Introduction - what is Lent?
Mal Calladine writes:
Traditionally Lent is considered a season of preparation for Easter, for resurrection, doing the 'hard yards' before a victory.
We can consider it a 46-day discipline or spiritual exercise to help us get closer to God, like a check up with the doctor to see how our heart is doing.
Do we need to give things up?
Many people give things up in Lent - but check your heart on those plans! Does giving up chocolate, coffee or beer actually address the main area that would help your walk with God? If it does - great - do it! If not, consider an area you know is a weakness or has a bit of a hold.
You might consider giving up Facebook if it, rather than God, represents where you are most concerned about your image or what others think about you. But if Facebook is the main way you stay connected to your friendships, then you could find something else, or just use it differently for a while. You can try reducing the number of days you use it, or adding accountability with others for how you use it.
For a few years we gave up TV for Lent. That was a killer, especially with the '6 Nations' rugby and a key time in the Premier League. It may have given me a love for Radio 5 Live, but it also broke a hold, disrupting our rhythm of watching ’Neighbours’ as our ‘decompression from the day’ time, and TV as our main down time thing, especially the temptation to stay watching too late. But we needed to find something else and include Jesus in it. So we did.
If you are giving up something big for Lent, consider that you can do it in 6-day chunks. The early church fasted food for Lent. But they felt they couldn't ignore the Lord's Day (of Sunday) when we recognise He rose again. So they broke their fast and celebrated that day - but then added the 6 extra days (of “Party Sundays") on to the festival. That's why Lent is 40 days of fasting but is 46 days in total. Could Sundays be your “Party Day" to rest between sprints of discipline?
Reflecting on being mortal
Traditionally Lent is also a time to consider our own mortality. In traditional services on Ash Wednesday you are marked with the cross on your forehead - out of ash - as someone speaks over you (preferably sounding a bit like Darth Vader):
“from dust you have come, to dust you will return, repent & give your life to God."
Deep challenging words, pointing to the finite time all of us have to change, as much as we can, to get ourselves right before God. Nothing worse than looking back and thinking I missed the chance to change.
An activity with ash
As we do the Lord's Supper tonight, there will also be an opportunity to ‘Ash' one another: to mark yourself, or your household, with the cross on your forehead and speak out those words.
Earlier in the day, we try to write 'sorry prayers' (confessions), burn them (showing those things no longer have a hold) and use that ash (mixed with a little olive oil) to put on our foreheads, leaving a little mark that points to Jesus.
What commitment will you make?
Think on it today - how do you want to embrace this season? What do you want to address most? Where would you like to see change?
In response, what do you think you should give up and take on?
Make a little time to ask the Lord today, "Where do You most want to see me change?”
If you are feeling brave, you may want to ask a person you trust the same question!
Training like athletes
Tonight we’ll briefly look at my favourite ‘discipline’ verses:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
I don't run aimlessly, but with the prize in mind. To still consider what more I can do, so I don't miss out.
What's next?
From tomorrow, we'll be praying through the Lord's Prayer together in six daily sections across each week. Each part will remind us of God and our relationship with Him, and a household from Severn will share some thoughts every day so you can pray with them.
But first tonight. Join us. Have bread, wine/juice and ash ready if you’d like, as we commit this journey to the Lord. We’ll finish together by praying the prayer through together for the first time, this special prayer that I hope & trust will define this next season for us all:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done; on earth, as it is in Heaven”
“Give us today our daily bread”
“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”
“Lead us away from temptation”
“And deliver us from evil”
For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen!