Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 6

Day 1:

We’ve reached the final week of our Lenten reflections! We know that spending time in reflection, asking God to search your heart, confessing and turning from anything that has separated you from God is heavy work, but we pray it’s been a blessing. Hopefully you’ve been reminded or encouraged that the mercy and kindness of God, and that repentance is a gift that allows you to draw closer to the Lord.

Our final passage comes from James 4:7-10. Each day this week, we’ll build on these verses, but for now, simply read the passage and think on it. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.

James 4:7-10 (ESV)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Day 2:

Re-read James 4:7-10.

The book of James was written by Jesus’ half-brother, who led the church in Jerusalem after Christ’s ascension. Rather than addressing this letter to a specific church, James wrote it to Christians everywhere as a reminder of how we are to live out our faith. In this series, we’ve seen how God calls us to return to him, using his words in Scripture and the community around us. We’ve seen how we can and should respond to this call by humbly confessing our sins and running to the Father who greets us with open arms. We’ve seen that once we’ve returned to God, we can invite others—the whole Body—to join us, and we can intercede on its behalf.

Here, James, too, is calling on the whole church draw near to God. He is reminding the people he invested most of his life to serving (and us) that when they submit, draw near, repent, and humble themselves before God, he will draw near and lift them up. As we can see from this series, this is not new information—it wasn’t news to the original readers, and it isn’t news to us. Sometimes, though, as our days come and go, we need this reminder. And sometimes, we need to be the ones reminding others.

When we live, share, and serve together as a community of saints, we can and should speak truth into each other’s lives. God has given us the words to encourage and build each other up, for, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). When we have submitted ourselves to God and we remain rooted in Christ, we can humbly train others to do the same. This takes knowledge of Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with the church community. We must be committed to God and his ways before we can instruct others to commit to his ways. May we choose to be a conduit for his love and truth to flow through us to those around us.

Day 3:

Re-read James 4:7-10.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from James 4:7-10 (or all) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation.

In your handwritten copy of this scripture or in your Bible underline the verbs as you look over our verses in James. This passage is filled with calls to action.  Start with “Submit” and “Resist.” Continue to mark each verb, allowing your mind to notice these active ways to follow God’s directions.

Day 4: 

Re-read James 4:7-10.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Father God,

You have asked us to draw near to you, so here I am. I’m not always sure how to draw near, but I am trusting that in my willingness, you will draw near to me. You will hold me. This is a strange week in the church calendar—so many highs and lows, not so different from my life. My joys are quickly dashed, and disappointments and reality can knock me so low. And in my own reflection this Lent season, I have spent time facing some of my own sin. I am so sorry. I don’t want to stay where I am. With your help, with your power, I am turning away from Satan and all he is dangling before me. I am asking for your power to pull me from my sinful habits. And even as I remember today—Maundy Thursday, where you washed your disciples’ feet and shared a last meal—I remember that your body was broken for me. God, you were lifted up on a cross, paying for my sin.  Oh God, your mercy to me is so great! Please walk with me, lift me up, help me on my way today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 5:

Re-read James 4:7-10.

Reflect and Apply:

• How many times a day do you wash your hands? Put this verse on a sticky note near your sink. As you wash your hands, think about the internal, spiritual, repentant cleansing that God wants to do in you. What does he want to wash away?

• James is the only Biblical author who uses the term “double-minded” (from the Greek word dipsuchos [dip’-soo-khos]). That description hints at the idea that believers can find themselves torn between competing ideas or interests, conflicted in their thoughts, easily thrown off course. Write down some things that pull your focus away from Jesus and his priorities for your life.

• The U.S. culture is often not comfortable with deep sadness. We shy away from lament or outward demonstrations of sadness. Push yourself today to spend some time in honest sadness. Allow yourself to cry, to sit with your personal pain, to maybe even be mad at God a bit. One position of humility is to physically kneel, to kneel with your head to the floor or even to lie face down on the floor. Spend time in this humble physical position and listen for God. He will raise you up.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. And on Sunday we will all be able to sing His praises as we celebrate a lifted up, risen Savior.

Day 1:

This week in Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, our scripture for reflection comes from Joel 2:12-13. So far, we have looked at God’s invitation, and individual’s experiences with repentance. Today, our passage also includes a call for corporate repentance. Each day this week, we’ll build on this passage, but for now, simply read the passage and reflect on it. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.

Joel 2:12-13 (CSB)

“Even now — this is the Lord’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster.”

Day 2:

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

Joel was living through a time when Israel was experiencing the consequences of their sin and breaking their covenant with God. He’s also telling Israel about a future Day of the Lord where God’s judgement will be poured out on the land. But right in the middle of this book, he offers hope. He calls on Israel to repent—to return to the Lord, and in doing so they may receive God’s mercy from the impending judgement. With his own repentance, Joel invites Israel into a corporate repentance. They, as a nation, rejected God and his purposes for them. They had chosen to serve other gods and allow injustices to flourish in their land. For this, the whole people needed to repent, not just a few individuals. And this repentance needed to be genuine, not just an outward act, but a returning to God with all their hearts.

We, too, have turned to other gods—our phones, our jobs, influential people, our tribes, our own liberty, etc.—and have allowed injustice to flourish. As God’s people, we are to be a light to the world, we are to be his hands and feet, and we are to be united (though not uniform). We need to rend our hearts, confess and grieve the ways we, as a body, have fallen short, and return to God and his ways. God’s character has remained the same from before the beginning.

He is gracious and compassionate towards us. He is slow to anger and overflowing with faithfulness and love. We are so blessed to be able to come to him, confess our sins to him, and receive his mercy and forgiveness. Christ’s sacrifice has allowed us to approach God’s throne, and even more amazingly, opened a way for God’s Spirit to reside in us. Though we deserve his judgement, we’ve been given so much more than his grace.

Day 3:

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Joel 2:12-13 (or both) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Most holy God,

We have sinned. Though we have been called to be your people, your body, we have turned to other things to try to satisfy us. We have allowed our dreams and desires to turn us away from you and your ways. May we, as a people, return to you, Lord. Out of your grace and compassion forgive us from our sin. Thank you for the abundance of your steadfast love toward us. Draw us to you and lead us in your ways forever.

May all your people say “Amen.”

Day 5:

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

Reflect and Apply:

• As a culture that values individuality, it may be difficult for us to see ourselves wholly as one unit, but the Bible clearly states that we belong to each other when we belong to God. Think about your relationship with others in the body of Christ. Are you building up or tearing down?

• What corporate sins do you see in the church? Take time to confess them and intercede for us.

• Brainstorm a few ideas of how you can “stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. (Though we’re focusing on Joel 2:12-13, I would encourage you to read through all of Joel if you have time.)

Please come back Monday morning for the post on Week 6.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 4

Day 1:

Each week of our Lenten series, Return to Me: a Pause for Lent, we will focus on one passage in which God invites us to be in relationship him. This week’s passage, Luke 15:11-32, is a familiar one—The Prodigal (or Lost) Son. This is a lengthier passage, but if you have time, read it a second time, maybe in a different translation. We’ll continue reflecting on this passage through the week, but for today, take your time reading.

Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and now is found.’”

Day 2:

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

The parable of the Prodigal (or Lost) Son is the longest, most detailed, and arguably the most famous of the parables Jesus shared during his ministry. There are many lessons to pull from these verses and we certainly can’t cover them all here*, but we’ll discuss a few details, particularly as they pertain to our Lent theme of Return to Me.

Although the title of this passage may indicate a single son is the focal point of Jesus’ story, this parable actually revolves around two sons and their father. The younger son chooses to walk away from his father and embrace sin—anything is fair game. By the end of the parable, he recognizes the brokenness he lives in and humbly returns home to his father; the relationship is restored.

The older son represents the Pharisees—self-righteous of their own standing and unfeeling towards the repentance of others. He, unfortunately, does not repent and turn back to his father by the end of the parable.

The father in Jesus’ story gives us a picture of our heavenly Father. He waits eagerly for the younger and older sons alike to recognize what they have in him. When the younger son returns, we glimpse a beautiful picture of the father joyfully and lavishly welcoming him home that gives us just a hint of the love God has for us.

Let’s be clear: both sons have gone their own way and turned from their father. Just as Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden to believe that God did not have their good in mind and that God was not enough, both the younger and older brothers initially believed that a relationship with their father was not enough.

Thankfully our Heavenly Father also has a Son, and his name is Jesus. As we draw nearer to Easter, we know that we have been given an invitation to draw near to the Father through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether you relate more to the younger brother or the older brother, take a moment to remember your sin separates you from the Father, but even more incredible, remember what a gift you have been given to be able to call Jesus brother. (Hebrews 2:11)

 *[If you have never heard a thorough breakdown of this story and the way that each son has grieved the father and the father’s heart for his sons, as well as additional cultural context, please take the time to listen to Timothy Keller’s teaching on the Younger Brother and the Older Brother . They are each about 10 minutes. Even if you have, these are excellent teachings to refresh your memory or learn more!]

Day 3:

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Luke 15:11-32 (or the whole passage) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2 or what has come to mind in your own personal study, and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Dear Father,

Thank you for giving me such a beautiful understanding of your Father’s heart towards me, your child. Thank you that you long for me to stay close to you and be full of thankfulness for all you give me in your Son, Jesus. I confess that just like the younger brother, I can often look “over the fence” at other things in this world that I think I want more than I want you. I am grieved that I have chased other things for joy and fulfillment instead of trusting you and staying close to your side. I know that if I stay close to you, you will give me things you know are good for me and provide for all my needs. 

Father, I know it’s also in me to live according to your ways, but instead of giving you glory and thankfulness, my heart can swell with pride and self-righteousness like the older brother’s did. Would you break me of my pride and convince my wandering heart that only by your grace am I able to want you at all.

Thank you, Lord, that your heart is kind. Thank you for longing for us to come back to you when we wander and are filled with pride. You are the God who runs with joy towards me when I repent and come home. Remind me that your heart towards me is kind, you are not stingy or far off. You are generous, warm, kind, and inviting me to come home and stay near to my Father who loves me.

Amen.

Day 5:

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

Reflect and Apply.

• Do you relate more to the younger son or the older son in this parable?

• In our introduction to this Lent series, we explored the Fall in Genesis 3 and talked about how Adam and Eve were tempted to believe that God did not have their good in mind, that God was not enough, and they went their own way. How did both the younger son and the older son believe that their father was not enough?

• How are you tempted to believe that God is not enough for you? Be specific with God. Turn those lies over to him and ask him to replace them with Truth.

• As you close your time in this passage, take a minute to imagine the joy with which the Prodigal’s father welcomed him home—then imagine how joyously God delights in your drawing near to him.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward.

Please come back Monday morning for the post on Week 5.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 3

Day 1:

The past few weeks we have been studying scripture in which God invites his people to be in relationship him. This week we turn to a famous passage of individual repentance, Psalm 51, written by King David. After reading through the scripture below, read it again, maybe trying a different translation. Through the week, we’ll build on this passage, but for this first day, focus on the scripture and taking it in.

Psalm 51:1-17

Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

    blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

    and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

    and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

    and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

    and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

    and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

    O God of my salvation,

    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Day 2:

Re-read Psalm 51: 1-17.

David is known as a “man after God’s own heart” and was the king to whom all subsequent kings were compared. His is the holy line from Judah that would eventually bring us our Messiah, Jesus. And yet, he was not without sin.

Many people know the story of David and Bathsheba. In this saga alone, David covets, steals, commits adultery, lies, and murders (5 of the 10 commandments broken). In his pursuit of Bathsheba, he grows more and more callous to the sins he’s committing to the point where God needs to send Nathan to open his eyes to his own depravity. This Psalm is his response.

Sometimes we can be like David. In our pursuits of our desires, we, too, can become apathetic to the sins we commit, which is why it is so important to be in community with other Christians who can lovingly call us out on our sin. Without Nathan, David may have continued on the path of destruction. But God had mercy on David, and his grace abounds towards us.

Psalm 51 is a prayer of returning to God and his ways. It is a prayer that we can use to realign our hearts to God’s. We have been given the chance to respond to God’s call, “return to me,” and may we respond as David did.

Day 3:

Re-read Psalm 51: 1-17.

There are great benefits to hand-copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Psalm 51:1-17 (or the whole passage) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it, or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation.

There are also some songs that have been made from this passage, and you can find one to listen to or sing (Create in Me a Clean Heart by Keith Green is one, Shane & Shane’s Psalm 51 (Wisdom in the Secret Heart), and the old hymn, Whiter than Snow, takes from this passage as well). The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Psalm 51:1-17.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study, and pray. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Lord, Thank you for your steadfast love and abundant mercy. Give me eyes to see my own wrongdoing and cleanse me from my sin. Create a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Surround me with people who can speak truth into my life, and let me be someone to do the same. Help me to be bold in declaring your praise and teaching others your ways so that they might, too, return to you. Let me praise you all my days for your righteousness, wisdom, mercy, faithfulness, and love.

Amen

Day 5:

Re-read Psalm 51:1-17.

Reflect and Apply:

• What sin is keeping you from experiencing the joy of salvation?

• “For you will not delight in sacrifice… The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” When we come to God in humility, we can experience the fullness of his love and mercy. Reflect on God’s perfect goodness and where you fall short. Confess your sin and soak in his merciful lovingkindness.

• Our first response to God’s mercy should always be praise. Take some time today to praise God for all he’s done and for who he is. This can be through worship music, but can also be done through writing out or speaking those things. “God, you are merciful, just, loving,…” “God, you’ve shown your goodness by…”

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward.

Please come back Monday morning for the post on Week 4.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 2

Day 1:

This week in Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, our scripture for reflection comes from the prophet Jeremiah. Each day this week, we’ll reflect on this passage in a different way, but for today, simply read the passage and take it in. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.

Jeremiah 24:6-7

I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

Day 2:

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

The Israelites have a colorful history as God’s Chosen People. Throughout the Old Testament, we see this group of people—given the blessing of being identified as God’s own people— squander away that designation by turning away from God and going their own way, time and time again. Jeremiah, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, was witness to one of those seasons of wandering.

The Lord declares, in Jeremiah 5:11, “the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me” and in Jeremiah 9:3 that “they do not know me.” His words are not ambiguous. But our God is a God of mercy, grace and steadfast love; He is not done with them yet. Later in Jeremiah, in verse 7 of our passage, the Lord relents, saying, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God.”

Jeremiah shows us that God’s strong words of judgement are surpassed only by his promises of mercy. He won’t give up on his people. He miraculously offers—to those who did not know him—a heart to know him as Lord, to call them his own, and to be called upon by them as their God. Why? Because they would return to him with their whole heart.

In my pride, I so often want to look down upon the Israelites for their wandering, but if I search my heart, I know I am no better. May we have hearts softened to his conviction, to turn away from our sin and turn to him with our whole hearts. Thanks be to God— He won’t give up on his people. He won’t give up on us.

Continue to reflect on that which separates you from the Lord and his great invitation to return to him.

Day 3:

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Jeremiah 24:6-7 (or both!) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over this week’s passage. Using the scripture, your own personal study, and anything you may have learned on Day 2, spend some time in prayer. Is there something that you want God to make clear to you, some sin you need to turn over to him? He wants to hear from you. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Father,

Like the Israelites, I let the circumstances of life and counterfeit gods get in between us. Instead of holding tight to you, I wander. Search my heart and help me to see where there might be distance between us and put that sin in me to death. And thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your invitation. Thank you for your promise, that if I recognize that I have turned away from you and turn back, you will welcome me home.

Amen

Day 5:

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

Reflect and Apply:

• Spend time in quiet. Take a few moments of silence to let God bring anything to mind that may be putting distance between you. Which broken places and through which means is he inviting you back? Welcome him into those places.

• Reflect on the building and planting metaphors in verse 6. Where would you like to see God build new works or grow new life in you moving forward? Be specific!

• Think back through the Israelites’ history and your own past, remember God’s mercy to redeem and restore us when we turn back to him. Again, be specific. Remembering is vital to building our faith deeper and stronger.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward.

 Come back next Monday morning for the post on Week 3.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 1

Week 1 

Day 1:

Each week of our Lenten series, Return to Me: a Pause for Lent, we will focus on one passage in which God invites us to be in relationship him. We begin our first day of reflection by reading this week’s passage, Nehemiah 1:8-10. After reading through the verses below, read it again, possibly even in more than one translation. Each day this week, we’ll build on this passage, but for now, simply read the passage and soak it in.

Nehemiah 1: 8-10, ESV

Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

Day 2:

Re-read Nehemiah 1:8-10.

Set in the time of the Israel’s captivity, Nehemiah is believed to be written by Ezra using the personal diaries of Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the King. Written 13 years after Ezra, the first chapter opens with Nehemiah learning of the deteriorating state of Jerusalem. Far from being a lowly service position, being cupbearer to the King was a critically important role. It was in this highly trusted capacity—as the one who drank from the king’s cup first to ensure it was not poisoned—that Nehemiah was in the position to approach the king on behalf of his people. But before he approaches the king with his mission, Nehemiah first appeals to God, citing God’s promise that if Israel would repent, he would restore them. (See also Deut. 4:29, 30:1-6.)

In this season of Lent, we pause and recognize the weight of our sin, that which separates us from the Lord. But first, we take a stop to dive into God’s call to us to return. If God did not call for us to return to him—if he did not promise to restore us if we did—no amount of recognition of sin could have eternal significance. But he did, and it does.

Pause and remember that even in your sin, God calls you back to him.

Day 3:

There are great benefits to hand-copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Nehemiah 1:8-10 (or the whole passage) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it, or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Re-read the passage and think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study, then pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below to get you started. 

Father,

In this season of Lent, we recognize all that separates us from you. But in order for our repentance and return to you to mean anything, we must first have the call, the invitation, the promise—that if we return to you, you will restore us. You have given that call throughout your Word. Most importantly, you gave that promise through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, whose death made a way for us to join you eternally. Thank you that you invite us to return to you.

Amen

Day 5:

Re-read the passage.

Reflect and Apply:

• What does it mean to you that God invites you to come back to him, even though you’ve sinned?

• Spend a few minutes personalizing his invitation—he calls you, [insert name], to turn from your sin and return to him. There is no sin too great, time elapsed too long that he would not welcome you with open arms.

• Remember a time that the fullness of God’s invitation has settled over you and the weight of sin was lifted.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. Be specific!

Come back next Monday morning for the post on Week 2.

Return to Me: a Pause for Lent

Today marks the beginning of Lent. The 40 days of Lent points back to the 40 days of temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness.  It’s not the flashiest set of days on the Christian calendar. Whereas Advent leads up to the birth of our Savior and Easter celebrates his resurrection, the 40 days of Lent are set aside as a more somber time of reflection, preparation, and even self-denial.

Often seen as a time to fast—from food, social media, TV, purchases, or something else that seems to have a deeper hold on us than God—though good to do, Lent is about much more than giving something up.

Lent is an opportunity to slow down, to hit pause on the frenetic world and force our eyes—and hearts—to hold still. As much as we love the love of God in our lives, we allow space to remember our sin and humanity. We came from dust and to dust we will return. We search our hearts and recognize the brokenness inside of each one of us that made Jesus’s death and resurrection on Easter necessary.

To that end, this year we are offering a 5 day/week Lenten resource. We know everyone is busy, so each day’s prompts are designed to be completed in 5 minutes or less—you can take a brief pause from your day and do them as offered, or you can spend further time reflecting and studying to make a lengthier study time if you wish. Weekends are off or can be used to catch up on missed days. Each Monday we will post the five prompts for that week on the Riverbend Blog.

Our theme for our passages this Lent is Return to Me. To set that up, let’s take a look back at the Fall in Genesis 3:4-8:

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,  and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 

The serpent’s lie to Eve was that God was withholding good from her, and she believed it. Adam did as well. It was not enough that they had everything they could ever need, living in a perfect place—deep in their hearts, they fell to the temptation that God is not enough. They went their own way.

The next 40 days, we will spend time thinking of where we have gone our own way, thinking God is not enough in our own lives. But the good news is God has provided us an invitation. As he did numerous times through the Old Testament and even in the Gospels, he invited his people: “Return to me”.

As we journey to the Friday Cross through to Easter, we will see that God has offered us that same invitation, “Return to me,” through the death and resurrection of his perfect Son. This time, it is an invitation that echoes into eternity.