Lenten Revival Day 3: Jesus in a New Light

John 12:12-19

How often do we, like the apostles in our passage today, fail to understand something God is doing in around us? We often fail to see things for what they really are until Jesus is glorified. Once the power and character of Jesus are revealed we see the circumstances of our past and present in a much different light. We see Jesus "come through" and show Himself faithful, powerful, capable, trustworthy, etc, and realize the bigger picture; we understand our life in a new way. The disciples often experienced this in their time with Jesus. Jesus would tell the disciples things which seemed strange or even absurd! Just imagine what they must have thought when Jesus told them they must eat His flesh in John 6! Only later, when Jesus was more fully revealed and the circumstances of His death, burial and resurrection more completely understood, did they truly comprehend. The metaphor could then be understood as it was intended; Jesus is the giver of life and only those who come to Him can be saved to eternal life.

Ask Jesus to reveal more of Himself to you so your circumstances might be seen in the light of who He is and what he is about the business of doing in your life!

James

Lenten Revival Day 2: Abandoned to Christ!

John 12:1-11

Just a side note here...All of the devotional blogs I will write during Lent will come from a Scripture reading plan specifically for Lent. This plan can be found through the "Youversion" application for your iPhone or Android phone.

The world will not understand the extravagance we give to Christ. Jesus asks that we die to ourselves and give everything to Him! This is contrary to the sin nature and natural man. In our scripture today, Judas could not understand why Mary "wasted" the ointment on Jesus. It was worth over three month's wages! It could have been sold and the money used for so many useful things (like lining the pockets of Judas)! The sinful nature of Judas was exposed in the face of sacrificial giving to Christ.

Anytime we give something of ourselves to Christ it will seem unnatural to those who do not know Him. The bigger the sacrifice the more foolish the world will determine it to be. We must not be deterred by the world's wisdom when it comes to living wholeheartedly for Christ. We will not find encouragement to live abandoned to Jesus from those who have yet to know know Him. In fact, many times, the lost will do all they can to keep us from glorifying the God Whom we serve! This is seen clearly on the part of those who sought to kill Lazarus rather than see his life point others to Christ.

Be encouraged! Give all to Jesus! He is worth all of our love and life!

James

Ash Wednesday: The Beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days prior to Easter each year and represents the beginning of the Lenten season; a time of prayer and fasting as we focus on repentance from sin, our need for revival and the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lent ends on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week (the week of Easter), the day on which Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples in the upper room. Lent means “40” and while the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is 46 days, Lent itself is 40 days. The reason for this discrepancy is because Sundays are not counted as days of Lent; Sundays are a day on which we always celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Many Christian denominations celebrate Ash Wednesday by putting the sign of the Cross on the forehead of believers with ash. Ashes are seen as a symbol of repentance many times throughout Scripture (Job 42:6; Matthew 11:21; Numbers 19:9). Whether one chooses to use ashes or not, Ash Wednesday should be a day for reflection and repentance. As we begin the Lenten season be sure you have no un-confessed, un-repented of sin in your life. Pray, admit your sins, turn from them and ask God to help you walk in the freedom He won for you on the Cross; in Christ we are free from the bondage of sin (Romans 8:2).

Many Christians choose to fast during Lent (in conjunction with prayer) as a way of fostering greater intimacy with Christ and His suffering for our sins. Fasting is a way in which we put Christ first and eliminate some of the distractions which compete for our affections. While the word “fast” usually means the absence of food, it can mean abstinence from things other than food as well. Pray and ask God if He would have you abstain from something during Lent so you might better focus on Christ and His Cross. Many people have found their faith strengthened by fasting from food one day a week during Lent while others have felt these benefits by giving up all drinks other than water during this period. Whatever God puts on your heart make sure you accompany your fasting with prayer! Lent is not a fad diet! We fast so we might have greater intimacy with God and prayer is an important part of our relationship with Him.

I hope you will participate in Lent this year and see how God might use it in your life. I believe Lent is a great opportunity to know Christ, His sufferings and His forgiveness better! I will put up a short devotional each day of Lent this year in the hope God will use them to help guide your personal devotions during these next 40 days. May Lent and Easter be a time of revival for all of us this year!

Lenten Series Coming!

Next Wednesday, February 22nd, I will begin a devotional series on Lent. If you have never been part of a church which celebrated Lent this series will help you understand both what Lent is and how it can be beneficial to your hope for personal and corporate revival. Please be in prayer for me as I prepare this series! And, please begin praying how God might use Lent to help you have a closer walk with Him!

James