Lent

The season of Lent is upon us but the question i often hear is, what is Lent? Here are a few basic thoughts on Lent that might answer enough questions to peak your interest. Perhaps you will do some of your own research. With more information, you might reconsider celebrating Lent this year.

Lent, is a period of 40 days beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Ashes are used as a symbol of remorse and repentance for sin. It is placed on ones forehead in the form of a Cross to remind us of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. It marks the start of the 40 days of Fasting, Service, Prayer,  and Seeking God in deeper ways. This culminates with the victory celebration of Resurrection Sunday.

The 40 days are meant to be a period of seeking Jesus for a refreshing. It is based on Jesus. Following His baptism, in He was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit for 40 days. He fasted and prayed and sought the mental and physical preparedness necessary for His earthly ministry. Focused, He was ready for His earthly ministry resulting in the cross, death and of course resurrection.

All of this revealing to us that we need to spend time alone with God for the same thing. We are called to die to ourselves and live for Christ. We are called to be light in a dark world. We are called to love the loveless. We are called to love mercy, do justly and walk humbly with our God.

Fasting doesn’t have to be food but it can be, it can also just be a meal a day. It could be fasting from meat, or soda, or coffee. It can also be refraining from electronics, TV, video games etc. Traditionally fasts can be broken on Sunday’s during the 40 day period. The point of the Fast is to focus our minds and hearts on Jesus. To draw near to Him knowing that He will draw near to us.

All of this sounds harmless enough doesn’t it? I mean after all it is centered around Jesus and His ministry. However, the idea and season of Lent is mans tradition. It is based on Easter and not Passover of which Yahoshua is the Lamb of God. He was and is our Passover Lamb. Am I discouraging you from seeking God? By NO means. The scripture is true, draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Just don’t do it in man’s tradition for He has shown us what is acceptable worship.

He told the Israelites, “You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. You shall not act like this toward the Lord your God. But you shall seek Adonai at the place which Adonai your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.”

For years I mixed my worship of God with Greek tradition. I was in fact a Hellenized christian. After being a true Berean I have found that we are to love God the way He instructed us. And not the way of mans traditions. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are Loved,

cj