I haven’t spent much time thinking about Lent before. In the past I have taken some half hearted steps to do something to observe Lent, but to my knowledge I have not gone through any kind of focused process for a true 40 plus days. I am looking forward to what God has in store for this time. I have tasted how much sweeter the Resurrection celebration can be when you have prepared spiritually for that time, but by comparison, that was a relatively short period of preparation starting on Palm Sunday and including a very special worship time on Good Friday called the Service of Shadows, which was a moving time of reflection on each of the Stations of the Cross, which I will get to walk on the Via Dolorosa in several weeks. So, how much more can God do with that much more we give him?
Speaking of that, last night at church, Pastor Greg preached on the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples had just returned from going out into the surrounding villages by twos to preach and heal. They had just returned and Jesus had suggested they get away to a quiet to place to rest and recharge after a time of hard work. It would seem that basically upon arrival to that remote place the crowds found them and wanted to hear from Jesus. Surely not on the disciples’ radar for how they envisioned this time of rest, they encouraged Jesus to send the people away that evening to get lodging and food in nearby villages (I am sure if I was them I would be thinking, “So, I can get some time to have some food and get some sleep!). Yet this was not Jesus’ plan. He asked the disciples how they were going to feed the people. As the disciples scrambled to come up with a plan, they asked who had food among them. And you know how the story goes… a little boy holds out his lunch and offers two fishes and three loaves of bread. And we know what Jesus did with that humble offering. He feed thousands and thousands of people with food to spare…all from a little boy’s lunch. God takes the ordinary things we offer up to Him and He transforms it into the miraculous. I come into this time with faith that what is offered during this 40 days will be transformed within my heart into the miraculous so that I would be overwhelmed by the height, and width, and depth of my Lord’s love for me and that my posture would be total surrender in worship with tear soaked hair on dusty feet.
Ben is joining me on this 40 day journey and He suggested that one of the things we could both do would be read a devotional especially designed for the Lenten season, which I thought was a great idea. Ty Saltzgiver, a friend from Young Life over many years, has written a small devotional called 40 Days of Lent: Scripture and Reflection on Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection which we started yesterday (well, technically, I started it today). Here are a few highlights from the first two days reading as it relates to understanding the meaning of the Lenten observance. Apparently the word Lent comes from an old English word for “spring” but obviously this will be far from the case as I am talking about observing this Lent during the height of heat and humidity in Charleston! Ty explains that there are two ways to observe Lent. You can “give something up” which would be a “discipline intended to make us aware of how earthly things can have power over us and to remind us that our true pleasure is in following Jesus.” During this time, “at the moment of inner longing for the ‘thing given up’, we are reminded to turn our hearts toward Jesus in gratitude and in surrender." The second way to observe Lent would be to “take something on” which would help nurture our soul such as daily journaling (or blogging in this case), a walk each evening in reflection, or “anything which helps make us ‘aware’ of Jesus’ nearness." As a form of worship, “Lent is meant to be enlivening and deepening, not another legalistic rule.” As I pointed out yesterday, it lasts for 40 days not counting Sundays. Ty explains that the 40 days was settled on because this was the number of days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting, praying, and entering into a time of solitude with His Father in preparation for His ministry on earth. I have come to find that God always seems to have deeper meaning to all that He does and all that He chooses. Everything is by design. What does this period of time mean to God? I am not sure, but it obviously is significant. It was 40 days that Noah waited on God's promises to be fulfilled as he scanned the horizon for dry land. And it was 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness waiting to enter into the Promised land. Come to think of it, I believe it was 40 days that Moses was on the mountain with God before bringing the Law in the form of the 10 Commandements. Hmm, perhaps more research on the topic is warranted. Perhaps tomorrow? However, in the meantime, Ty states,
Speaking of that, last night at church, Pastor Greg preached on the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples had just returned from going out into the surrounding villages by twos to preach and heal. They had just returned and Jesus had suggested they get away to a quiet to place to rest and recharge after a time of hard work. It would seem that basically upon arrival to that remote place the crowds found them and wanted to hear from Jesus. Surely not on the disciples’ radar for how they envisioned this time of rest, they encouraged Jesus to send the people away that evening to get lodging and food in nearby villages (I am sure if I was them I would be thinking, “So, I can get some time to have some food and get some sleep!). Yet this was not Jesus’ plan. He asked the disciples how they were going to feed the people. As the disciples scrambled to come up with a plan, they asked who had food among them. And you know how the story goes… a little boy holds out his lunch and offers two fishes and three loaves of bread. And we know what Jesus did with that humble offering. He feed thousands and thousands of people with food to spare…all from a little boy’s lunch. God takes the ordinary things we offer up to Him and He transforms it into the miraculous. I come into this time with faith that what is offered during this 40 days will be transformed within my heart into the miraculous so that I would be overwhelmed by the height, and width, and depth of my Lord’s love for me and that my posture would be total surrender in worship with tear soaked hair on dusty feet.
Ben is joining me on this 40 day journey and He suggested that one of the things we could both do would be read a devotional especially designed for the Lenten season, which I thought was a great idea. Ty Saltzgiver, a friend from Young Life over many years, has written a small devotional called 40 Days of Lent: Scripture and Reflection on Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection which we started yesterday (well, technically, I started it today). Here are a few highlights from the first two days reading as it relates to understanding the meaning of the Lenten observance. Apparently the word Lent comes from an old English word for “spring” but obviously this will be far from the case as I am talking about observing this Lent during the height of heat and humidity in Charleston! Ty explains that there are two ways to observe Lent. You can “give something up” which would be a “discipline intended to make us aware of how earthly things can have power over us and to remind us that our true pleasure is in following Jesus.” During this time, “at the moment of inner longing for the ‘thing given up’, we are reminded to turn our hearts toward Jesus in gratitude and in surrender." The second way to observe Lent would be to “take something on” which would help nurture our soul such as daily journaling (or blogging in this case), a walk each evening in reflection, or “anything which helps make us ‘aware’ of Jesus’ nearness." As a form of worship, “Lent is meant to be enlivening and deepening, not another legalistic rule.” As I pointed out yesterday, it lasts for 40 days not counting Sundays. Ty explains that the 40 days was settled on because this was the number of days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting, praying, and entering into a time of solitude with His Father in preparation for His ministry on earth. I have come to find that God always seems to have deeper meaning to all that He does and all that He chooses. Everything is by design. What does this period of time mean to God? I am not sure, but it obviously is significant. It was 40 days that Noah waited on God's promises to be fulfilled as he scanned the horizon for dry land. And it was 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness waiting to enter into the Promised land. Come to think of it, I believe it was 40 days that Moses was on the mountain with God before bringing the Law in the form of the 10 Commandements. Hmm, perhaps more research on the topic is warranted. Perhaps tomorrow? However, in the meantime, Ty states,
“It is then fitting for us to have a 40 day period to prepare to celebrate Jesus and to let His Death and Resurrection be central in our lives. Lent is a time for sacrifice and self-examination, for increased self-awareness and God-awareness, for spiritual refocus and renewing of our conversion, for seeing our own need for Grace, and for opening our hearts to be more captured by Jesus’ love.”
Ah, yes, that is the ticket!
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment