The featured image shows a crown of thorns and a Bible. Image by James Chan from Pixabay
Introduction: This Sunday (March 19th) is the fourth Sunday of Lent. This means that we are more than half way through these forty days of fasting, prayer, and spiritual preparation.
Personally, I’m dying for some chocolate (I gave up chocolate for Lent) and I am eagerly looking forward to the festivities of Easter. But there is still a long way to until we get to Easter morning. We must still have journey together through two more weeks of Lent. Plus, Holy Week is always exhausting (especially if you’re the pastor!)
I have found it helpful to meditate on the following Bible verses during my Lenten journey. They remind me that Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and forgiveness. It’s a time to acknowledge our shortcomings and ask for forgiveness, both from God and from those we may have wronged. I hope these Bible verses nourish your soul and strengthen you as we continue our Lenten journey together.
- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
- “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” – Acts 3:19 (NIV)
- “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14 (NIV)
- “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)
- “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
- “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:15 (NIV)
- “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'” – Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
- “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” – Psalm 103:8-10 (NIV)
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)
- “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)
May these verses help guide us during this Lenten season, as we seek forgiveness and repentance, and strive to grow in our relationship with God and with others. Also, may the grace of God be with you always, especially as this Lenten season draws to a close and we rejoice in the dawning of Easter morning. Have a blessed Lent and a Happy Easter!
About the Author: Rev. Rebecca L. Holland (M.Div.) is visually impaired, Filipino clergywoman ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church. She is the pastor of two congregations in Central Pennsylvania. Her work focuses on the intersection between faith and disability theology. She is the author of Through My Good Eye: A Memoir in Verse, The United Methodist Church and Disability, and Hope for the Broken: Using Writing to Find God’s Grace.She is currently working on project that focuses on interpreting Disability Theology from a Wesleyan perspective. To stay up to date with her work, please subscribe to this blog by typing your email address into he box labeld “subscribe.”
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