What Is Lent?

is meant to commemorate the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, so some Lenten traditions do include self-sacrifice and special acts of charity during this time. Most involve confession and repentance. But for all religious traditions, Lent is a time to prepare for Easter, a time to actively prepare ourselves through Scripture, prayer, and repentance. We know there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor and His love, but I think the very idea that we can do nothing, that it was all the work of God, sometimes causes us to take it all for granted.

Because we were, through God’s grace, crucified and buried with Christ – with no pain and suffering on our part – it seems easy. And it is:

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Acts 16:31

But if we don’t remember what that gift cost, we can also forget its value. We perhaps forget what sinners we were, how desperate our need was, and how great a sacrifice Jesus made for us, not just in His death, but in His very life here on earth.

But the other part of the story, the reason why Lent has an end, is because we were not only crucified and buried with Jesus, forgiven and made righteous, but we were also resurrected with Him into eternal life.

I Can

Attending this new church forced me to think about Lent. Whatever it was in my mind before or maybe what it is for others, it did not have to be for me. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the most important events in the history of the world. Believers, hopefully, are always mindful of this, but it is not wrong to spend a little extra time focusing on Jesus, the cross, His love and sacrifice for us that allows us to experience the amazing unearned and unending joy of Easter morning.

By the time you read this, Lent this year will have already begun, but the number of days doesn’t matter. Use whatever time you can to reflect on what a selfless gift Jesus gave us. The reflection, meditation, and prayer of the days of Lent can lead us to appreciate and value even more Christ’s sacrificial death for us.

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“We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

Ephesians 4.15 NLT

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Ephesians 4.29 NLT

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13.35 NLT

Pray First

Before you even start a conversation about controversial subjects, go to God in prayer. Ask Him to lead you and to help you remember that each person you talk to is another image-bearer of God- another soul Jesus died for, and how you treat that person could point them towards or away from Him. 

Even if there’s someone in your life who is antagonizing you for what you believe, pray. Remember this verse, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5.44 NLT. It might sound hard- in fact, it’s impossible without the Holy Spirit- but it shows us what God wants our hearts and our actions to look like in tough situations. 

Really Listen 

If you’ve decided to have a conversation with someone who has expressed opinions or positions you disagree with, determine beforehand to really listen to understand their views instead of just trying to argue your point. Have you ever seen an argument on social media and thought, “what’s the point? Neither one of them is going to change their mind!” 

A Note on Social Media Feuds

If you are prone to get into long, involved arguments on social media, I’d like you to ask yourself a few questions: 

• What is your goal in getting involved in these conversations? 
• Do you contribute to prove you’re right or to understand someone else’s perspective? 
• Is this the best way to use your time? 
• What would be a more effective way to have these conversations?

I wanted you to think through those questions in the hopes that you would see that while it’s necessary and Biblical to talk about the struggles we’re facing as a culture and to call believers to stand on the truth of the Word, fighting on social media is doing no good. In fact, it’s actively pushing people away from Christianity and further dividing believers. It’s much more effective to meet one on one or in small groups. God will put people in your life or in your path who can learn from you, and who you can learn from in return.

At the end of the day, we’re not all going to agree on everything, but we have to learn to show love to each other as believers in the One True God. Our love for each other will show the world the truth about God and our love for unbelievers will draw them to the kindness of Jesus. 

FYI – a public affairs program with interesting people and hope-building projects around Ohio!
Have a question, comment, or topic? Contact FYI

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