Use this devo as you are able, in whole or in part. Don’t feel compelled to read it all. Simply read and meditate upon whatever catches your attention. The goal is enjoying time with God through His Word and in prayer. Questions about the devotional elements?

Call to Prayer

Prayer of Confession

Promise-making God, you come to us sinners with a vision beyond our wildest dreams and seal it with a covenant. Like Abraham, may we wholeheartedly believe in your promises, and, believing, be covered in your righteousness. Amen. (Prayer based on the Belgic Confession, Questions 19)

*Prayer borrowed from Philip Reinders’ Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year

Lent Devo: Backyard Pilgrim

Throughout Lent this year we will follow along over the next 40 days with quotes from Backyard Pilgrim by Matt Canlis which gives us a daily Bible Path (the story of God’s redemption) and Parish Path (a literal path through town where you can walk and ponder what God has shown you through his Word).

BIBLE PATH
Day 11: Not Hiding | Read: Genesis 2:24-25

When Genesis describes Adam and Eve as naked and not ashamed, it refers in part to the sexual freedom they enjoy as husband and wife, but it means much more. As God’s children, they are naked and not ashamed of the particular person they were created to be—with particular gifts and particular callings they were born to pursue, embody, and display. 

Years later, Jesus would describe God’s people as a light to the world. That’s why the church is meant to be a city on a hill. Hide us under a bushel? No! God made humans to shine. Paul would put this vision even more provocatively by daring to call new Christians Christ’s Body. 

There is one body, but many parts. They are different parts but all united as one flesh. Each part was meant to be not just unashamed, but naked and fully developed in the giftings and callings the Spirit gives each one of us. 

When Jesus came to reverse the fall, he found children lost in shame, then freed them as his own body to say: 

Here we are—forgiven.
Here we are—not hiding!
Here we are—naked and not ashamed.

Here i am . . . naked and not ashamed. 

PARISH PATH

As you walk, take off one piece of clothing, even if it is just your coat for a few minutes. 

Name a particular gift, talent, or calling you’ve been hiding under a bushel. 

Who can you tell about this gift? What is one step you can take toward using it? 

Sermon Devo

We are in our Winter series through the book of James. Each day we will dig into a different aspect of this New Testament wisdom book which will, by the end of the week, help to give you a fuller portrait of the kind of lives we are called to live as Christians.  

Read: James 1:1-4:12

Last week we saw what God has to say about our faith moving into action. This week we’ll see how James directs us to use our words faithfully. 

But before we explore the depths of this short section of James, let’s take some time to start the week by asking…

1. What stood out to you as you read today?

2. What point does James seem to be making?

3. How does this portion of Scripture connect to what came before? How does it connect to what comes after?

4. What didn’t make sense? What do you still wonder about?

Evening Prayer of Examen

• Where did you move with or feel close to Jesus today?
• Where did you resist or feel far from Jesus today?
• Where is Jesus leading you tomorrow? Ask for joy as you follow him.

Benediction