We are now entering the season of Lent, a time of contemplation on our need of a Savior, and thanksgiving that God has sent us our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Thanks be to God!

Deuteronomy 26:1-11: This seems to be a strange reading for the First Sunday of Lent, but notice that the reading centers on thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. As we journey through the Lenten season, let us always keep before us God’s promise to forgive and renew us in Jesus.

Lord God, faithful Lord, continually remind us of Your promises and of Your faithfulness to fulfill Your promises. During this season of Lent, remind us that as we see our need of a Savior, You graciously provide the One we need, You graciously provide Jesus to be the means of our forgiveness, life, and salvation. Let us always give You thanks and praise for Your love and faithfulness in Jesus. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 91: What a wonderful psalm of trust in the faithfulness of the Lord! Dwell in Him, abide in Him, and He will lead us safely through the hardships of life into eternal life! Take time to read the psalm slowly, meditating on all that the Lord does for His people. Trust in Him.

This psalm was used by the tempter of Jesus in the Gospel for today. It is important to note that Scripture can be twisted by the tempter to lead us away from the Lord; that’s one reason why it is important that we spend a great deal of time in the Bible and know it so well that when it is misquoted and twisted away from God’s intent that we can recognize this and continue to trust in the Lord.

Lord God, we rejoice and give You thanks and praise for Your faithfulness to protect and lead us to life in Christ. Keep us steadfast in Your Word, and keep us safe from the evil one. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Romans 10:8-13: Faith! Faith in the Lord is the heart of this passage. Faith which proclaims Jesus as Lord and Savior. What a wonderful gift of the Lord!

How is your faith? Are your faith and hope centered in Jesus alone? Trust Him for life, life here and in the world to come. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Thanks be to God!

Lord God, thank You for Your greatness and glory. Thank You for fulfilling Your promises of life and salvation in Jesus. Keep us in faith. Increase our faith. Enable us to believe more and more each day and to proclaim You to others so that they too can come to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Luke 4:1-13: This Gospel’s passage is Luke’s account of the temptations of Jesus. Jesus faced the same temptations we face, and more, and He overcame all of them. Notice how He overcame: trusting in the heavenly Father and being so familiar with Scripture that He could refute all of the temptations, even when the devil twisted scripture.

In the face of temptations let us keep our eyes on Jesus, and let us be so well-versed in Scripture that we can see the temptations for what they are and resist with the power of God’s Word. And, when we fall into temptation and sin, let us turn to the Lord for forgiveness and new life.

Holy Jesus, we see that You faced the same temptations as we do, and even more. We rejoice that You resisted and overcame all temptations through trust in the heavenly Father and through the power of the Word of God. As we face temptations, keep our eyes fixed on You, and teach us the Word of God so that we can see temptations for what they are and resist with the power of God’s Word. And, when we fall into sin, turn us again to You in repentance and receive the forgiveness You have won through Your death and resurrection. In Your Name we pray. Amen.