Aligning Our Lives with God's Priorities This Lent

Devotional

Day 1: Cultivating Awareness of God's Nearness

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is easy to overlook the profound truth that God is always present with us. Lent offers a unique opportunity to intentionally cultivate an awareness of His nearness. By setting aside time for solitude and reflection, we can tune our hearts to recognize His presence, even when He seems distant. This practice not only brings peace but also deepens our relationship with God, allowing us to experience His love and guidance in new ways. [51:34]

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you create space in your daily routine to become more aware of God's presence?

Day 2: Embracing the Wisdom of Children

The story of Jesus in the temple highlights the importance of listening to the voices around us, particularly those of children. Their insights often reveal profound truths about God's presence and priorities. As we journey through Lent, let us be open to the lessons God wants to teach us through the people in our lives, especially the young ones. By valuing their perspectives, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's heart and His work in the world. [45:06]

"Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger." (Psalm 8:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a child in your life. What is one way you can intentionally listen to and learn from them this week?

Day 3: Trusting in the Unseen Plan

Jesus' unwavering commitment to His Father's business challenges us to trust in God's plan for our lives, even when it is not fully revealed. Like Jesus, we are called to submit to God's will, trusting that He is working all things for our good. This trust requires faith and courage, especially when the path ahead is unclear. As we pray, "Not my will, but Yours be done," we can find peace in knowing that God's plan is perfect and His timing is impeccable. [54:26]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's plan? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?

Day 4: Growing in Wisdom and Favor

Just as Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God and others, we too are called to grow in our understanding and relationship with God. This growth requires intentional time spent in prayer, scripture, and solitude, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds. As we commit to this journey of growth, we can experience a deeper connection with God and a greater capacity to reflect His love to those around us. [38:34]

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to grow in your relationship with God and others?

Day 5: Aligning with God's Priorities

Lent is a season of reflection and realignment, a time to set aside distractions and focus on who we are in light of who Jesus is. By aligning our lives with God's priorities, we can live lives that reflect His love and purpose. This alignment requires us to examine our hearts and make intentional choices that honor God. As we seek to align with His priorities, we can experience the fullness of life that He desires for us. [41:49]

"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What is one distraction in your life that is hindering you from aligning with God's priorities? How can you address this distraction today?

Sermon Summary

On this first Sunday of Lent, we embark on a journey to explore the "I must" statements of Jesus, beginning with His declaration, "I must be about my Father's business." This statement, found in Luke 2:41-52, reveals Jesus' early understanding of His divine mission and serves as a profound reminder for us to align our lives with God's priorities. As we delve into this story, we find Jesus, at the age of twelve, astonishing the learned scholars in the temple with His wisdom and understanding. This narrative not only highlights Jesus' unique identity as the Son of God but also challenges us to seek a deeper awareness of God's presence and purpose in our lives.

Lent is a season of reflection and realignment, a time to set aside distractions and focus on who we are in light of who Jesus is. Just as Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God and others, we too are called to grow in our understanding and relationship with God. This growth requires intentional time spent in prayer, scripture, and solitude, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds.

The story of Jesus in the temple also reminds us of the importance of listening to the voices around us, especially those of children. Their insights can often reveal profound truths about God's presence and priorities. As we journey through Lent, let us be open to the lessons God wants to teach us through the people and experiences in our lives.

Ultimately, Jesus' commitment to His Father's business challenges us to trust in God's plan for our lives, even when it is not fully revealed. Like Jesus, we are called to submit to God's will, trusting that He is working all things for our good. As we pray, "Not my will, but Yours be done," may we find the courage and faith to be about our Father's business, living lives that reflect His love and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Awareness of God's Presence: Lent invites us to cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in our lives. Even when God seems distant, He is closer than our very breath. By setting aside time for solitude and reflection, we can experience His divine presence and find peace in His nearness. [51:34]
2. Listening to the Voices Around Us: The story of Jesus in the temple teaches us the value of listening to the voices around us, especially those of children. Their insights can reveal profound truths about God's presence and priorities. As we journey through Lent, let us be open to the lessons God wants to teach us through the people in our lives. [45:06]
3. Trusting in God's Plan: Jesus' commitment to His Father's business challenges us to trust in God's plan for our lives, even when it is not fully revealed. Like Jesus, we are called to submit to God's will, trusting that He is working all things for our good. [54:26]
4. Growth in Wisdom and Favor: Just as Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God and others, we too are called to grow in our understanding and relationship with God. This growth requires intentional time spent in prayer, scripture, and solitude, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds. [38:34]
5. Aligning with God's Priorities: Lent is a season of reflection and realignment, a time to set aside distractions and focus on who we are in light of who Jesus is. By aligning our lives with God's priorities, we can live lives that reflect His love and purpose. [41:49]
** [41:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:28] - Announcements and Worship Introduction
[23:20] - Prayer and Reflection
[38:34] - Introduction to the "I Must" Statements
[41:49] - Jesus in the Temple: A Lesson in Awareness
[45:06] - Listening to the Voices Around Us
[51:34] - Trusting in God's Plan
[54:26] - Aligning with God's Priorities
[56:00] - Closing Prayer and Hymn
[58:00] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Sermon Clips

Our God, as we come before you, we are so grateful for the relationship that we have with you. One that not only brings us assurance, but brings us hope and peace and happiness and all the things that really make life worthwhile. Even when we're discouraged, we still know that when we look to you, that we can find the substance that we need to make it through these days. And we thank you for that. [00:21:15]

We pray that as we now enter into this season of Lent, we ask that as we set time aside to focus on who we are and who you are, that we might be open to having the spirit in our lives, doing the work that is necessary. So that as we know ourselves and know you better that there can be an alignment made where we could find ourselves pursuing even greater our relationship with you. [00:22:23]

I pray that as we open the scripture and as we think about the I must statement today that you might not only illuminate our minds but also our hearts that we might know you better as we come in contact with the scripture today. I pray that you would move me totally out of the way and the words that I speak would not be words that have been conceived in my own mind but words that are being extended through me by the Holy Spirit for the people of God for such a time as this. [00:23:20]

Lent is really about setting aside some intentional time to focus on ourselves and who we are in light of who Jesus is. Because what happens so often, just because of the normal course of what it means to be human, is there becomes almost a misalignment with who we are and the priorities of God in our lives. [00:37:13]

And so Lent helps us to become realigned to those things in our lives. And certainly I hope this sermon series can help us all to do that. But today we're going to start with I must be about my father's business. We're going to look at Luke chapter 2 and verses 41 through 52. [00:38:09]

And so this story is precious for that reason. It gives us insight into the boy Jesus and who he was. And even at an early age, how he began to come into his own and understand his own purpose and his own mission. I think the challenge of this story for us is to really understand our own awareness of God's presence and also God's priorities in our lives. [00:40:54]

But when we think about our own lives as complex as that understanding could have been for a boy, so it is for us, who are full-grown adults, still trying to figure out where we see God's presence and where we can live out God's priorities in our own lives. [00:41:42]

A lesson for all of us to open our ears and really listen to the kids around us and what they're saying. Though they are not Jesus and may not speak as Jesus would, I think they have a lot to tell us. And so part of the journey of Lent is just being more aware of those who are around us, especially in this case, the children. [00:44:16]

And the other thing I think that we find, even here at 12 years old, he was fully submitting and trusting in God's plan for his life. Sometimes I wish that we had more insight into the way in which Jesus was raised, especially the conversations that Mary and Joseph had to have with him. At what point did Mary set him down and tell the prophecy that Simeon gave to her in the temple? [00:49:48]

So when we think about our own Lenten journey, I hope that we ourselves can discover a greater awareness of God's presence in our own lives. Even when God seems so far away, yet the reality is that he is closer to us than our very breath. And sometimes the only way that we realize that is just by finding a place of solace, separated from all of the cares of life, away from even other humans, where we can just breathe. [00:50:56]

And then just simply trust God's plan for your life, whatever it may be. The thing that we also know about the plan of God, just as Jesus had to grow up into it for his life, so do we all. God's plan oftentimes is not fully known until it's actually happened and we're looking back over it. That's why we have to trust. [00:52:50]

And Lent helps us to create those spaces of consecration. Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Not your will, not my will, Father, but yours be done. So it is for us that we pray. That becomes our Lenten prayer. Not my will, Father, but yours be done. Are we truly willing to be about our Father's business? [00:53:58]

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