Today is the beginning of Lent. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon or Teutonic word lencten, which means spring. This is a 40-day period (excluding Sundays) of spiritual preparation for Easter Sunday. Why 40 days? Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:2). The Hebrews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years of purification before entering their Promised Land. The world was flooded for 40 days during the time of Noah, washing away the evil that had infested it. According to tradition, Jesus body lay 40 hours in the tomb before his resurrection. These facts led early Christians to set aside 40 days before Easter for spiritual purification and preparation. ...One way to observe Lent is to serve others. Jesus last act before his betrayal was to wash the feet of the one who would betray him and the men who would forsake him. Stephens last act before his execution was to pray for his murderers: Lord, do not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:60). As the hands and feet of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27), when we help those in need, the providence of God will become visible through this gesture of solidarity. ...Find a way to serve someone, every day. Be intentional and proactive. This commitment, if kept for 40 days, will become a habit, a lifestyle, and a witness to a skeptical culture. ...The world can ignore our sermons and reject our theology, but it has no resistance to acts of love performed in grace. Will you serve the next person you encounter today? Its the right thing to do, its the Christian thing to do.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:14:41 +0000
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