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Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Tomorrow begins the season of Lent. While most are familiar with the term, for many Christians Lent is a mystery. For some it is simply a period of going on a diet; for others Lent is a time when their Catholic friends wear ashes on their foreheads and eat fish on Fridays. Although many are attracted to Lent, few know much about the Lenten season.
Although, the word “Lent” is not found in the Bible, nor are we commanded to observe this season, I believe this is an important time in the life of the Christian and the Church. Let’s take a moment and explore this special time.
Lent is the forty-day season of preparation before Easter. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. The Lenten season is generally referred to as being 40 days long (which mirrors Christ’s time of fasting and prayer in the wilderness, Matthew 4:1-11) even though it is spans 46 days, because Sundays are generally not counted as part of the season.
Lent is designed to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent comes from the Germanic word for springtime, and can be viewed as a “spiritual spring cleaning,” or a time for taking a spiritual inventory and cleaning out those things which hinder our relationship with and service to Christ.
Lent is a time for serious self-examination. It is often a time spent in prayer, repentance, and fasting. In Scripture (see I Samuel 7:6, I Kings 21, and Ezra 8) fasting is often connected with times of repentance and prayer.
Fasting often means abstaining from all food and drink for a period of time. However it can also mean going on a disciplined diet, or simply giving up anything that you normally consume. This reminds us Who is in control; and also reminds one to spend time in prayer when their belly growls or they see the things they have given up.
Traditionally Catholics fast on Good Friday, and traditionally eat fish rather then other meat on Fridays during Lent. This tradition could stem from a couple of reasons. Some say that giving up meat was forgoing a luxury, as it was rare for most people to have. Others point to the early days of Christianity, they were forbidden to eat meat every Friday .
Friday’s were chosen because this is the day that Christ died, and is the day (sixth) where God created animals. Some believed that abstaining from meat is a symbolic "stay of execution" for cows, pigs, and sheep; symbolizing how the cross saves us from eternal death. Good Friday is also considered a fast day, where one goes without the usual luxuries as a form of penance, purification and remembrance of God's laws. This idea has morphed into the large fish fries we see today.
In any case, Lent is a time for serious, disciplined self-examination, spent in prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary. Where we are reminded of our sin and the sacrifice of our Savior.
2 Corinthians 7:9–10 says, “Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Take time this season and consider how great our need for Christ is; and how His sacrifice completely met that need.
Labels: 2 Corinthians 7:9–10, Bible, Cross, Devotions, Easter, Fast, Fasting, Fish, Forgiveness, God, Good Friday, Jesus, Lent, Prayer, Preparation, Repentance, Sin, Spiritual Inventory, Spiritual Spring Cleaning
If you have children of your own, or spend any amount of time with children, you undoubtedly are familiar with that blank and puzzled face staring deep into your soul. That face that is soon followed by the question “you want us to do what?” Whether it is an inability to understand the command given, a stubborn streak leading them to disobey, or a failure to hear the full command, our children often do not want to do what we ask of them.
Although excuses can be endless, the most grumbling heard in our house is when what is asked of them is not easy or popular, or requires them to step out of their normal routine. Regardless of what is asked, I am met with resistance. However, as often is the case, our children are simply acting like us.
There are many times we share the same thoughts and feelings about God. Whether it’s after time spent reading His Word or listening to a message, reactions such as: “You want us to do what?” “That’s too hard, I can’t do that.” or “People will think I’m crazy.” flood our mind as we grasp for a good reason not to walk in obedience to His command.
Here again, some advice your mother gave you is very appropriate. “no matter how bad you think you have it, someone else has it worse.” Consider for a moment those first disciples of Christ. On what would prove to be their last full week with their master, Christ asked them to do a crazy, difficult, and odd thing. Listen to Christ command in Matthew 21. “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
Consider this. Christ asked them to go into an unfamiliar village where they would find a donkey (note he never told them where it was). To take it, and bring it to Him. If they are seen, simply to say that I (Jesus) need it. Truly this is a hard command to digest. Something truly out if the ordinary, something crazy, extremely difficult, and requiring a large portion of faith and trust in Christ and His Word.
Faced with a hard (and seemingly illegal task) of finding and taking a donkey, armed with the simple word of Christ (the Lord needs it) and His Promise (he will send them right away) the disciples were faced with an important decision to obey or not. What raced through their minds we may never know, but Matthew 21:6 records their actions, “The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.” They chose to obey Christ’s commands, and because of their action another prophecy was fulfilled as Christ rode into Jerusalem like a King.
As followers of Christ, we are often faced with hard things to do. Instructions that seem crazy, impossible, and down right odd. It can be easy to look at the many unknowns, the difficulties, or to wonder what others will say if they see us, and reason that it’s better not to follow it. Yet, just as the disciples, we too are sent with Christ’s authority, equipped with the Word (or answer) of Christ, and have the promise of Him going before us and working out the result. May we too respond like the two disciples in faith and obedience; doing all just as Jesus has instructed us.
Focus on the God who can, and not on the self who won't.
Labels: Children, Christ, Devotions, Disciples, Donkey, Easter, God, Hard Things, Holy Week, Hosanna, Jerusalem, Jesus, King, Matthew 21:1-11, Obedience, Obey, Palm Sunday, Triumphal Entry, Trust, You Want Us To Do What?
For millions of people across the globe, Wednesday nights during the six weeks before Easter are filled with an opportunity to worship together in observance of Lent. From meat to alcohol, or chocolate to cigarettes many spend these weeks in fasting, or denying themselves something they would usually have. This is done as a symbol of sacrifice to God.
Until 1863 England had a law forbidding the use of meat, fish, cheese, butter, eggs, or milk during Lent. People who broke this law could be fined or even imprisoned. As a result, some traditions were established in order to clean their house for Lent.
One such tradition is known as Shrovetide - which is the English name for the three or four days before the Lenten season. As a result, “Collop” Monday and “Shrove” Tuesday were Established. On Collop Monday small pieces (collops) of meat were eaten, and on Shrove Tuesday Pancake meals were eaten, ensuring the use of all the butter, eggs and milk found in the house.
“Shrove” means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution. People were expected to prepare for Lent not only by having a clean home, but a clean heart as well. Today we may not follow the strict dietary rules of the past, but Lent should still be a season where we evaluate our lives, confess our sins before the Lord and receive His Forgiveness.
Whereas lent is traditionally thought of in terms of “giving something up;” it can be a great time to add some things to our life as well. Simply, feeling sorry, acknowledging, or even vowing to forsake our sinful and destructive habits does not ensure their permanent absence from our life. Yes, our guilt before God is wiped away, but if left un-replaced by something positive, it is likely these habits will return.
The apostle Paul taught the same thing in Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
As we confess our sin, and “put off” the desires and actions of the flesh, we are told to “put on” Christ: His nature, His righteous, His holiness, and His actions. Philippians instructs us to “Have His attitude” and further on in Ephesians four we are given an example of what this looks like: put off Falsehood and speak truth - Don’t let anger steep but seek reconciliation and resolution - stop stealing and work, giving back to those who are in need - put off unwholesome talk and speak only things that build people up - rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Replace them with kindness, compassion, and a forgiving attitude, just like God forgave you in Christ.
Just as Christ has taken your sin, let Him replace it with attitudes and actions reflecting His own. Just don’t give something up this Lenten Season, let Christ add something in your life as well.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25
Joy is not a term often connected with the season of Lent, in fact joy might be considered its antonym. For many, Lent prompts somber emotions, images of silence, sorrow, self-denial and sacrifice. These images are understandable. Throughout the centuries this season has been defined most by “giving something up.”
Lent is the forty-day season of preparation before Easter; and this tradition of giving something up for Lent probably grew out of the history of Lenten penance and fasting. Throughout Scripture fasting is often connected with times of repentance and prayer. Moreover, the length of the season (forty-days) is based on the time Jesus fasted and was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
Fasting can mean abstaining from all food and drink for a period of time. However it can also refer to going on a disciplined diet, or simply giving up anything that you normally consume. When this is practiced, it serves to remind us who is in control. When your belly growls or you see the things you have given up, it prompts you to spend time in prayer. Since Lent is a time for self-examination spent in prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary, fasting, or giving something up for Lent has become a well known tradition.
Others observe this practice by giving something up they value in order to identify with what Jesus gave up for us. While all have some creature comforts that we could live without for 40 days; most of us have things in our lives that we need to give up permanently. Things that distract us from God. Things we have placed before Him. Things we treasure more than Him or His Word. Bad habits or rituals that are not becoming of a Christian; Sin that has dwelt too long in our life, and needs to be removed.
Lent is the perfect time to “give these things up” for good. For in our busy, fast paced, secular world we all need times of reflection and renewal. Times spent before our God, praying as King David in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
You can be confident that God will answer this request. When He does, don’t ignore it but turn to Him in prayer; acknowledging and confessing your sins before Him like David in Psalm 32:5 where he said, “then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
Only six verses later He commands, “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” See, Lent is a season to rejoice not because of our self-sacrifice but because of Christ’s. May you experience the Joy of Christ’s sacrifice this season!
Labels: Confession, David, Devotions, Easter, Fast, Fasting, Fish, Forgiveness, Giving It Up For Lent, God, Jesus, Joy, Lent, Matthew 4:1-11, Penance, Preparation, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 32:1-11, Sacrifice, Sin
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