Lenten Devotion • April 10
Today's Scripture
Luke 9:51–56
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. (NRSV)
Reflection
This is my final devotion as part of the Fourth Church community. I am taking a new position closer to my home in New England. As I prepare to step away, I find myself reflecting on the journey I have been privileged to take share — on the generosity I have witnessed, the vision we have pursued together, and the faithful courage required to follow where God leads.
Jesus, knowing the road ahead would be difficult, set his face toward Jerusalem. He moved with purpose, undeterred by rejection or resistance. His mission was too important, the stakes were too high, to be sidetracked by anything less than love. We, too, are called to that kind of determination and dedication — not just in faith, but in generosity.
Fundraising, at its best, is not about meeting a budget or filling a gap. It is about inviting people into the work of God. It is about setting our faces toward a vision of what the world can be, should be — one shaped by mercy, justice, and beauty. This kind of generosity requires courage. We may be tempted, like the disciples, to react out of frustration or scarcity, but that’s not faithful. Jesus shows us another way: to stay committed to the vision, to trust in God’s abundance, and to continue inviting others to be part of something greater than themselves.
It has been a humbling experience to witness that generosity here. In gifts that sustain ministries of justice and mercy. In people who share their time and skills so freely. In those who give not out of obligation but out of a deep sense of calling and a love for this community that is unmatched.
As I step away, I leave you with this: Set your face toward generosity. Stay committed to the vision and mission that God has placed before this church. Keep extending the invitation, even when it feels awkward and hard. Trust that God will provide. And most of all, let your generosity — of time, of money, of spirit — be a reflection of the One who first gave everything for us.
Your generosity has shaped my time among you — and if you allow it, trust it, and give freely, it can shape not only this church, not only Chicago, but the whole world.
Prayer
God of abundance, give us the courage to set our faces toward generosity. Help us to trust in your provision, to give without fear, and to invite others into your work with joy. Amen.
Written by Shawn Fiedler, Major Gift Officer
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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