Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
The Lenten season differs in many ways from the Advent season: we don’t decorate the church with lights and greens, we don’t sing carols, and instead of anticipating the birth of Christ, we prepare ourselves for His death and resurrection. Now, I admit that putting it that way, this all sounds kinda gloomy — but we can rejoice because, as Paul Harvey used to say, “now you know the rest of the story” – that He has risen!
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”—Romans 12:1-2
Paul writes to the Romans that Christ followers are called to study, worship, and renew our minds and in so doing, we may know the perfect will of God. Just as we are excited and preparing ourselves for Jesus’ entrance into our world during Advent, during Lent, we examine ourselves and reflect on the cross, pondering Jesus’ sacrifice and His resurrection.
After spending forty days being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus got busy. During His last week on earth: he cleared the temple, cursed the fig tree, taught the Sermon on the Mount—and that’s just the first two days. This Lenten season, my hope is that you would slow down and spend time reflecting on the cross and what that means as Christians. As we prepare for Easter, ask God to help you discern His will for your life. Then, we can present ourselves as living sacrifices which is our spiritual worship.