You’re Welcomed Here
Journey to The Cross
Lent Period for 2023: February 22nd (Ash Wednesday) – April 8th (Holy Saturday)
This is a period of reflection, repentance, and preparation before the celebration of Easter, (Sunday, April 9th).
We recently finished our 21 days of Prayer and Fasting – which was both a personal and corporate time of sacrifice and remembering the God that we serve. Though we do not as a church body promote and regularly participate in the Lent period; I do think it is a good time for personal reflection and time with God before the glorious celebration of His resurrection.
Won’t you consider these 40 days prior to Easter as a time to remember the cost of Easter, the cost of the Cross.
Rather than focusing on giving up something (though that is still the overall focus and your personal choice to do), how about focusing on embracing something to enhance your spiritual walk/growth in Christ – a spiritual discipline, like prayer, scripture reading, meditating – that will help you develop a holy habit that can help you become more like Jesus.
Remembering the COST of the CROSS, the COST of EASTER!
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2
Join me in journeying to the Cross during this Lent period. Though our churches do not corporately emphasize “Lent”, I think it is good time of reflection of what Jesus did for us as He journeyed to the Cross. Time has become a very scarce resource for many people today due to the frantic pace of life and all the distractions. This 40-day period of reflection and repentance gives us another opportunity to slow down and to set apart time to focus on the Jesus; remembering that the cross is at the heart of what our faith is all about. Let this be a time to reflect on what Christ did for YOU on the cross for your salvation.
Though we should daily-sacrifice (Romans 12:1 – “… make my life a living sacrifice...”), I view this as another opportunity for us to connect or reconnect with Jesus. A fruitful time to turn our wondering hearts and minds back to Christ; more centered on Him. Many focus on what they sacrificed during this time and that sacrifice could eventually become ritualistic or prideful – “Oh, I am going to give up sugar or carbs for Lent” then that is all it is, a daily goal to achieve without the reflection of the purpose.
How about this year, you focus on enhancing a spiritual discipline in your life that will help you on your spiritual walk with Christ. Rather than focusing on giving up something, you can focus on embracing something - a spiritual discipline, like prayer, meditation or Scripture reading. A discipline that will help you develop a holy habit that can help you become more like Jesus. Instead of a quick devotion – spend 30 minutes alone with God – get up earlier than normal, dig deeper – maybe the COST will be less sleep, less time watching TV, less time with the friends and maybe even with family (or better yet – include the entire family on this journey) - but what a reward – more time with God, a deeper relationship and understanding of the Master. He said, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Your return will be greater than your deposit. Interest beyond measure.