Sunday, March 13, 2011

Lent = choosing Christ

Lent is a time to think about the sufferings of Christ. It is a time to consider what Jesus did for you, and ask yourself if you want to follow in his way. Lent asks us to step beyond superficial Christianity. It asks us to move beyond the shallowness that can so easily accompany our lives and invites us to wade into the mystery of God at work in the world.

What will we give up for Lent? the question is often asked. Actually the thing that we should give up for lent is our will. Our arrogance. Our pride. Not simply diet coke.

Christians can follow Jesus on the journey to the cross and learn to trust the Father more fully as we leave ourselves behind. Obviously, lent is not for the feint of heart.

What will you give up for lent? This but not that? That but not this? Shouldn't everything be on the table for God?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Jeff, for always taking us to the next level. The kinds of things you are encouraging us to consider giving up for lent may hopefully be given up beyond lent.

Somehow people have developed the lenten habit of giving up things that aren't really good for them in the first place, such as soda, sugar, candy, whatever. Then most of them return to it after lent. Strange. God must be thinking "say what??"