurrection,
When we feel empty, remind us that You still provide.
When we believe all is lost, show us that You are not finished.
Teach us to trust in Your overflowing grace,
And lead us into the joy of resurrection life.
Amen.

Lenten Challenge
Are there “leftovers” in your life—things you thought were finished, but God may still be working through? Spend time in prayer this week, asking God to open your eyes to the abundance God is providing, even in unexpected places.

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.”
—Psalm 53:1
Scripture ReadingsPsalm 53 – A world corrupted by sin, where humanity has turned from God.
Leviticus 25:1-19 – The Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee, God's vision for renewal and justice.
Revelation 19:9-10 – The invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb, where redemption is made complete.
Psalm 53 offers a stark picture of human nature: corruption, greed, and a turning away from God. To live as if God does not exist is the height of foolishness. But while this Psalm reminds us of our fallen state, Leviticus 25 points to God’s desire for restoration.
In the Year of Jubilee, debts were canceled, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its rightful owners. It was a divine reset, a tangible expression of God’s justice and mercy. This was not just an economic policy—it was a theological declaration: God reigns, and true security is found in trusting Him, not in hoarding wealth or power.
Walter Brueggemann writes:
“Jubilee is a radical notion that we do not own what we have, and our well-being is not in our control. The land, the economy, and even time itself belong to God.”
Yet, we know that Israel often failed to live out this vision. The greed and corruption that Psalm 53 laments were the same forces that kept Jubilee from being fully realized. The same is true today--economic injustice, oppression, and sin continue to distort God’s world.
But Revelation 19 gives us hope:
"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" (Revelation 19:9)
This is the final Jubilee—the ultimate restoration. What humanity failed to do, Christ has accomplished. The Lamb’s wedding feast is the fulfillment of God’s promise: a world made whole, a people redeemed, and sin finally defeated.
Lent is our time to acknowledge the foolishness of sin, to repent of the ways we have contributed to injustice, and to prepare our hearts for the great feast to come. As we fast, pray, and give, we do so in the hope that Christ is making all things new.
PrayerGod of justice and mercy,
We confess our foolishness—our greed, our doubt, and our failure to trust in You. Yet You call us to repentance and restoration. Teach us to live in the spirit of Jubilee, trusting in Your provision and working for justice. As we journey through Lent, fix our eyes on the feast You have prepared, where all things will be made new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

From Atonement to Victory“God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
—Psalm 53:2-3

Scripture ReadingsPsalm 53 – A sobering reminder that all have fallen into sin.
Leviticus 23:26-41 – The Day of Atonement and the call to repentance.
Revelation 19:1-8 – Rejoicing in heaven when sin and evil are finally defeated
Psalm 53 offers a stark and uncomfortable truth: we are all sinful. There is no escaping this reality—no one is truly righteous. It is easy to see corruption in the world around us, yet harder to admit that we, too, fall short of God’s holiness.
This is why the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23) was so critical in Israel’s worship. Once a year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies, offering a sacrifice for the sins of the people. It was a day of fasting, repentance, and humility—an acknowledgment that sin is real and costly. The people would cease from their work, recognizing their total dependence on God’s mercy.
But this atonement was only temporary. Year after year, sacrifices had to be made. Sin remained, and the people needed redemption again and again.
Revelation 19 offers the final resolution to this struggle. The great multitude in heaven shouts:
"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments." (Revelation 19:1-2)
This is the vision we long for--the final conquering of sin.  It is depicted as a beast defeated, and the world restored. The moment when sacrifices of atonement are no longer needed, because Christ has made us whole.
Marcus Borg wrote:
“Salvation is not about the afterlife; it’s about transformation in this life—about personal and social transformation.”
This is what Lent calls us to: transformation. We fast, repent, and prepare our hearts, not just for the suffering of Good Friday, but for the victory of Easter. Just as the Day of Atonement called Israel to recognize its sin and seek renewal, Holy Week calls us to turn from sin and embrace the redemption that Jesus offers.
As we approach Passover and Holy Week, let us remember:

• We are all in need of atonement.
  
• Jesus is the final and perfect sacrifice.
  
• The victory of Revelation is coming—our world, so full of corruption, will be made new.
  

Let this Lenten season be a time of deep reflection and anticipation. We repent because we know redemption is near. We lament because we know joy is coming. The beast of sin will not have the final word—Christ will.

Lenten PrayerRighteous God,
We confess that we, like all humanity, have fallen into sin. But You have made a way for redemption, first through atonement, and finally through Christ’s victory he saves us all. As we walk through this Lenten season, may we turn away from sin and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter. May we long for the day when all things will be made new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mercy in the Midst of Righteous Anger"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."
—Psalm 32:1
Scripture Readings:
Psalm 32 – The joy of forgiveness after acknowledging sin.
Exodus 32:7-14 – God’s righteous anger at Israel’s corruption, and Moses' plea for mercy.
Luke 15:1-10 – The rejoicing in heaven over a sinner who repents
It is unsettling to think of God as being angry with us. Many prefer to imagine God as endlessly patient and indulgent. But Exodus 32 shatters this illusion. The Israelites, freshly delivered from Egypt, turn to idolatry—worshiping a golden calf they crafted with their own hands. God sees their corruption and declares His intent to destroy them.
Why does God become angry? Because sin is not just a mistake—it is a betrayal. The people who had seen God's miracles, who had heard God's voice from Mount Sinai, quickly replaced God with a lifeless image. Their corruption was both spiritual and moral: they abandoned God for something easier, something they could control.
This isn’t just an ancient story—it happens today. Corruption takes many forms: corporate greed, political deception, the abuse of power, the exploitation of the vulnerable. Consider the recent financial scandals where those entrusted with people’s livelihoods manipulated systems for personal gain, leaving thousands jobless and hopeless. Like the Israelites, humanity consistently chooses idols—money, power, comfort—over the living God.
Yet, in this moment of righteous anger, Moses does something extraordinary—he argues with God. He reminds God of God's promises, pleading for mercy. Why? Because Moses understands that while God is just, God is also merciful. This is the tension we live in: we deserve wrath, yet God, in God's love, continually invites us to repentance.
Paul, in his letters, warns that we must never take God's mercy for granted. In Romans 2:4, he writes:
"Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?"
When God has every right to be angry, Paul tells us to respond not with defiance, but with repentance. We are to turn back, just as the prodigal son in Luke 15 was welcomed home despite his failures.
C.S. Lewis reminds us:
“We are not merely imperfect creatures who must be improved; we are rebels who must lay down our arms.”
Lent is our invitation to lay down our arms. To stop excusing our idols and corruption. To turn from what is easy and false and seek the One who is holy and true.

Lenten PrayerMerciful God,
You have every right to be angry with our corruption, yet You call us back to You. Forgive our idolatry, our greed, and our failure to trust You. Help us to respond as Moses did—not by hiding from Your justice, but by pleading for mercy and turning back to You. May we, like the lost sheep in Your parable, be found and restored by Your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.