Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 105.

TEXT: In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You
delivered them (Psalm 22:4).

In the midst of incredible injustice and suffering horribly
for sins He never committed, Jesus acknowledges the
holiness of God His Father and the justice of His verdict.
Jesus knows it is only through His sufferings that God can
forgive our sins and our rebellion. Jesus willingly took this
burden on Himself so that through His suffering God's
holiness could be satisfied, that in His love and mercy He
could save unworthy sinners like us.

Now, beset with the pangs of hell Jesus recalls His
Father's faithfulness. Throughout the Old Testament, God's
people Israel found themselves in dire situations. They
knew they could not put their trust in their own strength,
nor in their friends, nor in their possessions, nor in their
military might-only God could save them. Only He could
deliver them. They cried out to Him day and night, trusting
in His deliverance, and God came through for them time
and time again.

Jesus seeks that deliverance too. He yearns for God's
wrath to be spent, His rage stilled, for the pangs of hell to
be finished. Like His fathers before Him, Jesus trusts His
God to deliver Him, to bring Him home to Paradise.

What can you do when you are at your wit's end? When
everything looks as though God has abandoned and
forsaken you? Remember Jesus Christ. Trust that His
sacrifice was sufficient, perfectly satisfying God's wrath at
your sins, and winning His full and free forgiveness. Put
your trust in your Father's love and mercy, knowing He will
never let you down.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, give me firm confidence in Your care
and protection, and Your deliverance from all my troubles.
Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 80.
TEXT: Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of
Israel (Psalm 22:3).

Jesus is suffering greatly from the people around Him:
the mocking and jeers of the crowds, one of the
criminals, the Jewish religious leaders, and the
taunting of the Roman soldiers. In His place, we
would likely lash out at them, but not just at them.
After all, the greatest pain He suffers is from His own
Father, who has laid on Him the sins of the world, and
unleashed His fiery wrath on Jesus. But Jesus pleads
for their forgiveness, and turning to His Father, He
confesses, "Yet You are holy."

There is nothing just and right about Jesus' sufferings.
During His entire earthly life He has been perfect in
thought, word and deed. He has loved God with all His
heart, soul, mind and strength. He has loved His
neighbor as Himself. Each of us deserves this
punishment for we have failed miserably.

But innocent and pure, Jesus lies under the crushing
burden of our sins and God's wrath. Yet Jesus finds no
fault in His Father for this. God is holy, completely right
and true in all He does, without a hint of wrong or sin.
That is the reason God is King over Israel, and rightly
receives their praises.

We too go through times of great trial and struggle in life.
But even on our darkest days God is pure, loving and holy.
He is not the cause of our suffering, nor does He delight
in seeing us suffer. Though the world may weigh us down
with suffering and distress, God can use these
circumstances to draw us closer to Him, so we may cling
to Him alone through faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, give me faith to see the holiness of my
God and give Him praises, no matter how badly I may suffer.
Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 88.

TEXT: O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and
by night, but I find no rest (Psalm 22:2).

Jesus was crucified around nine in the morning. He speaks
briefly three times in those early daylight hours, but most of
the time He hangs silently. But even in His silence He is
crying out to His Father through His groans and tears. Three
hours later the world is plunged into unnatural night as the
sun stops shining. Crushed beneath the load of our sins and
the fiery wrath of our God it must have felt like eternity for
Him. In the unnatural darkness His moans cry out to heaven.
But His Father gives Him no rest, no relief- just the bitter
pangs of hell striking Him in wave after wave.

Sometimes sickness or pain, troubles and fears, guilt or
 torment grip us. No matter what we try we can't escape the
pain night or day. We plead to God to give us relief and help,
but we find little or no change, whether it's daytime or
nighttime.

Perhaps today is such a time for you.

It is in these times that Jesus encourages us to follow His
example, to keep crying out day and night. He promises,
"Will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day
and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will
give justice to them speedily" (see Luke 18:7-8).

Very soon Jesus will complete His payment for our sins.
His suffering will cease and He will be in Paradise forever.
Soon God will relieve your burden, and give you times of
rest and peace. In the meantime, keep crying out to Him
in faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your indescribable pain and agony
You cried out to Your Father from the cross. Give me grace
to keep praying night and day. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)