By His Stripes ...

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today, we remember the death of our Lord. We remember this beating, his carrying of his cross, his last breath, and "it is finished".

And we sometimes question why this path was taken. And I offer no new insight on this, because I cannot hope to explain it better than the prophet Isaiah. Please, reflect and meditate on his words.

1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We remember on this day that we are saved
Only by your love
Only through your wounds
Only because of your grace
Only by your sacrifice

Thank you
More than our words can ever express
Thank you

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.