A Woman’s Devotion Series

Now, I know that the circumstances are different. We didn’t watch Him die except in a skit or a movie. And we believe that He’s alive today. So, where does sorrow fir into our lives today? Sometimes, not enough. When was the last time you felt so bad for your sin that you were broken over it? When was the last time you cried before God because of your sins or your apathy? When was the last time you felt a crushing weight on your chest for the lostness of the people around you? When was the last time you prayed in passion for God to forgive you and to use you? When was the last time you humbled yourself before God and cried out in sorrow for how you’ve ignored Him?

Psalm 51 says this: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Oh yes, there is a place for brokenness, for weeping, and for sorrow in a Christian’s devotion. And it’s a good thing. It’s OK to let God humble you, to stir up emotions, and to be honest and real before Him. Be real before God.

The 2nd thing that Mary Magdalene’s devotion looked like is this: seeking. Jesus showed up. She thought He was the gardener. I know that sounds odd, but 3 times after He rose from the dead, His followers didn’t recognize Him at first. Mary’s concern for the body of Jesus overwhelmed her recognition of the presence of Jesus.

You know, our questions and our doubts and our theological bunny trails often distract us from seeing Jesus in our midst. You probably don’t care that I’m an Arminian with slight leanings towards supersessationalism and New Covenant Theology. You probably don’t care that I’m post-tribulational or maybe even slightly amillenial. And even among them, I don’t fit into theological labels very well. What you care is that I believe in Jesus and that I preach to help you understand how to follow God better. Don’t let arguments or theological wanderings or quibbling over details distract you from seeing Jesus.

So when the Lord appeared, Mary Magdalene was unaware. And Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” She was looking for Him. Part of our devotion is seeking, looking for Him.

I hate to get to the point where I say, “This is what you must do – dot dot dot.” But over the years, I and countless others have seen the importance of a few things to help us in our devotion. The first is prayer. Talking to God regularly. A minutes at a time, turning off the radio in the vehicle, asking Him to help your situation while you’re doing dishes, and so on. Prayer matters. Another thing is reading the Bible, even if it’s a few verses a day. Listen: anything is better than nothing. Reading slowly through Philippians or John or the Psalms.

Folks, these are important. It’s why, traditionally, they have been called “devotions”. Some of you may want to fast. Some of you may want to take an extended period of time and get away, just you and God. Some of you want need to turn off the music, turn off the TV, turn off the computer, and go get alone with God. Folks, seeking Him is important. It’s part of devotion to Him.