Ash Wednesday

 

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).

 

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It should be a time, leading us to Easter that is filled with prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal. Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of putting ashes on the forehead to remind Christians of the importance of humility. It is a further reminder that we all are but dust. The forty-six days of Lent should also remind us of the time Jesus spent fasting and seeking God in the wilderness. Following His example, Christians have a time each year to search their hearts and lives, purify themselves from sin, and seek God in a fresh way.

 

It is important for us to remember all that Jesus did for us, and reflect on our lives. This is a time to be humble, but grateful as well. We can rejoice that God knows our nature. He remembers that “we are dust,” and He has told us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (v. 9). Perhaps today is a good day for us to spend time in prayer and quiet reflection. Be a little more introspective than usual. Recognize the frailty of your commitment and resolve to be the person God created you to be. Determine those habits that have established a foothold in your life that are not positive and affirmative in your relationships. This is a time to let the full forgiveness of God, won for us in the Cross to flood into your mind and heart. When you have confessed your sins, you can be confident that you have been forgiven.

 

This begins the season of Lent appropriately. There are no more sacrifices to be made. There is no penance to be performed. Jesus has accomplished all of that once and for all. Claim that grace secured by the very blood of the Father’s only begotten Son. Claim the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who is the guarantor of eternal life itself. Make today a time of renewal!