Lent WEEK 3: March 4-10 - CONFESSION AND COST

WEEK 3:

CONFESSION AND COST

March 4-10 / Weekly Fast: Social Networking and Internet

Reading

Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” LUKE 9:18–27

Supplemental Passages to Consider Throughout the Week

Philippians 3:7-16, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-11

 

O God of grace,

Thou has imputed my sin to my substitute, 

and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul, 

clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe, 

decking me with jewels of holiness.

But in my Christian walk I am still in rags; 

my best prayers are stained with sin; 

my penitential tears are so much impurity; 

my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin; 

my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;

I need my tears to be washed;

I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, 

no loom to weave my own righteousness;

I am always standing clothed in filthy garments, 

and by grace am always receiving change of raiment, 

for thou dost always justify the ungodly;

I am always going into the far country, 

and always returning home as a prodigal, 

always saying, Father, forgive me, 

and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.

Every morning let me wear it, 

every evening return in it, 

go out to the day’s work in it, 

be married in it, 

be wound in death in it, 

stand before the great white throne in it, 

enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of 

the exceeding sinfulness of sin, 

the exceeding righteousness of salvation, 

the exceeding glory of Christ, 

the exceeding beauty of holiness, 

the exceeding wonder of grace.

PRAYER FROM “THE VALLEY OF VISION”

This is taken from the Seasons of Lent Guide from The Village Church.