LENT: Starting With The End In Mind
The Lenten season is now in flight, and there are perhaps a few groups of people at this point: latecomers, early goers, and those who are neither here nor there.
Latecomers
If Lent were a marathon, you are just now getting to the starting line while everyone else is turning the first corner. If Lent were a party, you just walked in the door and aren’t quite sure what has already been said and done. Part of you wants to blend in like you know what you are doing, and part of you wonders if you should just go home and try to make it on time next year. Good news for you: The Lent-party is a gospel party! The gospel of Jesus does not discriminate against when or how you got here. It only beckons you to come as you are.
What should you do now that you are here? Set aside some time to gain an understanding of Lent. Read “Preparing for Lent” and “Lent: Giving Up and Taking Up.” When you feel somewhat prepared for the season, dive in wherever we are in our readings and meditations and begin denying and practicing whatever you have decided upon for the Lenten season.
Early Goers
The party has already lost its luster. You are weary of running. You began with enthusiasm, but you have already forgotten at times what you are supposed to be doing, or you may simply feel defeated by how well everyone else seems to be running. In either case, the thought has crossed your mind that maybe you shouldn’t have come. Good news for you: The Lent-run is a gospel run! You are worse than you think, yet there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You have been set free from “performing" Lent. Indeed, the very thing that Lent beckons us to consider is the death of Jesus, in whom our unfaithfulness and shame was condemned once for all, so that we may breathe easy in the company of God’s family.
What should you do if you have already strayed? Get back on course. Repent of making Lent about what you do or don’t do (or what other people do) and run to the cross where “God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do, by sending his son in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3). In the words of Paul, it’s not that you have already been made perfect, but that you press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you (Philippians 3:12).
Those Who Are Neither Here Nor There
You are neither here (late) nor there (gone). You are running with the pack, fully present at the party. Good news for you: The gospel is deeper and fuller than you ever imagined! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
This is what Lent is about: joining the company of God’s people to consider Jesus’ suffering and death; denying and cleansing ourselves so that we may run straighter and stronger; gaining vision and strength from the faithfulness of God in Christ Jesus. Wherever you are today – behind, astray, on course – fix your eyes on Jesus, our brave frontrunner and generous host.
A LENTEN PRAYER (taken from the On Line ministry of Creighton University)
Lord, I know how much you love me. It’s hard for me to feel it sometimes, but I know your love is always with me. Help me to use your love as a way to persevere in my Lenten intentions. I am weak, but I know with your help, I can use these small sacrifices in my life to draw closer to you.
SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 53, Philippians 2:1-11
Latecomers
If Lent were a marathon, you are just now getting to the starting line while everyone else is turning the first corner. If Lent were a party, you just walked in the door and aren’t quite sure what has already been said and done. Part of you wants to blend in like you know what you are doing, and part of you wonders if you should just go home and try to make it on time next year. Good news for you: The Lent-party is a gospel party! The gospel of Jesus does not discriminate against when or how you got here. It only beckons you to come as you are.
What should you do now that you are here? Set aside some time to gain an understanding of Lent. Read “Preparing for Lent” and “Lent: Giving Up and Taking Up.” When you feel somewhat prepared for the season, dive in wherever we are in our readings and meditations and begin denying and practicing whatever you have decided upon for the Lenten season.
Early Goers
The party has already lost its luster. You are weary of running. You began with enthusiasm, but you have already forgotten at times what you are supposed to be doing, or you may simply feel defeated by how well everyone else seems to be running. In either case, the thought has crossed your mind that maybe you shouldn’t have come. Good news for you: The Lent-run is a gospel run! You are worse than you think, yet there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You have been set free from “performing" Lent. Indeed, the very thing that Lent beckons us to consider is the death of Jesus, in whom our unfaithfulness and shame was condemned once for all, so that we may breathe easy in the company of God’s family.
What should you do if you have already strayed? Get back on course. Repent of making Lent about what you do or don’t do (or what other people do) and run to the cross where “God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do, by sending his son in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3). In the words of Paul, it’s not that you have already been made perfect, but that you press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you (Philippians 3:12).
Those Who Are Neither Here Nor There
You are neither here (late) nor there (gone). You are running with the pack, fully present at the party. Good news for you: The gospel is deeper and fuller than you ever imagined! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
This is what Lent is about: joining the company of God’s people to consider Jesus’ suffering and death; denying and cleansing ourselves so that we may run straighter and stronger; gaining vision and strength from the faithfulness of God in Christ Jesus. Wherever you are today – behind, astray, on course – fix your eyes on Jesus, our brave frontrunner and generous host.
A LENTEN PRAYER (taken from the On Line ministry of Creighton University)
Lord, I know how much you love me. It’s hard for me to feel it sometimes, but I know your love is always with me. Help me to use your love as a way to persevere in my Lenten intentions. I am weak, but I know with your help, I can use these small sacrifices in my life to draw closer to you.
SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 53, Philippians 2:1-11
posted by Will | 11:36 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home