We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on March 1, 2016.
Reading The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal, they kept the Passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes, and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. (Joshua 5:9-12) Reflection This Lent, I’ve been reflecting more on the Lord’s Prayer. I try to pray it daily and often words in it strike me in new ways as I try to mediate on its contemporary meaning. In our story today, we are reminded of the Israelites who had finished their wanderings. God provided for them daily bread in the form of manna. But now, the manna stopped. And they could like off the land and harvest the crops of Canaan. In both cases, God provided. God provided manna. God provided crops in Canaan. God made sure the Israelites, God’s chosen people, had what they needed. And God makes sure we, as children of God, are provided for. Today, I challenge you to pray the Lord’s Prayer and think about the line, “Give us this day our daily bread.” What is the daily bread that God is providing for you? Give thanks to the Lord for all the good things God provides! --Chad Hershberger Prayer Give us today our daily bread, heavenly Father, and provide for all our needs. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life.
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