2017 Belmont University Lenten Devotional GuideSample

I was certain when I read the scripture readings for this devotional that there was some mistake! Why would I be asked to write a Lenten devotional on 1 Samuel 15:10–21? I wanted to write about the season of newness, of the upcoming renewal we find in this time of forgiveness and contemplation. The text in Samuel refers the reader to the story of Samuel and Saul: Saul has disobeyed God’s directive and in the following verses, Samuel must tell Saul that God is displeased with his disobedience. So what does this have to do with Lent, with the season where we anticipate the Risen Savior?

Following after Christ is often being obedient even when we may not want to be obedient. Obeying God’s commandments may seem easy to us when we consider the Ten Commandments: I do not murder, I do not steal, I am faithful to my husband. I assume most of us do pretty well in these categories, but also in today’s reading we are reminded by Paul in Ephesians 4 to “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” These directives may be more difficult for us; in this same chapter, Paul reminds us to “build one another up” to not let the “sun go down on our anger.”

We have gone through a season of division even among families and friends whom we love; these scripture are a sweet reminder that obedience is being like Christ himself. When we forgive, we are like Christ; when we are kind, we are like Christ. As we anticipate the season of renewal, may we be reminded of that as we forgive others, as we love others, as we are kind to others (even those we disagree with) we are being Christ to them and we are being obedient to the one who was obedient even to death.

BETH HALLMARK
Director of Simulation
College of Health Sciences and Nursing