Lent

Lent is something that I grew up observing in the Catholic church with my family, and now that I've made my way back into a church, one that doesn't necessarily observe lent, I still like what it can do for your faith.  So last year during lent I gave up my iPad games, which I played around with way too much, and I began reading the new testament.  

This year as my faith has grown and my relationship with Christ has grown, this season of sacrifice means a bit more.  I'm starting to understand the depth of it.  While some may say that Christ died for us so that we don't have to suffer or so that we may enjoy our lives, I respectfully say, you just may have it wrong. Philippians 1:29 says "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake."  I think a lot of Christians today really need to be reminded of how Christ suffered for us so that we understand the magnitude of it.  He died so that we may have eternal life, not so that we could live comfortably and do whatever we wanted.  All of his disciples except for John died for his cause, Romans 8:17 says "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."  I think we lose sight of this a lot.  I know I do.  So during this Lenten season I really want to do things that make me feel that sacrifice.  I'm doing a few things, like giving up the iPad games again but I'm not going to share the other things, why? because says this Matthew 6:16-18 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." .

If you are a Christian, if you truly follow Jesus I would encourage you to make a sacrifice a true sacrifice, I'm not just talking about iPad games, chocolate, or beer (while to some those are great sacrifices,) I think Lent is supposed to be a little bit more.  Read this passage about the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by the devil:

Matthew 4:1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
    and him only shall you serve.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone,Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

See what God can do when you really sacrifice something big, or take on a task that seems bigger than you.  Depend on Him completely to get you through these 40 days of sacrifice.  It won't be perfect and we'll stumble but we're not perfect and we're expected to stumble.  Either way there's a good chance you get more out of the experience.  This is an opportunity to come closer to our Father, to Jesus before we experience the time where we remember the ulitmate sacrifice He made for us.  Without complaint or bragging to others about what He was doing for us.