Learning to Rely on God: A Lenten Devotional

written by Pastor Matthew Peterson

Sisters and brothers of Open Door Church,

This March carries us through the season of Lent – a special time when we focus on following Jesus in the ways of prayer, fasting, and relying on God. Those last few words happen to also be one of the Core Values of the Brethren in Christ, of which Open Door Church is a part. The BIC entry for Relying on God states, “We confess our dependence on God for everything, and seek to deepen our intimacy with Him by living prayerfully.”[1] As I reflect on what it means to live that value at Open Door, I am reminded of one of the values that we read each week, “It’s Bigger Than Us.”

One of the key stories we read during Lent is of Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, a great example of it being “bigger than us” from the life of Jesus. The Bible tells us that after his baptism Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where for forty days he was tested by Satan. Those forty days are in fact where we get the timeline for our celebration of Lent.

The Gospel author Luke includes three temptations that Satan put before Jesus:

  • Food: “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (Luke 4:3)

  • Power: “I will give you all their authority and glory. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:7-8)

  • Proof: “If you are the Son of God throw yourself down from here. It is written, ‘‘The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won’t trip over a stone.’” (Luke 4:9-11)

If you read between the lines, these temptations might seem reasonable. Jesus was hungry and was told to make bread. Jesus was poor and was offered power and glory. Jesus knew he was God’s Son sent to rescue others and was given the opportunity to prove it publicly.

And yet Jesus rejects each of these offers, responding in the following ways:

  • Food: “It is written, ‘Man must not live only on bread.’” (Luke 4:4)

  • Power: “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.’” (Luke 4:8)

  • Proof: “Scripture says, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’” (Luke 4:9-12)

What we see in these responses is Jesus’s desire to Rely on God. Each of Jesus’s needs in those moments is valid and important. We all need to eat to survive. When we are taken advantage of by those with power, we cannot thrive. And we all need reminders of God’s love and care for us. But Satan challenges Jesus to meet these needs by his own power and in his own timing, doing so by ungodly means. Writing about this scene, philosopher Jacques Ellul once said, “To fulfill God’s plan right away is in reality to take the place of God. And yet, this would have been so much more certain and convenient!”[2]

Our desires for certainty and convenience can drive us to take things into our own power.

To live out our days “my way” rather than God’s way. Much like when Jesus was tested in the wilderness, this Lent season is one where we can face this challenge. Whether we are fasting from food, entertainment or electronics, or are committing ourselves to new devotional practices, or are simply trying to make it through the day, we each have fresh chances to practice relying on God.

 

Resources

Open Door Value - It’s Bigger Than Us:

Jesus prayed that God’s kingdom would come and God’s will be done on earth as in heaven. Our role in the body of Christ is to join the work of God’s kingdom, not just grow our church. Following Christ is joining the larger work of God in the world through God’s people. We do not compete with other churches or entities that are doing good and loving well. As a church, we are a people sent by God, following the example of Christ, to love well and serve our community. (Mark 9, Matthew 6, John 17, Luke 12)[3]

Brethren in Christ U.S. Core Value – Relying on God

We confess our dependence on God for everything, and seek to deepen our intimacy with Him by living prayerfully.”[4]

 

Bible Passages:

  • Luke 4:1-15

  • Matthew 4:1-11

 

Books & Bible Studies

  • If You Are the Son of God: The Suffering and Temptations of Jesus. by Jacques Ellul. Translated by Anne-Marie Andreasson-Hogg (Cascade Books, 2014).

  • Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book (Volume 2: Advent Through Pentecost) by Arthur Boers, Barbara Gingerich, Eleanor Kreider, John Rempel and Mary Schertz. Also a smartphone app (“Take Our Moments and Our Days”).

  • A Way other than Our Own: Devotions for Lent. by Walter Brueggemann. (Westminster John Knox Press, 2016)

For Kids & Families:

  • The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible. (Herald Press, 2023): pages 182-185.

  • The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones & Jago (Zonderkids, 2007): pages 208-213.

  • ‘Twas the Season of Lent: Devotions and Stories for the Lenten and Easter Seasons. By Glenys Nellist & Elena Selivanova (Zonderkids, 2024): pages 2-5.

Videos & Other Resources

[1] Brethren in Christ U.S. Manual of Doctrine & Government (2022), page 18.

[2] Jacques Ellul, If You Are the Son of God: The Suffering and Temptations of Jesus. Translated by Anne-Marie Andreasson-Hogg (Cascade Books, 2014): pages 64-65.

[3] Open Door Church Values: “It’s Bigger Than Us.”

[4] Brethren in Christ U.S. Manual of Doctrine & Government (2022), page 18.

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