This coming Wednesday, February 22nd, Christians around the world (especially Catholics), will begin a sacred period of sacrifice and surrender, called “Lent”. The sacrifices made during Lent are two-fold: (a) reflective of the 40 days of fasting that Jesus did in the wilderness immediately
after His Baptism, and (b) in honor of the price that Christ paid on Calvary.
With the backdrop of the cross, many Christians make a decision to sacrifice something… perhaps meat, or bread or even their favorite treat for 40 days, ending on Resurrection Day. Even though, there is no scripture to justify “Lent”, there is plenty of Word to justify personal sacrifice and surrender to God’s Holy will and way in our lives.
In Romans 12: 1, we are reminded of the type of sacrifice that God requires: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is (by the way) only your reasonable service”. Luke 9: 23 “If anyone would come after me, let him (first) deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” This is the level of surrender that honors God…nothing less!
So, my Brothers and Sisters, if you have an area in your life, that you have not fully surrendered to God as you approach Lent, I beseech you to surrender your all to Him who gave His all for you!
Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell