Lent—Are We Seeking Him–With Our Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength to Become Prepared for Easter?
As we march forward in the days leading up to Easter, where is our focus?
As we count down the days until Easter Sunday, what is our biggest hope?
As we walk through the season of Lent, Who do we see as our primary focus?
As we march forward, count down, and walk through—Are we focused? Are we hopeful? Are we keeping our eyes upon Jesus?
Lent—What Does This Season Mean To You?
Day-by-Day. Sunday-by-Sunday, we move ever-so-closer to THE SUNDAY that encompasses EVERYTHING that’s TRUE about the Christian faith.
Tomorrow, we come to the fourth Sunday of Lent—Celebration Sunday.
Celebration!
Daily, are we celebrating the fact that we are God’s? That we have been made brand new in Christ?
We have Hope, and we have the Assurance of our Salvation.
Tomorrow, we have a FULL DAY set aside to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E!
I propose that we begin this beautiful day of celebration TODAY, and here’s why.
The Bible records narratives of those who were changed, who became “NEW” in Christ. Zaccheus was one such man. Once Zaccheus met Jesus, that day, Jesus went home with him, and we are never told that Jesus ever left. Although it is probable that Jesus did “physically” leave the home where Zaccheus lived with his family, we know that Salvation changed Zaccheus, the tax collector. We know this because he committed to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay four times those whom he had overcharged in his past. Jesus remained with Zaccheus through the Holy Spirit because it would have been impossible to make that drastic life-change apart from the love of God indwelling Zaccheus’ heart. (See Luke 19: 1-10)
Then we see the Apostle Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, changed one day while walking toward Damascus. Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) was intent on arresting those who confessed Jesus as LORD. It is within the Bible we find a letter written by Paul to the believers in Corinth, one encouraging them to keep the good fight, to continue on in their faith, and to be comforted through the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 9: 1-31)
How could two men change so much?
“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
(2 Corinthians 5: 14-15)
Did we catch the truth spoken in this passage?
Did we see what controls those who have received Christ Jesus, who now “no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”? (2 Corinthians 5: 14-15)
How could two men change so much?
How could two men make such life-altering decisions during their life, when it seemed on the outside looking in that they were already well-established here on earth?
The Difference Was A Man Named Jesus!
So today, I ask you, as I ask myself, these questions:
Are we daily celebrating the fact that we are God’s?
Are we daily celebrating the decision we made to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior?
Are we daily celebrating the truth that we have been made brand new in Christ?
Are we daily celebrating the Hope & the Assurance for our Salvation?
Tomorrow, we have a FULL DAY set aside to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E!
I propose we begin this beautiful time of celebration—TODAY!
If anyone is in Christ, there is a “NEW” creation, a “NEW” birth.
Everything old (about our being) has now passed away, and everything within us has become “NEW” through Christ Jesus!
However, we are here, “alive” but living in our human bodies; we are not home yet.
We are walking the journey home, and YES, we have come far enough, we can see with our spiritual eyes where we are headed.
And yes, we have come far enough to see with Whom we journey every day.
Nevertheless, here we remain, here on earth, until the day God brings us home to heaven.
So, we must be about seeking spiritual growth.
So, we must be about our Father’s business.
As we march forward, count down, and walk through the days leading up to Resurrection Sunday—EASTER—our Celebration of “New Life”—we are given this season of Lent to reflect, & to prepare our hearts, & to evaluate our lives, & to seek a closer walk with Jesus.
Are we focused? Are we hopeful? Are we keeping our eyes upon Jesus?
Are we loving others as Jesus commanded?
Are we faithful, walking daily in relationship with God and with others?
Are we spending time each day, confessing our sins to God?
Are we asking God to straighten out the crooks of our life-journey so we can walk a closer fellowship with Him?
Are we seeking God, relying upon His strength, His renewal, His will, His decisions for our lives?
The season of Lent is a period of time to straighten out our priorities.
The season of Lent is a period of time to straighten out our focus.
The season of Lent is a period of time to prepare our hearts.
CELEBRATION!
We serve a RISEN LORD!
A RISEN LORD!
Thank You Jesus for Your willingness to die upon the cross of Calvary for me, for us.
Thank You Jesus for Your willingness to remain buried for three days in the tomb so the world could see the truth—You were really dead.
Thank You Jesus for rising to NEW LIFE on the third day.
Thank You Jesus for Your Resurrection!
Thank You Jesus for Easter Sunday.
Jesus, we are celebrating now—today—and we will continue to celebrate FOREVERMORE!
And Jesus, as we shout and sing and praise and worship You, we also see the areas of our lives, of our hearts, of our minds, and of our daily-walk that needs Your renewing. So, we pray as the psalmist taught us.
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.
Establish Your Word to Your servant,
And that which produces reverence for You.
Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.
Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.”
(Psalm 119: 33-40)