Although most commonly associated with Catholicism, the dietary restraint practiced during Lent certainly crosses all denominational lines. The practice of sacrificing something of importance from one’s diet – be it meat or something more indulgent – is meant to center one’s mind on the sacrifice of Christ. Ordinarily, this also accompanies a deliberate, disciplined study of Scripture and/or adherence to prayerful meditation on Jesus.
My husband always “gives up” his three largest culinary indulgences – soda, chips, and dessert. Unlike traditional Lenten guidelines, he abstains from these for all forty days. Although I suspect he is motivated as much by the healthy benefits of the practice as the spiritual ones, it’s nonetheless an impressive feat of will-power and discipline, made more impressive by the fact that he never utters a single word of complaint. Yet in essence, what he’s doing with his physical diet is what we should all consider doing with our spiritual diets – purging what is unnecessary, unhealthy, and even harmful to make way for the nutritive love of our Lord.
Fasting and other forms of sacrifice in honor of God are noble practices that, when executed safely and from a genuine heart, produce a greater understanding of and closeness with God. My mother in-law stumbled on perhaps even a nobler observance of Lent years ago, when she suggested that we focus more on giving to others than on taking from ourselves. Her idea was rendered jokingly, from a humble acknowledgement that despite her love for God, she simply lacked the will-power to sacrifice her favorite foods. But her idea warrants some serious consideration, doesn’t it? After all, serving others from a faithful heart is what faith in Christ is all about.
Whether or not we engage in any specific, formal spiritual practice during Lent, we are called to prepare our hearts for the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord, and for His ultimate victory on our behalf. Dedicating ourselves to prayer, studying the Word, serving others, or sacrificing something of luxury or importance – all of these are good ways to center ourselves on God alone. Despite centuries-old traditions of the church around the globe, the end result of the process matters more to God than the means by which we arrive there.
On Easter Sunday – only after giving thanks and eating the meal his family has lovingly prepared, my husband finally enjoys a piece of carrot cake and perhaps a Mountain Dew. But the sweetness of such treats pales in comparison to the satisfaction of the life found in our risen Lord. Even if we never indulged in a savory dessert the rest of our lives, we can be filled with Jesus. The sweetness of His sacrifice is immeasurable.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Will You Be Mine?
This is love! It is not that we loved God but that He loved us. For God sent His Son to pay for our sins with His own blood. (1 John 4:10)
Like most ladies out there, I like some flowers or perhaps a little chocolate from my man to celebrate special occasions, like Valentine's Day. It's the day-to-day devotion and commitment that mean the most, but every once in a while, a thoughtful gift from someone you love just plain feels good. My favorite gift to give is a card containing a personalized, hand-written message letting the receiver know how much they mean to me and what is so special about them.
Candy hearts and perfumed roses are lovely, but there is a far greater gift that all of us are able to receive, whether or not we have a significant other in our lives. This gift was given a long time ago, but its impact is every bit as meaningful today. It doesn't smell pretty, nor does it come in a sparkling package. Unlike flowers, which wilt and must be given anew when the circumstances dictate, this gift was given only once but shall last for all eternity. There is nothing we've done to deserve this gift, nor any obligation on the part of the giver to give it. He simply gave this gift to us all for one simple reason: He loves us. It is the unsurpassed gift of God's Son.
From the weathiest among us to the poorest, from the long-married to the lonesome, from the joyous to the troubled at heart...the gift of Jesus is for each of us. The depth of God's love, that He would sacrifice His one and only Son to redeem us, is unfathomable for our feeble and wandering minds to fully comprehend. We are joined to God forever, saved, redeemed and made righteous through His life-giving grace. This gift was costly to God, but given freely from the depths of a love humankind has never known otherwise.
Valentine's Day has a cultural history worth repeating and celebrating, if only to boost the economy through greeting card sales. But on this "day of love," whether you have experienced love from another in this world or not, the ultimate Gift awaits all mankind. It's wrapped in blood-stained burial cloths behind a stone. Cupid's sharpest arrow cannot penetrate the depths of our hearts as can the love of our Lord nailed to a cross on Calvary. The roses will wilt, the chocolate will dry out, the greeting card will wither to dust. God's gift is forever.
The precious ink of Jesus' blood spells a timeless message for us all: My child, will you be mine?
Like most ladies out there, I like some flowers or perhaps a little chocolate from my man to celebrate special occasions, like Valentine's Day. It's the day-to-day devotion and commitment that mean the most, but every once in a while, a thoughtful gift from someone you love just plain feels good. My favorite gift to give is a card containing a personalized, hand-written message letting the receiver know how much they mean to me and what is so special about them.
Candy hearts and perfumed roses are lovely, but there is a far greater gift that all of us are able to receive, whether or not we have a significant other in our lives. This gift was given a long time ago, but its impact is every bit as meaningful today. It doesn't smell pretty, nor does it come in a sparkling package. Unlike flowers, which wilt and must be given anew when the circumstances dictate, this gift was given only once but shall last for all eternity. There is nothing we've done to deserve this gift, nor any obligation on the part of the giver to give it. He simply gave this gift to us all for one simple reason: He loves us. It is the unsurpassed gift of God's Son.
From the weathiest among us to the poorest, from the long-married to the lonesome, from the joyous to the troubled at heart...the gift of Jesus is for each of us. The depth of God's love, that He would sacrifice His one and only Son to redeem us, is unfathomable for our feeble and wandering minds to fully comprehend. We are joined to God forever, saved, redeemed and made righteous through His life-giving grace. This gift was costly to God, but given freely from the depths of a love humankind has never known otherwise.
Valentine's Day has a cultural history worth repeating and celebrating, if only to boost the economy through greeting card sales. But on this "day of love," whether you have experienced love from another in this world or not, the ultimate Gift awaits all mankind. It's wrapped in blood-stained burial cloths behind a stone. Cupid's sharpest arrow cannot penetrate the depths of our hearts as can the love of our Lord nailed to a cross on Calvary. The roses will wilt, the chocolate will dry out, the greeting card will wither to dust. God's gift is forever.
The precious ink of Jesus' blood spells a timeless message for us all: My child, will you be mine?
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