We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

I come from generations of early risers. I love mornings: the quiet freshness of a new day, the darkness growing into light. I love morning rituals: making coffee, feeding the birds, reading the paper, walking the dog, studying the Bible. Too many mornings, though, I get distracted, time flies, and I have to leave something out. Usually it’s my Bible Study. “I’ll get to it later,” I think. But I don’t.

My Lenten resolutions, to “fast” non-Christ-like behaviors, happen only with an equally large “feast” of the Word. Just as I need to commit to changing offensive behavior, I need to commit to growing in my faith and the fruits of faith.

In the ancient church, Lent was a time of preparing candidates for baptism. For us today, it can be a time to reflect on our own baptisms and what it means to live as God’s children. Martin Luther says baptism is “a daily garment to wear all the time.” Every day we should be found “in faith and its fruits, suppressing the old and growing the new.” Saved by God’s mercy, I seek His Holy Spirit to help me turn my thoughts away from the world toward Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. Daily commitment means changing my morning routine: feeding my soul before the birds, walking with the Lord before my dog, reading my Bible before the daily news. My prayer is that His Good News will be on my lips, in my heart, and in my deeds.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your compassions are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Amen.

Response: How can you put God first today?

(Devotions from "Cross of Ashes" by Christine Weerts, a Lenten devotional provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries. Copyright 2005, Int'l LLL. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend.)

Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 23-24    Matthew 28

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