Lent, 2024 - Pt. 2

 

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.” (Jonah 3:6-8 ESV).

 

When I was in Student Ministry at Tyler Junior College we distributed a cross made of nails on a leather cord during an event at the beginning of the Lenten season. We encouraged the students to wear the nail around their necks in the weeks before Easter to remind themselves of their sin. The nail was to remind them that their sin needed a savior, and, that their sin caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross.

 

While Lent does not begin for another seven days, we can begin our preparation now. From the earliest history of Lenten tradition, new Christian converts often prepared to be baptized on Easter Sunday through Lent. Over time, Lent became a season of reflection and renewal for all Christians. Ash Wednesday and Lent are themselves incomplete without the greater story of God’s grace. Lent amounts to nothing without the celebration at Easter!

 

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The early church decided that just as Jesus spent forty days fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2) to prepare for his ministry, so we might prepare for Easter for forty days. We count back forty days from Easter but exclude Sundays, which remain days of celebration. That lands us on the Wednesday seven weeks prior to Easter. You may be wondering “why ash?” In the Bible, ash and dust mean frailty or death (Genesis 18:27), sadness or mourning (Esther 4:3), judgment (Lamentations 3:16), and repentance (Jonah 3:6). Some have also seen ash as a purifying or cleansing agent. All these images figure into ash as an expressive symbol in Lent. In Christ's work on the cross we see God judge evil. In penitence, we remember Christ's passion saved us from our sins. Throughout Lent, we see that we are purified and renewed by His sacrifice.

 

Many churches hold Ash Wednesday worship services in which the minister thumbs a cross of ash on each person's forehead. To each, he might say, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," or, "Repent, and believe the gospel." This is not a sacrament, and it's not instituted in scripture. It's really just a gesture of prayer, saying "Lord, have mercy; Come Lord Jesus!" It's like lighting the candles of Advent, hoping for God to be with us, Immanuel. However, you choose to show your willingness to surrender in repentance, make that your focus in these days.

 

Lent, 2024 - Pt. 1

 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1-2 ESV).

 

Lent, 2024, begins with Ash Wednesday, February 14^th. For many believers the observance of Lent is a bit foreign. However, when I was growing up, I was a member of a church that was very involved during this season. It began with a formal service on Ash Wednesday and the receiving of a black ash cross marked on my forehead. These ashes were created from the burning of last year’s Palm Sunday branches. Being an “altar boy” I was very involved in these services, even to the point of memorizing all the Latin responses necessary since the Roman Catholic Mass was observed predominantly in that language. I am aware this is not in most of my reader’s experience. So, I thought it might be both informational and inspirational to do some background and devotional writing in this topic.

 

Lent is the season of the Christian liturgical calendar beginning on Ash Wednesday and leading up to Easter. Lent lasts approximately 6 weeks. The season is 40 days long, but it's celebrated over 46 days. This is because each Sunday of Lent is considered a “mini Easter” and is not counted as part of the 40 day Lenten observance. Many people think of Lent as a particularly Roman Catholic practice, but Christians have observed the tradition of Lent since the early days of Christianity. Writings about the observance of Lent date back to the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. And today, many Christian traditions and denominations – including, but not limited to the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodist, and some Reformed traditions – regularly celebrate Lent. And recently, the practice has been growing among other evangelical traditions.

 

So, what’s it all about? Well, Lent is meant to be a time of spiritual preparation. The purpose of the 40-day length is to recall and parallel the 40 days of temptation that Jesus endured in preparation for his public ministry (cf. Matthew 4:1-2). Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the desert while spiritually preparing for his ministry, so too Christians are to spend Lent spiritually preparing for Easter. During this time, Christians are meant to focus on spiritual self-examination, renewal, and growth. In many traditions, Lent is a time of fasting and abstinence. This is where the common "I'm giving up meat or chocolate for Lent" idea comes from. But, in addition to self-denial, Lent is also a time of active practices like almsgiving and acts of mercy, forgiveness, repentance and prayer. These practices of denial and action are meant to work in unison to prepare the heart to experience anew the power of Christ's suffering, death, and ultimately, resurrection during Holy week. As we continue in the future, I hope you will be encouraging to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus!

 

February Hearts

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV).

 

It’s the month for hearts! In just a few days we will be giving and receiving various cards and gifts to express our love for those special people in our lives. I’ve always liked the “handmade” cards that children often make for their parents and grandparents. This little project was always a favorite of the children’s classes in the churches I’ve pastored. I always admired the teachers for their patience and hard work with this project. After all, the combination of preschoolers and finger paint is at best challenging! Seeing the faces of the moms and dads after they received their Valentine’s treasures was always very rewarding.

 

Since ancient times our heart has been associated with our emotions, even though it isn’t actually the source of our feelings. The Bible often uses “heart” to refer to the central place of one’s being—where one’s whole mind, soul, and spirit operate. So, the heart was what guided a person to make sense of the world, and it was where one’s emotions flowed from.

 

Our reading today uses heart in that way: “trust in the Lord with all your heart” (v. 5). This means that you can put your trust in God with absolutely everything you’ve got—your emotions, your understanding, your strength, your intelligence, your whole personhood. In other words, “Trust in the Lord with your entire being.” Don’t let any piece of you fall away or fail to depend and rely on the God who created you.

 

Lean on the Lord, because he knows how to make your paths straight.

 

Foundations

 

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, land your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:19-24 ESV).

 

One of my dear friends from Tennessee, Billy Potts, was a civil engineer and construction supervisor for the state department of roads and bridges. He was responsible for overseeing the construction of many of the bridges in Middle Tennessee. One of those bridges was located on New Highway 7 near Santa Fe. I remember having a conversation with him while we were riding out to visit one of the members of our church. We talked about materials and techniques in the construction process. However, the most important thing he shared with me was the absolute precision necessary in laying the foundation. If the foundation wasn’t right, the bridge would never be right. Remembering that conversation I came to today’s reading.

 

Setting a foundation for anything can be a difficult and sometimes complicated task. Whether it’s constructing a house, engineering a bridge, laying down pavement for a new road, or installing a retaining wall, the foundation is essential to whatever is being made. Proverbs tells us that God founded the heavens and the earth by wisdom and understanding. There’s something very important here for us as we go forward in our lives.

 

The New Testament gives us some clarity on this. Now that Jesus has come, the mysteries of God have been revealed. As the apostle Paul says, “In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth… all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). The apostle John also notes that “in the beginning was the Word [Logos]” and that “through him all things were made.” What’s more, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” and he is “the Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14). Christ himself is our source of heavenly wisdom, of knowledge and understanding from God. He is the foundation and the means by which we can grow. This means that if we are to pursue wisdom, we will find it in Jesus and no one else. Lay the right foundation in your life.

Regret

 

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV).

 

I would like to be able to say that I have lived a life without regret; however, that simply would not be the truth. What I can say is that I have learned the wisdom of today’s proverb. We can blunt the destructive effects of regret in our lives. Regret is something that everyone struggles with. Depending on the situation or circumstances, the emotions of regret can linger for months or even years before one is able to refocus. Many of us are inclined to look back on what could have been or should have been. People can also tend to look behind them to “the good ol’ days,” when life may have seemed sweeter, simpler, and less frenetic.

 

But whatever might cause us to fixate on the past, Proverbs encourages us to look ahead. This is not because it’s bad or inappropriate to look back. We can learn a lot from our past mistakes, trauma, or the good times we enjoyed. In fact, we are encouraged to learn from our past by Scripture. However, Scripture calls us not to linger in the past but rather to glean from it and then look ahead.

 

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). We should set our gaze on the road before us and follow Jesus steadfastly. Let him be the focal point of your pathway in life. Run the race knowing that his Spirit is running with you and that he is ahead of you, waiting at the finish line.

 

There are many examples of this principle in Scripture. Can you imagine how differently history might have spoken of the Apostle Peter should he have been paralyzed by his denial of Jesus? Judas Iscariot took that path and it ended with his self-inflicted death. Peter recognized the forgiveness of Jesus and the power of another chance. He then went on to be a great leader in the early church. If you are struggling with your past, look to the One who has forgiven and called you forward in grace.

 

Living in the Tempest

 

What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. (Proverbs 10:24-25 ESV).

 

Our reading today is one of great encouragement. We all go through trials in life. They may be health trials, relationship trials, financial trials, or emotional trials. Of course it is true that all our hardships and difficulties end up being spiritual trials as well. It is natural to wonder where God is during these times. So often we feel abandoned in the tempests of life.

 

Scripture never promises that we will be able to go through life without encountering storms and setbacks. There is no promise that life will be easy, or simple, or smooth sailing. In fact, the Scripture makes it clear that we should expect trials and difficulties. This is true even when we make all the right choices. Trials are a part of this life.

 

Nevertheless, God promises to be with us always. Through the storms of life he will be our strength and deliverer. Jesus taught that whoever follows his teaching is “like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (cf. Matthew 7:24-27): when a heavy storm came, the house did not fall because it was built on a solid foundation.

 

Similarly, Proverbs calls us to build our lives on wisdom and righteousness. The source of wisdom and ultimately righteousness is in our relationship with God through Christ. When we are believers, we will be securely anchored and able to endure the storms of life. The writer of Hebrews explains it like this:

 

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV).

 

With God as our foundation, we can stand firm, trusting that our destiny is safe in his hands.

 

Hope That Works

 

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. (Proverbs 11:4-8 ESV).

 

As believers in Christ, we recognize and worship Jesus as the true hope of the world, and yet it’s astounding how often we pin our hopes on human beings. In all of our history books, it is clear that people are inclined to find hope in leaders, politicians, and celebrities rather than in the one true God.

 

Why do we do this? Proverbs warns that placing hope in humans is futile because any human power will come to nothing. As the apostle Paul tells us, “There is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1). By saying this, Paul is assuring believers that in all situations, even in the midst of national turmoil and global crises, God is the one who holds all authority. Any human who has “power” has it only because God allows it to be so.

 

Real wisdom is found in recognizing our limitations. This includes our dependence on others rather than God. I find it puzzling that we so often assign all the pleasurable, good experiences of life to God, and all the painful, bad experiences to the devil. That simply not the truth of Scripture. The Apostle Pail reminds us that the power of God will work ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called in His name (cf. Romans 8:28). Satan has no power to work good. He is the deceiver and tells us to trust him. Don’t be deceived. Our hopes and desires must lie with the One who is on the throne of the universe. Our prayers must be oriented toward Christ, for he is truly the only hope—the one who can change minds, transform hearts, disperse powers, and bring restoration. He is the Source of hope that works!