Tag: Lent 2026

Devotionals

Lent 2026: The Complete Story       

Loring Schultz

“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” Mark 9:31 NLT

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

Paul Harvey, an American news broadcaster for over fifty years for ABC News, was known for his segments called ‘The Rest of the Story.’ This final segment put closure to a story most people knew about, but not in its entirety. Several of these facts may not have been available at the time or were hidden from the public for one reason or another. Paul Harvey was able to dig up the facts through research and old-fashioned journalism to arrive at the complete story.

Our current world system has many reasons why a story will be under reported or some of the facts left out. There may be legitimate concerns if protective information falls into the wrong hands. Some information is withheld or skewed to create a narrative pushing a preferred agenda. Discernment is necessary for every person when receiving the information to decide its accuracy. As years go by through the decades and centuries even a complete story can be rewritten to distort the truth to agree with the changing culture.

With Easter (Jesus’ resurrection from the dead) right around the corner, there are many stories that have a shorten version of Passion week. It seems to end on Good Friday. Sadly, there are so-called Christians and preachers who accept and justify this rewritten story. They claim to accept Jesus and live by His words and teaching, but it is a selective acceptance. Jesus was clear about His mission, the complete story.

Jesus told His disciples many times in Scripture about His upcoming arrest, death, and resurrection. Jesus was careful to always include His rising again on the third day every time He spoke these words. Jesus never left out the rest of the story. He would rise again on the third day, and He did. There is no Easter without the resurrection. There is no salvation or eternal life without the resurrection. Beware of those who want to rewrite a story that Jesus said is already finished.

Devotionals

Lent 2026: Keep Watch and Pray

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 14:32-42 NLT – Jesus Prays in Gethsemane – They went – Bible Gateway

“Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?  Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:37-38 NLT

 Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Today is day thirty of Lent if you are keeping track. Perhaps if you did not know it is day thirty it is because you have lost all track of time due to your rich experience with the Lord during this season. Or the opposite is true in that you have slowly drifted away from your Lenten commitment to grow closer to the Lord. There may be several reasons for this, and I am sure some legitimate ones.

For those who had good intentions but have a tough time fulfilling them, you are not alone. Jesus told Peter, James, and John they had a willing spirit, but their bodies were weak. Jesus had asked them to watch with Him for one hour, not 40 days, and they could not do it. Yes, it was night and they were exhausted, but the Lord wanted their attention and their company during his agony in the garden. They had a challenging time doing it.

Jesus gave them two more chances to watch and pray and they failed again. The disciples were human just as we are. Our Lord knew that and He is aware we are human and we fail. The Lord wants to have an on-going growing relationship with each of His children. A suitable time to get back into rhythm is during Lent. Again, our commitments during Lent are to draw us into a deeper relationship with God. We do not do it for merit. Our rewards are the sweetness of the savior as we grow in Him.

There are 10 days left in this Lenten season. If you have not started anything yet, start now! If you are behind by slowing down or have quit altogether, there are 10 days left. Let us make the most of them. Jesus is telling us, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mk.14:38 nlt)

Devotionals

Lent 2026 – What Does the Cross Mean to You?   

Loring Schultz

“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” Galatians 6:14 NLT

I don’t know if you have ever been asked the above question. Perhaps if you were asked that question it may have been in our current season of Lent or during Holy Week before Easter Sunday. It is at this time of the year we focus more deeply on the cross than any other time. Though in reality , the cross is just as important to remember in every season for it defines us as Christians. So, the question is asked, ‘What does the cross mean to you’?

The apostle Paul explained how the cross defined him as a Christian in the book of Galatians. He wouldn’t boast about anything in this world except the cross. Paul  saw himself as upon that cross with Christ not only seeing his sins being paid for but also dying to self and pleasure in this world. Any interests he had in the world were crucified with Christ. Paul had died to the world and the world was spiritually dead to him.

The King James Version uses the word ‘glory’ for ‘boast.’ “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal.6:14 kjv) Paul is saying he will not give glory to anything in this world except the cross of Christ. It is what defined him in this world and what defines him in eternity. It is the cross of Christ that defines us and saves us to serve Him in this world and praise Him in Heaven. So, if asked this Easter season, ‘what does the cross mean to you,’ what would your response be?

Devotionals

Lent 2026 – The Cross in the Old Testament

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 22:13-18 KJV – They gaped upon me with their mouths, – Bible Gateway

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?……they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22:1, 16-18 KJV

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

The message of the cross is not just a New Testament story. The man upon that cross is seen all throughout the Bible including much of the Old Testament. Jesus Christ, God the Son, the Messiah is that man on the cross. You may have heard that ‘history’ is really ‘HIS-story’ Jesus Christ. There is plenty of evidence in the Old Testament to convince even the strongest doubters that Jesus is the promised Messiah who was to come. He came in His Father’s timing to earth to paid the penalty for our sins on the cross of calvary.

The author of Psalm 22, King David, prophesized Jesus on the cross when expressing his own thoughts in his prayer of anguish to the Lord. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps.22:1 kjv) David, a godly servant, was under constant attack unjustly by his enemies. Our Lord Jesus was under attack unjustly as David, both as righteous sufferers. But, in our Lord’s suffering, as unjust as it was, justice was served in payment for our sin debt. Jesus ultimately defeated death by rising from the dead to ensure salvation and eternal life for all who believe in Him.   

 There is much to learn about Jesus in the Old Testament. This Lenten season as we focus on the cross let us glean through those treasured sacred writings and discover the many references to Christ within its pages for it is His-story.

Devotionals

Lent 2026: Near the Cross

Loring Schultz

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.” 1 Peter 2:24 NLT

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

Today marks the beginning of Lent for Christians around the world. It is a period of reflection for many preparing for the Easter season starting on Palm Sunday, the beginning Holy Week, and ending Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For some people this time also includes a period of prayer and fasting. There is a desire to give up or refrain from something during this time as a sacrifice to draw closer to God. Many also engage in extended Bible reading or dive into a book to help them grow spiritually during the Lenten season. There are many other activities people participate in to bring them into a deeper relationship with Christ during these next few weeks.

I would encourage you to seek out something that works for you to draw closer to Christ this Easter. It’s important to remember this is not must-do-activity because it is the Lenten season, it is a must-do to grow in Christ as we should be doing daily. We get no extra points or crowns in heaven because we observed Lent by sacrificing our favorite foods, etc. but we will grow in Christ, love Him more, and have a deeper relationship with Him when our focus is on Him and not ourselves.

Whatever you decide to do this year, if anything, let me suggest having your focus on the cross. It is the centerpiece of the season with the resurrection as the climax and grand finale.

 In the words of Fanny J. Crosby,

“Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the bright and Morning Star Sheds its beams around me.”

“Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me.”

“In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever; Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.”