To listen to the audio of this post, follow the link.
People choose to observe the season of Lent in different ways. It is an individual choice. I think it is great if we keep the focus on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus is
The Author and Perfecter of our faith.
So I decided to take another look at how Jesus spent His Time in the days before His Crucifixion. Even though it was not called Lent then, how did Jesus spend Lent?
He worked. He was on the move fulfilling His Mission. He taught, He healed, He forgave and He spent time with his family and friends.
If He had been on social media, He might have used those opportunities to communicate Love, Joy and Peace instead of taking a break.
He always took time to be alone with His Heavenly Father. He discussed their Plan. He brought every fiber of His Being in line with The Father’s Will. After all they were One.
Some people choose to give things away during Lent. This can be a nice practice. I even endorsed it myself some years back.
But then The Lord pointed something out to me that was a revelation about me (No criticism or judgement here about anyone else).
I was giving away things I did not need any more. God gently said, “Where’s the sacrifice in that? I gave you all of Me. Why are you not giving the best of what you have instead of what you do not need?”
I looked around at my treasures. It was harder than I thought to let go. I am still working on that.
How many of our Lenten customs are focused on ourselves instead of being focused on Jesus? The fact is He came to save us from sin, not mark us with sin and force us into one planned season of mourning before He took it away.
I came to these conclusions for myself as to how to celebrate Lent. They are not directions for anyone else. God Himself will tell you what to do.
I want to keep working to further The Kingdom of God on earth. I cannot afford to retreat from the world for a season of mourning and give satan more time to do his work.
I want to focus on what Jesus did in the days before His Crucifixion. If He wants to continue those things through me, then I want to be open to what He says to do and do it when He says to do it.
This may involve my doing certain things first hand. It may be through my financial support and/or encouragement of others. But the focus should remain on Jesus.
I want to consider again the relinquishing of the best of what I have for others instead of just the excess or cast offs.
I want to spend individual time with God and let Him personalize His Plan to my life. I want to forgive, surrender to His Will and do exactly what He tells me to do.
He may address my habits, my preconceived judgements of others, my doubts, my fears. But He will tell me what to give up and what to keep.
And finally, I cannot limit all that to a season. I cannot start out “bad,” then work through some self directed “trying to be better” and finish with a celebration of The Hallelujah Chorus to celebrate something that happened long ago.
The good news is Jesus is here. It is Easter every day!
This is the day The Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
Jesus, The Author and Perfecter of our faith said,
Be sure of this. I am with you always!
Matthew 28:20
You are in Me and I am in you!
John 14:20
