Ash Wednesday Preparation

(This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and Mark’s the beginning of Lent)

Matthew 4:1-11; 6:1-18

Lent is a period of 40 days in which we prepare our hearts for Easter. It is a commemoration of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness where he fasted for forty days and nights being tempted of the devil. Not only do we remember how Jesus our example overcome the devil by fasting and the Word of God, we also recognize it as a time of alms giving and prayer. We can summarize like this: It is a time that we look within through fasting, look around in almsgiving and look up in prayer.

We also take account of ourselves by examining ourselves to see what weight and sin that we need to lay aside that so easily besets us. We look to give up the thing or those things that may distract us and help us to focus more upon Christ and the gospel. It was never intended be a time to just quit chocolate, soft drinks, or soap-operas, but a time to embrace the tenants of the teachings of Christ to make us better disciples and more relevant in the world.

Lastly it is a season in which we prepare ourselves to do as Jesus did when he overcame the devil and came out of the wilderness going into Galilee in the power of the Spirit. It is a time to prepare ourselves to live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

As you enter into this season look for opportunities not only to serve others but also to let God change your life in a noticeable way that you will come out of Lent different than how you went into it.

Pastor Robby