April 12 Lenten Devotional "Giving Ourselves Away to Be Used By Jesus"

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen

LISTEN. . .So from that day on they plotted to take his life.   Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” (John 11:53-56)

CONSIDER. . .Religious leaders who were plotting Jesus' death asked, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"--referring to the Passover observance in Jerusalem.  Of course, Jesus went to the feast, and was arrested and put to death. He had warned his followers that he would die, but also promised them that from his death would come salvation and eternal life.

SO WHAT. . .When Jesus calls us to carry a cross, he doesn't mean that we necessarily have to accept a violent death, but we do have to be willing to give away our lives to others by being present to those who need love--to be Jesus in the lives of those around us.

• What are the ways you can "give away your life to others" to be Jesus to them?
• What are the times that you have withdrawn to a place of safety where you didn't have to deal with those in need?
• What are some specific things you can do to take a risk and truly reach out to those in need in the next few days? Take some time here and really give this some thought.

PRAYER. . .Loving and gracious God, please give me a courageous and expansive heart ready and willing to take a risk. Show me how to give away my life each day for those in need of your love and presence. Amen.