A Reflection About Lent
We never observed Lent in our family. The two things I remember most about Lent growing up and watching those who did practice was: they couldn’t eat meat, so they ate fish and on Ash Wednesday they put ash on their foreheads. Not much to go on. The last couple of years though I have felt my heart being tugged towards the purpose of Lent. I have been feeling drawn to the quietness and reflection of Jesus leading up to His death and resurrection.
His whole life was in preparation for that moment. Everything He said. Everything He did.
All throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke and John you see His intentionality with people. He met their needs: physically: “Jesus saw the huge crowd as He stepped from the boat, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.” ~ Matthew 14:14
mentally: “This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles -as he often was-he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself…A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by a legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid…” ~ Mark 5:4-5 & 15
emotionally: “Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping…I tell you, her sins -and they are many-have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love…Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”
~ Luke 7:38a, 47&48, 50 (italics mine)
and most importantly spiritually: “For this how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” ~ John 3:16
this took me a few times in reading this statement it to fully grasp what he was saying. Jesus, by His death, has provided forgiveness from our sins. That came first! We continue to walk in His gift of forgiveness when we repent - turn away from our sin. Grace came first! We didn’t earn the right to be forgiven. It’s all about what Jesus did for us!
(mind blown!)
Jesus fully and completely met people where they were at so He could bring them to the the most life-changing decision of their lives -- to believe that He is the Messiah and would save them from their sins. And He hasn’t changed! He wants to bring us to the same place.
One of the things I’m learning most about Lent is to prepare our hearts. For me, that means dealing with my sin - whatever separates me from God.
We don’t like to think we sin, especially in our world today: If it feels right to you, do it. Own your own truth. What was right yesterday, may not be right today. We want to blame other people and situations so we can keep doing what we want.
David writes in Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” We are to invite God to show us the areas of our lives that are not lined up with Him.
It can be hard facing those things in our lives, ugly even, and will cost us something to deal with them. But it will cost us more not too.
“But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” ~ 1 John 1:9
“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God…” ~ Titus 2:11-12
I don’t know where you fall on Lent. But I can’t see anything wrong with putting some time aside to reflect on Jesus’ life. We can read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John again and ask for new eyes to see who Jesus is. We can worship. We can go for walks and take in all He has created for us. We can take a moment to enjoy life and make a memory. We can be grateful for all we have. And we can repent - turn away from the things that are separating us from God.
The album “7” from Brooke Ligertwood is on repeat and the song “Ninevah” is below. I encourage you to take a moment to listen and allow God to speak to you. Let it start with us. Let us be the beginning of change and restoration pointing the people around us back to God.
Have an amazing day!
All My Love ~
Jodi
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