8Do We Really Know How To Best Use Lent?
Good Morning Friends,
Lent is a time to examine ourselves as to the status of our faith. Lent is a time to get to know ourselves better and to discover new things about Jesus Christ in us. Lent is a time of self-denial but also growth. But, 8Do We Really Know How To Best Use Lent?
Scripture: Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:8 (NRSV)Top of FormBottom of Form
27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27 (NRSV)
5Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to pass the test! 6I hope you will find out that we have not failed.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NRSV)Top of Form
Bottom of Form
3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5For all must carry their own loads.
Galatians 6:3-5 (NRSV)
12Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,* and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of* the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,* so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NRSV)
Message: The right use of lent, I think, can lead to a happier participation in Easter. There are hints of it in all of today’s scriptures. Lent, of course, is a time to focus on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died, and thus paid for our sins, we have life. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we too will rise and enjoy heaven forever. The ways we experience Lent though are varied. It is a time of preparation and testing, but part of me wants to show up late for Lent and early for the living of the resurrection. But that is getting ahead of God. This Lent for me, with the calling of my mother to the church triumphant on Ash Wednesday is a time for mourning, solemnity, discipline and sadness but also great joy for her life. Friends, maybe it time to strip away those things which clutter one’s life or impede one from being in relationship with God even if it means giving up what we think is Lent for, choosing instead something better…the goal of grace.
Pray we share with others the hope we have found in a relationship with Christ.
Pray we hope in the Glory of the Lord. Pray as in heaven for those who have no hope because they do not know Christ. Pray we realize that hope is given to us by God. Pray we recognize false hopes. Pray that in our hope we serve by faith beyond ourselves, to the lives of others in charity. Pray we are saved by faith in hope not just in the Messiah’s resurrection. Pray for a living hope that arises out of the assurance of our salvation…a hope that is stirred up within us by the Spirit of God as we celebrate Lent as a way to prepare for the celebration of Easter. Pray we have a hope that is purifying us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 