If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to someone, you treasure the last words spoken. You remember what was said. You hold on to those final words. For Lent in 2021, we are focusing on the last words of Jesus from the cross. What did he say? What does it mean for us? How do those words change us? Today we focus on the word “trust.” Jesus called from the cross, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk. 23:46). What does it mean to trust someone? Why do we often hold back? How do we know God’s hands are trustworthy?
Invitation Prayer
O Lord, your scars are your trophies, proof of your unfailing love for me. You have earned my trust. I come to you in faith. I cease my worry and mistrust. I set aside all fears and faltering. I place my life into your hands. Receive me. Amen.
Confession
It is hard to trust someone with the most vulnerable parts of our lives. We hesitate to share our secrets, sins, and shame. David gives us a model to follow. He said in Psalm 31:14, “But in you I trust, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’” We can trust the One who sees our sin and still stays. So we approach God in faith: Father, I confess all my sins and failings to you. I am haunted by the guilt of my past, the sins of my present, and my fear of the future. Forgive me, God. I trust you. Amen.
Word
“And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” (Rom. 4:5)
Meditation
Work is good. Trust is better. If we trust our own works, we’ll soon find them feeble. If we think our efforts achieve some status before God, we’ll soon be faced with failings that outweigh our good deeds.
By contrast, justification is God’s work. Different from ours, his work doesn’t fail. Jesus’ action on the cross is a work of substitution. He died in our place, for our sins. Our righteousness is found not in our resume, but his. So we put our faith in Christ alone. Examine yourself today: Am I working to be justified, or because I’m justified? Trust the Lord who justifies, and may your work flow from his.
My Righteous God, teach me not to trust my own efforts, but your work alone. From such faith, inspire in me work that is good for others and to your glory. Amen.
Sending Prayer
Into your hands, O Lord. We place our fears and failures.
Into your hands, O Lord. We place our present and future.
Into your hands, O Lord. We commit our bodies, souls, and all we have. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Today’s devotion is taken from It Is Finished by Jeff Cloeter, published by CTA – Christ to All at ctainc.com