Scriptures: John 1:10-13 (NIV) – “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

1 Peter 2: 22-25 (NIV) – “‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’  When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.  ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’  For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 

Message:

“And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin;”

(Verse 3 of “How Great Thou Art”¹)

I am finishing this Lenten message two days after Christmas, but I have known for weeks what I would be writing about this year. Verse 3 above is my favorite verse from any hymn of the many I have been fortunate to sing on my journey.

I think it is perhaps the most powerful verse in any hymn we sing.

God knew what would happen to His Son before He came to Earth.

This is why Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on the end of Jesus’ time with us on Earth.  Christmas is the Promise that God makes to us.

God sent Him to die…

Those words shout out to me SO clearly just how much God loves us, even though we cause Him pain and anguish constantly as we sin our way through our earthly lives!  Yes, God sent Him to die so that our sins can be forgiven, and Easter’s meaning can be so clearly seen by we mortals.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art!   Amen.

Bob Showalter

1.      “How Great Thou Art” Words: Stuart K. Hine; Music: Swedish folk melody/adapt. and arr. Stuart K. Hine © Copyright 1949, 1953 and this arr. © Copyright  2026 The Stuart Hine Trust CIO. All rights in the USA its territories and possessions, except print rights, administered by Capitol CMG Publishing. USA, North and Central American print rights and all Canadian and South American rights administered by Hope Publishing Company. All other North and Central American rights administered by The Stuart Hine Trust CIO. Rest of the world rights administered by Integrity Music Europe. All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

There is no devotional for tomorrow, Sunday, March 22.

Sundays are not included in the Lenten Devotionals as, traditionally, Sundays as Holy Days, were not considered to be part of Lent.