Lent Devotion Guide #29 – Overcoming The Lies: I Don’t Have A Choice

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

An Introduction
Hello Connect Church Family! As we prepare for the coming of Easter I will be sharing a sermon series titled, “Overcoming the Lies.” To accompany the sermon series and help us grow as individual Christians, we have also put together this devotional guide. I hope this will be a blessing to you! Every weekday, for the next several weeks, you are invited to join your church family and spend a few moments in this book. A number of people from our church community have contributed to make this booklet possible. On other days I have shared short thoughts on scriptures and left space for you to pray through what the scripture means for you. I hope you will join me and many others in your church family as we prepare for the coming of Easter!
-Pastor Adam Ricks

Read Matthew 7:13

It is human nature to justify sinning rather than staying on the “straight and narrow path” that God has laid out for you. It started with Adam and Eve and there are many examples in the Bible…. Jonah, Moses, King David, the man after God’s own heart, even committed adultery and murder. We justify our behavior because doing the right thing can make us look foolish in front of our spouse, family, or friends. It may affect us financially, and take time away from things we’d rather do, also the perception that everyone else is doing it, so why can’t I?
Just as we give our children guidance and direction to keep them safe, God gives us a path to follow that helps protect us from spiritual or physical harm…Consider the 10 commandments: following those can be hard but makes our lives a lot easier in the long run. This is because it allows us to live more peacefully and keeps us from having the anxiety and consequences that sin produces. Also, when we live in God’s plan, we are more easily able to build good relationships and connect deeply with others.
-Eric and Stephanie Williams (ConnectUMC Members)