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Holy Saturday
Scripture Verses
- Matthew 28:1–10
- Matthew 16:24–28
Questions to Consider
- Why are we reluctant to give everything to God?
- What does it mean to give your life to God?
- What enables you to give God your life?
- Why did Jesus give us everything?
Plan of Action
- What has God given you that you could use to bless and serve others? Take one possession, ability, or gift and consecrate it to God’s purposes.
- Celebrate the resurrection by participating in Easter Sunday Worship.
Reflection
We have given up many things over the last 40 days of Lent, but on this final day we are giving up everything. We give our lives to the one who created us, saved us from our sin, and is coming to take us home. We surrender all to him who gave all.
He is our maker and owner. Everything we possess is already his. The money in our pockets is not our possession. None of our possessions do we really own. We brought none of this into the world and we are not going to be taking any of it with us. It is simply on loan to us while we walk this earth.
Neither are our bodies our own. God gives us these bodies to live in while we are here. But in the resurrection we are given new spiritual bodies not like the bodies we live in now (see 1 Corinthians 15:44).
Our children are not our own. They are God’s children. They belong to him, but he has entrusted us with them to raise and nurture in the faith. This is an incredible responsibility he assigns us.
The point of all this is that we are God’s servants. He is the master. We are stewards and managers of all that he possesses. Nothing is ours. This is our Father’s world. In the end we will give an accounting for what we did with all that he entrusted to us. I know that my prayer is I will hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant.”
Think about the delivery man. You are the owner of the package and you entrust the delivery man to deliver the package to the destination you intend. If that delivery man was to take your package to his home for himself, you would consider that theft. It is theft because he is not the owner of the package. He is just a steward of the package.
We not much different from the thieving delivery man when we use what God entrusts to us in ways God did not intend for us to use it. We talk about tithing God the first 10% of our income. At that point we think we have done our job. But that first 10% is just the start. We also seek to use the other 90% in a way he intends. He gives the rest of it to us to provide for our basic needs, to serve others, and to bring him glory.
The more we are given the more that is expected of us. Jesus says:
Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. Luke 12:48 (ESV)
It’s not just about our money. It is our time. It is the gifts and abilities we possess. It is every breath we breathe. It is every beat of our hearts. May they all be used to honor him our Lord of lords and King of kings!
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Wishing you a blesses Easter. I have truly enjoyed your inspirational devotional ! Thank you for your efforts, it has enriched my faith.
Thank you for taking the time to share these life “thought provoking” Lenten devotionals. I have been tremendously blessed by them and those I shared them with have also been blessed. Continue to allow God to use you to change feed His people. Happy Resurrection!
What a blessing this has been. God knew exactly what I needed and made you and this devotional available to me. Many of the topics were exactly what I needed on that given day. The format was wonderful; I plan to go back through the series and spend a week on each lesson. I pray that this has been a blessing to you and your church. Praise be to our God in heaven.
I have truly enjoyed and been inspired by your Lenten devotionals. I intend to apply them to my life daily. Thank you for taking the time to share God’s word and plan for us.
A true inspiration.
What a beautiful 40 day experience! Thank you so much for all the time and prayer put in to these devotions. I have done these devotions with my mother in law and we have both been blessed. Happy Easter!
Thank you
Thank you for blessing my soul so that I could pass His blessings onto others. I’ve enjoyed &’been challenged walking this journey with you over these past 40 days. Giving up anything isn’t easy,mbut with Him we can do ALL things!
Thank you for being obedient!
Thank you, Pastor Phil. I purchased your book, but I enjoyed watching these daily videos so much. I’m going to miss you in the mornings :). I pray the Holy Spirit will help me to apply what I’ve learned. May Easter blessings abound in your life on Resurrection Sunday and beyond! Maranatha, Debbie
Appreciate your inspiring devotionionals the 40 Days of Lent!
Thank you very much. This Lenten journey with you has enriched my journey to the Cross and beyond into New Life. Happy Easter
What a wonderful blessing. I received in my email from me son and feel awakened and stretched in my faith everyday. All of these are going in a folder so I can go back and review them.
Thank you for writing 40 Things to Give Up for Lent and Beyond! More do, I appreciate the bite-sized wisdom appearing in my in box each morning to reflect on throughout the day. Yes, I think this has made a difference and will stick around. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing the Love of Christ this Lenten Season. I looked forward to the Lenten Devitions daily. It gave me a different perspective for my love of Christ. Thank you again. Peace and many Blessings to you.
Thank you so much for this series. What a blessing each installment has been in so many ways. This is something I want to refer back to regularly and make sure that I am doing these things you have laid out as they apply to my life. Thank you again for sharing.
Thank you for the Lenten series and being there throughout the year. I thank God for you and your ministry. Praying for you and your family.