Notes For Lent - A Season of Examination

These are thoughts that I have gathered during this season of Lent.  They are taken from notes I have written while listening to my pastor, Ed Gungor's sermons.  I wanted to pass along his insights because so many people ask what Lent is really all about and why Christians observe the Lenten season.  Pastor Ed's perspective makes the meaning of Lent so clear.

Lent is the Christian observance of the time from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday.  It is a time in which we reflect on our human sinful nature and on what Christ suffered before His resurrection when He gloriously rose so that we might have new life and be made righteous (or have right standing) in Him.

Scripture says that we are the righteousness of God, in Christ.  Scripture also says that the wages of sin is death.  This simply means that Jesus took our place on the cross, He was our substitute and paid the penalty for us, making us clean and righteous before God. But, as my pastor likes to say, "We tend to steer into naughtiness."  Our human nature usually wants to take us to places that take us away from the path of God.  So even as we desire to reflect Him in our world, we, at times invite rot into our lives.

By always seeking forgiveness for wrong doing, bad attitudes, harsh words, we are asking Him to prune off every branch that doesn't bear fruit.  As He prunes, we become more fruitful and the dead "stuff" in our lives that doesn't produce life, is cut away.  This happens every time we repent of things that lead to death, making room for new growth and life!  Instead of fearing the correction and pruning of the Lord, we should rejoice in knowing that as a result, our lives will reflect His Kingdom even more so.

Picture the steering wheel in a car.  We don't just get in a car, set the steering wheel in a certain direction and then let go of the wheel.  We keep our hands on the wheel and we always make small, minor adjustments in our steering, to account for the curve and direction of the road we are travelling.  If we didn't make those needed adjustments, we would be headed for sure disaster and danger.  In life, we need to always be watching and making sure we are not steering towards trouble, repenting and making those little changes that will keep us in right standing with God and away from sin.

A holy and clean people will be a brighter light in this world, showing the way to a God who suffered the cost to make us clean.  The Kingdom of God will be seen more in this world when we make more room for God in our lives.  Ask Him to show you things in your life that need pruned and cut away.  Pray that He helps you to become a fruit bearing branch who reflects the love and forgiveness of a merciful God.

I pray that during this time of lent, you spend time reflecting on your life, the direction you are going and the fruit you are bearing.

From His lap,