We are instructed from the Gospel of Luke. The author of this book is never mentioned by name, but we know certain things about him. He was a Gentile, who was well educated in Greek culture, and a physician by trade. He penned this Gospel approximately the year A.D. 70. The outline of Luke is geographical. The first section revolves around Jesus’s time in Galilee. The second section revolves around Jesus’s time in Judea. The third section revolves around Jesus’s time in Jerusalem. In our reading, Luke 9:18-26, Jesus is in Galilee.
In our reading, Jesus was a celebrity. Everyone was talking about him, and everyone wanted something from him. Everyone was guessing his identity. However, Jesus was not interested in everyone else’s opinion. Jesus was only interested in what the disciples thought about him. So, he asked them the question that changed everything: who do you say I am? The usually chatty disciples grew strangely silent. It is not that they don’t have an opinion, it was that they didn’t want to be wrong. It is Peter who answered first and correctly. He said, in verse 20, “God’s Messiah.” Jesus instructs the disciples to keep his identity a secret. The reason is simple – their generation misunderstood the word, Messiah. They longed for a military Messiah to liberate them from foreign rule. Instead, Jesus was a spiritual Messiah who came to liberate them from sin itself. Jesus says it clearly, but the disciples don’t listen. As the spiritual Messiah, Jesus will suffer, be rejected and die. However, that is not the end of the story. In the end, Jesus will be resurrected.
The power of the empty tomb is such a glorious thing. Jesus invites others to share in his glory. However, if you are going to follow Jesus, then you must be completely committed to him. People traditionally give up things for Lent to show the world they are completely committed to Jesus. If you are reading this blog, I am assuming you have decided to follow Jesus too. Let me ask you this question:
What are you going to give up for Lent? Did you know 24% of all Americans observe the season of Lent. Many give up something for Lent. Maybe you are giving up one of these things? The list changes from generation to generation. Are you giving up:
- Chocolate or sweets
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Fast Food
- Swearing
- Social Media
- Shopping
- Sports
- Caffeine
- Meat
I hope you know the truth – Lent is not a season of self-deprivation; it is a season of spiritual renewal.To be honest, I don’t normallygive up anything for Lent, but I don’t think it is a bad thing. Instead I always try to be a better person.
Unlike Christmas and Easter, Lent has not crossed over into the secular world. The reason is obvious. Christmas and Easter emphasize receiving something. Lent emphasizes giving up something. There is nothing wrong with a little self-discipline. However, there are some things you should never give up. It is those things that grab our attention during this sacred season. The things we should never give up are the spiritual disciplines. You should never give up:
- Prayer When was the last time you prayed? 55% of Americans pray daily. That number escalates to 88% when a loved one is facing hardship.
- Fasting When was the last time you fasted? Do you understand the concept of fasting? Fasting creates time with God.
- Worship Is worshipping a priority in your life, or is it something you do when your calendar is clear?
- Meditation This is hard to do because time is limited. When was the last time you had time to just think about God and his mysterious ways?
- The Bible When was the last time you read the Bible for your own edification? With over five billion copies sold, the Bible is the all-time best seller. Sadly, only 11% of Americans read the Bible daily.
These are five of the spiritual disciplines. I am going to look at each one over the coming weeks. I hope you read each one, because each one of these disciplines is vital to your spiritual health. Remember, Lent is a season of spiritual renewal.
Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxonword lencten,which means “spring.” Excluding Sundays, because every Sunday is a little Easter, Lent is a forty-day period. It correlates with Jesus who fasted forty days before being tempted by Satan. Lent begins this year on March 5, and it ends on Holy Saturday, April 19. What are you going to give up for Lent? Maybe this is a better question: What are you not going to give up for Lent? It has been said, Lent is not something we do for God, Lent is something we do with God.
Russ Adams 