by Lisa Kalscheur "Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;” -Isaiah 30:1 I work at school, and my desk sits in the conference room where the staff refrigerator resides.
One of the students came in and he said he was grabbing his mom’s (a fellow teacher’s) lunch for her. I was quick to commend him on his kindness and servitude, and he responded with, “There is something for me in her lunch bag so I’m grabbing it for her.” Isn’t that how it goes? Many times our well-intended efforts and good deeds fill the holes of desire, fear and unknowing in our human hearts. Repeatedly I mistake my own wants and desires for God’s will. After all, the plans we make and the dreams we conjure up have many different jobs when it comes to our human reasoning. They protect us and give us a sense of purpose. They give us value and independence. They keep our spouses and children safe. They make us feel like we are going to change the world. On paper, our plans look amazing, and they reflect the difference we want to make. We can plan ourselves right into the most perfect life we could ever imagine! With our intentions the way they are, we are like the student grabbing his mom’s lunch for her. We can be doing a good thing, but what is inside that lunch bag that we are really looking for? Even though we mean well, many times we are choosing to do something because we want something out of it. So now the scary question is in order. What if God has a different lunch bag for you to carry? In this case, the entire lunch is for you, bag, and all. The difference is, you didn’t ask for it, and everything inside it is a big mystery. It’s not even the kind of lunch bag you would ever be seen carrying, let alone claiming it as your own. Most of the time we aren’t even giving it a second glance. I’d rather starve, thank you very much! We forget so soon that the things we haphazardly try to plan and provide for ourselves, God gracefully gives. A repentant heart is also a heart of trust. Repentance is essential for our humbling, our obedience, and ultimately carrying that mysterious lunch sack assigned to you. Thankfully, by the Grace of God, our eyes continue to be opened to our sinful nature as we turn to Our Savior. This Lenten Season, may God help us to see the error of our ways. Prayer: Father God, I am repentant of the ways my selfish heart has crept in. Even in my continuous yearning to be a light for Jesus, distractions are inevitable. I pray for the continued strength and ability to know the difference of my desires from Your ultimate and perfect plan. I pray Lord, that I will trust You, and I am so sorry for the times that I allow myself to get pulled in any other direction. Lord Jesus you are the perfect example of obedience to God’s will, no matter the pain and agony, you were steadfast in your mission. Help me to live more and more like You, without distraction. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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About the AuthorsThe authors of this Lenten devotional are all staff members of Zion Lutheran Church & School of Wayside. They have answered the call to preach and teach the good news of salvation to both the young and the old of the school and congregation. This group of believers have a strong faith rooted in the Word. They are all members of the church professing the Christian faith and are excited to share their love of Jesus with you during this season. Archives
January 2025
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