Some phrases from Phil Reinders' Introduction (pp. 233-234) to Lent in Seeking God's Face:
"Ashes are a good emblem of Lent, a picture of our own mortality and spiritual condition, a sign of Lent's penitent spirit, and yet a hint of the hope of renewal."
"[Lent] is a somber journey of spiritual preparation and renewal, marked especially by repentance and prayer. ... {Lent] stands apart by not shrinking away from suffering but cultivating in us the wisdom that growth often (and some might say only) comes through suffering. ... [and] invites us to willingly identify with Christ's suffering through fasting and other forms of self-denial."
"[Lent] helps to imprint the form of the cross in our lives, recognizing that the news of the risen Lord Jesus is not good without the way of the cross."
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The Bible Song today, Psalm 51:1-6, is a somber reminder that I am a sinner. I think it's easy, especially in today's world, to buy into the lie that I am a good person, and that I scarcely do anything wrong. But the reality is, I make mistakes - I sin - every single day, and often. It's easier to pretend that everything I say and do is good, but it isn't. I am a sinful person and I consistently "[do] what is evil in [God's] sight" (v. 4). I think we all shy away from the word "evil", reserving it for people who do truly heinous things, like rapists and murderers and swindlers and the like. But the Bible is very clear: "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). While this is a sobering thought, it is also so liberating. I can't do good on my own, therefore I must be dependent on God's grace and faithfulness to do any good in this world. I'm thankful that it's not up to me and what I do that will save me. If it was, I'd be doomed, because no matter how good my intentions, I'd failed more often than not.
Verses 5 & 6 gave me pause today. They remind me that "I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". This makes me think of Abigail, my beautiful 7 month daughter. It's hard for me to be okay with the truth that she is a sinful human being. She seems so perfect and innocent. How could she be full of sin? But that's the nature of the fall and the nature of sin. We can't escape it. But the next verse is more hopeful, when the psalmist says to God, "Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place." Think about that! God teaches us wisdom in the womb! It amazes me that God can implant His wisdom and knowledge of Him even as He is creating us in our mothers' wombs. It also thrills me to know that in spite of her sinful nature, Abi already knows God; she's already been taught some of God's wisdom. As she was growing inside me, my primary prayer for my unborn child was that God would fill his or her heart with a desire for Him and a knowledge that His ways were best (and this is still my number one prayer for her). How comforting and amazing to know He answered my prayer.
The Bible reading is from Joel 2, and it's full of prophecies of doom, but I want to focus on a couple of things. God tell His people to "return to me with all you heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning" (v. 12). How often do we fast or weep or mourn, especially when it's with the express purpose of returning to the Lord? This is why I love the season of Lent; it's a daily reminder to do just that. I also love verse 13: "Rend your heart and not your garments". This says to me that God is more concerned with what's inside of us, then what's outside. He's not interested in outward signs of fasting and mourning; His main concern is what's going on in our hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7).
I love the Blessing today: "Redeem us from all wickedness, purify us and make us your very own, eager to do what is good".
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