13 Feb What are you giving up for Lent?
13 February 2024
Happy Shrove Tuesday!
Yes indeed, Lent’s fascinating 40 days begins tomorrow, so today is Shrove Tuesday…a day of preparation leading into our Lenten preparations for Easter. Historically Shrove Tuesday in particular, and Lent in general, was a time of austerity…self-denial in strict forms. Many of us were encouraged to “give up” something for Lent…usually some “vice” or “habit” or “personal indulgence” in some small imitation of Jesus’ self-denial in the wilderness where he was tempted & his self-denial that took him from the glories of heaven to a rough cross in death.
Over the years, I’ve suggested that instead of “giving up,” we “add something in” to our usual day-to-day life in Christ…add to our level of generosity, add a chapter or two to our daily Bible reading, add an extra serving role somewhere in the Christian fellowship or in the community. But this year I’m going back to giving up. (Oh you can do those add ins too…they’re all good for you!)
BUT…I want you to give up…giving up. From far too many corners of the world, and from people I know & love, I hear gloom & despair…anxiety & fear…Wars & rumours of war, nation rising against nation, economic hardships, political shenanigans, the church under sustained assault, rugby players drunkenly bashing each other… I hear far too many faithful folks talking about retreating into the safety of the church fellowship until either they die or Jesus returns. I had a fellow believer ask me the other day if I thought we were in the “last days before Jesus’ return.” I said of course we are, even the New Testament writers thought that. Jesus could return at any minute…but today’s crises gave me no clearer understanding than those of the 1st Century gave Peter or Paul any clearer insight into the precise timing of Jesus’ return. He’ll come back to reclaim his creation some day and until he does we have work he left us to do.
So let’s do that! I want you to give up giving up and adopt the very Christian posture of HOPE!
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
In fact…if you want to add something to your daily Bible Reading…add Romans…for instance Romans 5:2 – Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of sharing God’s glory. Our hope, secured in Christ is to see the Father face-to-face & dwell in his eternal glory. We live embedded in that hope which far surpasses the threats & turmoils of this world. We live inside a fortress of grace…sin, death & evil still attack us, but their assaults will ultimately fail against the power of the resurrected Jesus when he comes again to fully reclaim all of earth & heaven.
Or…add this, Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. That’s incredible. The whole Old Testament — including all those strange stories, all the prophets, & all the psalms — were written so that we might have hope right now, when so much is literally trying to scare the socks off us. And every one of those promises is ours, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. So read a few Psalms every day…or something from one of the prophets & listen for Jesus in the text. Grab one of those promises, sing one of those praises, take to heart your sinful accountability before God…and let Jesus bring his grace to that moment. Remember, much of the Old Testament was written in the shadow of disaster & defeat…and yet there was hope that the Father would restore & redeem his people from the hands of their enemies. And he did.
So…for Lent this year… I want you to give up giving up and adopt the very Christian posture of HOPE! And then share that hope with someone who has none. Christian hope always always always leads us to engage with the people and the world right in front of us…So engage!
Oh…and then do this…
- Ash Wednesday Worship – 14th February – Tomorrow night!
7:00 p.m. @ the Guide Hall
The Imposition of Ashes, Confession & Repentance with Holy Communion
- Zoom Bible Study Catch-up (1 John 2:15-29 & Mark 9:2-8)
Friday 16th February 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83006349720 — Meeting ID: 830 0634 9720
- Sunday, 18th February – Discipleship Begins with a “W” – The Word of Jesus
It’s a Morning Tea Sunday!
Finally…Huge Thank You to everyone who spent time this past week talking to our Compassion International guest, April Miller. She was blown away by your hospitality & generosity. Compassion is one of those crucial partners in mission who share Christ’s love on our behalf in places we’d never be able to go. I’m delighted we support them & the children they serve so generously. Thank you!
See you tomorrow night & then again Sunday!
John
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