Jesus Is Greater Than the Ashes - Crosswalk the Devotional - March 2

PLUS...6 Reasons Doing Church Away from Church Isn't Church [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( Why Jesus Came: He Is Greater Than the Ashes By Debbie McDaniel “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” [Isaiah 61:1-3]( Throughout the Bible and ancient practices, ashes have often been the symbol of deep repentance and grief. As the days of Lent are acknowledged each year, we see all around us the visual reminders of ashes on foreheads, and are reminded of this one Truth, “…for dust you are and to dust you will return." [Genesis 3:19]( Not exactly a nice thought to get your day going. But the reality of it all sinks in deep. Because, as many of us know, life is not always “happy.” Sometimes, it’s difficult. We feel pain, loneliness, even deep grief and despair. [CONTINUE READING →]( You May Also Like: [6 Reasons Doing Church Away from Church Isn't Church]( Eric Davis Wait... do we really need to go to a building on a certain day for it to count as doing church? If so, isn’t that legalistic? [CONTINUE READING →]( [Gog and Magog: Who Are They and What Do They Have to Do with the Last Days?]( Dr. Roger Barrier Many wonder if Russia will have any part to play in the last days? The answer is a resounding “yes.” We find the answer in Ezekiel 38-39. [CONTINUE READING →](                       Bible Trivia Question of the Day                                       How much were you required to pay an Israelite who sold himself to you as a slave? A. one 10th of your income B. 1 years wage for every 3 worked C. nothing D. half of what a hired person was paid [ANSWER THE QUESTION →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2022 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](