2/18/24 – 2/24/24

The Lenten season began on Ash Wednesday (2/14). For Jesus’ Church, Lent is a season set apart from other times of the year for repentance, preparation, denying ourselves, spiritual growth, and seeking to live more like Christ. During the past Wednesday worship service, we were reminded that Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23 NIV). What is a way you are saying “no” to yourself during this season, so that you are able to say “yes” to Jesus? During Lent the people of Avon UMC are focusing on Christ and the cross each Sunday morning, while being invited to take up our cross each day as we follow Jesus’ example as his apprentices. As a way to help us follow Jesus more closely during this season, this Living Faith Devotional will guide us to read Mark’s Gospel during the month of March.

 

Simon Peter was one of Jesus’ closest followers during the Messiah’s three-year ministry. Last week we read and studied his letter in the New Testament known as 1 Peter. This week we will read and study 2 Peter, which seems to have been written to the same groups of Christians as the first letter. Biblical scholars believe that this second letter from the apostle Peter was either written by him near the end of his life (2 Peter 1:14) or written on behalf of Peter in the decades after his death as if the apostle was sharing one final message. Either way, the letter is a farewell message on behalf of the apostle that warns about false prophets and teachers within the growing Christian movement, while reminding believers to continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NRSV). The warnings shared in 2 Peter are similar to the warnings in the Biblical letter known as Jude. It is believed that the author(s) of 2 Peter utilized the list from Jude’s letter.

 

In addition to reading and studying 2 Peter, we will also begin reading 1 John. Although 1 John is referred to as a letter it is more like a treatise, homily, or tract among the New Testament documents. It was written with the language, and from the theological perspective, of The Gospel According to John. If you read them at the same time, you will find that there are many similarities within John’s Gospel and 1 John. Eusebius, a church leader, and a key Christian historian during the late 200s and early 300s A.D., claimed that “John the Elder was a disciple of the apostle John and a member of his congregation” (Introducing the New Testament by Mark Allan Powell). Eusebius believed that John the Elder wrote the New Testament letters that were eventually labeled as 1, 2, and 3 John. Within 1 John, life, truth, and love are repeated, reoccurring themes. The two major subjects of 1 John are “God is light” and “God is love” (1 John 1:5, 4:8). For many Christians, including prominent Church leaders such as Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley, 1 John is one of their favorite books of the Bible. The God of light and love revealed through Jesus Christ has used 1 John and 2 Peter to speak to the people of the Church from the times they were written up through today. Expect the Spirit of Christ to reveal the Lord’s message to you as you read and study them this week.

 

The format of this plan is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the daily use of this devotional:

Each Day

• Read the portion of God’s message from the prophet Jeremiah
• Spend a few minutes in silence as you wait in the presence of the Lord
• Read The Bible verses for the day
• Answer the question(s) using a journal or notebook, talking to someone else about them, or simply think about your responses
• Listen to and/or sing a worship song or hymn
• Pray
• Live in response to Jesus

 

DAILY MESSAGE:

Each day read Jesus’ message to begin your time set apart to be with and encounter the living God revealed in and through Jesus Christ:

 

Jesus said, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves,

take up their cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23 CEB

 

SILENCE & SOLITUDE:

You are encouraged to spend a few minutes quietly alone with God after reading the verse. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, lay down, or walk as the message rolls around in your heart and mind.

 

DAILY BIBLE VERSES TO READ:

Sunday – Matthew 4:8-11 (love God)

Monday – 2 Peter 1 (Watch the 2 Peter video and read the introduction from a Study Bible before reading the chapter.)

Tuesday – 2 Peter 2

Wednesday – 2 Peter 3, Isaiah 34, & Zephaniah 3

Thursday – 1 John 1:1-2:2 (Watch the 1-3 John video and read the introduction from a Study Bible before reading the chapter.)

Friday – 1 John 2:1-28

Saturday – Psalm 95:1-7a and Psalm 37:3-4 (The Sabbath theme for this weekend is “WORSHIP & DELIGHT.”)

 

VIDEO TO WATCH:

You are invited to watch the Book of 2 Peter Summary video on Monday, before reading 2 Peter 1 either using the link below for YouTube or go to The Bible Project website:

Book of 2 Peter Summary by The Bible Project (on Monday)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWLv_ITyKYc&t=38s

 

You are invited to watch the Books of 1-3 John Summary video on Thursday, before reading 1 John 1 either using the link below for YouTube or go to The Bible Project website:

Books of 1-3 John Summary by The Bible Project (on Thursday)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QkE6nKylM&t=21s

 

DAILY QUESTIONS:

You may find it helpful to read the verses a second time as you ask yourself these questions while pondering about God’s message to you. You may find it helpful to write your responses to the questions, or talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group, or to simply think about them:

What is the biblical author saying in this chapter?

 

What does their message reveal about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?

 

What does this message reveal about people who are either part of Jesus’ Church or they are not?

 

What is God’s message for me from what I read?

 

How should I respond to the Lord’s message today and this week?

 

In Matthew 11 Jesus extends this invitation to us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NLT). Are you weary and burdened? Go to Jesus. Tell him your worries and concerns. Receive the rest he is offering you. Offer him your burdens. Seek to live his ways.

 

How will I prepare to observe a full or partial Sabbath day of rest this weekend?

 

LISTEN to and/or SING a Worship Song or Hymn to help you respond to God to express your gratitude for the Lord. You may find it helpful to use the same song each day, or a different one on some or all of the days because of what the Bible verses bring to mind.

 

PRAY reading The Bible verse(s) again as you allow scripture to guide your prayer. You may feel the Holy Spirit guiding you to lift up joys and concerns too. As you do, it may be helpful to pray for:

• Those Who Are Closest to You (family members & friends)
• Those Who Point Others Towards God (parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, professors, coaches, musicians, authors, filmmakers, influencers, churches, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, & globally)
• Those Who Are Vulnerable & In Need (children, orphans, widows & widowers, the hungry & homeless, refugees, sick & diseased persons, prisoners, etc.)
• Yourself (tell God your thoughts, concerns, feelings, and desires)

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.