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Multimedia Lent Devotional – Friday of the Third Week of Lent

March 27, 2025

2025:

Friday of the Third Week of Lent:

  • Scripture (Judi Campbell) – Hosea 14:1-9
  • Reflection (Jim Roberson)
  • Prayer (Jeanne Vick)
  • Videos: Mark 12:28-34
  • Music: “He Has Done It Again” (FreshJoy Music) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPaxEKwR99w

2024:

Friday of the Third Week of Lent:

Mark 12:28-34 – “One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,” and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself,”—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.”

When asked this important question, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus responded with a clear two-part instruction, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In case his followers had any lingering doubts, he added, “There is no other commandment greater than these.” These instructions beg the question of how to know if we are loving God or our neighbor. That’s a big question, but Jesus’ answer provides four ways in which we can examine ourselves. I think Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Jesus’ response is helps us to understand more fully: “Love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy” and “Love others as well as you love yourself.”

Let’s spend a few moments sitting with each of these:

God, how can I better love you with all of my heart, all of my passion?

God, how can I better love you with all of my soul, all of my prayer?

God, how can I better love you with all of my mind, all of my intelligence?

God, how can I better love you with all of my strength, all of my energy?

God, how can I better love others as myself, as well as I love myself?

Along with the scribe in today’s passage, may we truly understand that these are all much more important than whatever other attempts we could make to try and please God. It is in loving God and loving others that God is most pleased. That is how we make the kingdom of God visible right here, right now!

2023:

Friday of the Third Week of Lent:

  • Scripture (Nancy Penton) – Mark 12:28-34
  • Reflection (John Trotter)
  • Prayer (Karen Sculley)
  • Video: Mark
  • Music: “The Greatest Commandment” (The Porter’s Gate)

Each short Multimedia Lent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during the season preceding Easter. Lent is a solemn 40-day period we observe as we seek to draw near to God prior to the great celebration of Easter. During Lent,

  • we intentionally practice sober reflection, serious repentance, and sincere restitution, in which we more fully recognize our brokenness as humans, looking always to Jesus Christ as our Savior and sanctifier;
  • we seek to live lives marked by simplicity, self-denial, and surrender, in imitation of Christ Jesus, who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before He began His public ministry;
  • we look for ways in which we express love for neighbors and nations in need in practical ways through generously giving of our time, talents, and treasures.

This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church

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