The Lenten journey begins Ash Wednesday, February 13th. For Christ-followers it is a season of reflection, renewal, confession, repentance, self-denial and spiritual growth rooted in God's Word. Christ-followers have been observing Lent for centuries in preparation for the observation of Holy week culminating in the celebration of Easter. But Lent is more about pouring the Word of God into our lives than it is about giving, "something up for Lent". We are to take a cue from our leader and Savior.
The 40 days of self-denial and spiritual reflection is based on Jesus' 40 days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness when He was tempted by the Satan. Remember Jesus' response to every single temptation? Scripture. He responded every time with the Word of God:
4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,10 for it is written,“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’11 and“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
As we move through the season of Lent rooted in the daily reading of God's Word we will also learn how to respond to and resist temptation like Jesus. The Word of God is a powerful tool in the life of the Christ-follower. It can do through us what we are incapable of doing as flawed humans by ourselves. As we spend these 40 days saturated in the Word (more than a mere 5 minute devotional reading of someone else's words about the Word), we will emerge stronger, more devoted, joy-filled and humble as we begin the observation and celebration of Holy Week (Palm Sunday-Easter).
Remember how Jesus emerged from his time of fasting, spiritual preparation and even his temptation? Luke's version:
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
May God use this special season to shape and mould us as well so we can return from the desert of personal reflection "in the power of the Spirit" to minister and live in Jesus' name!
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