Copyright, From The Thought Spigot
Lent is a season, starting today, and lasting the next forty days (until Easter Sunday). It is a representation of Jesus Christ's forty days worth of sacrifices, in the desert, where he fasted, prayed, and was tempted by Satan. Christian denominations usually make a choice to "give something up for Lent," almost like a "New Year's Resolution." Every year, people make "New Year's Resolutions," and every year almost all of those resolutions go by the way side. A man made holiday, with useless man made traditions, based on changing lives on a certain date and virtually everyone talks about it, tries to make changes, and they all drop "their promise/resolution" in days. Lent is not about a "forty day resolution," but a forty day "template for how to live a Christian life." During the Lent season, Christians strive to fast, pray, and use things to remind themselves of God's gift to us, Jesus Christ death by crucifixion (by the end of the Lent Season). The Easter Holiday starts out with "Ash Wednesday" (today), but Lent is about giving something up, which a person probably doesn't need in their lives anyway. It is a choice, by the person, to cleanse themselves, as Jesus did. Yet, people do not always realize Christians should be "as clean" (for lack of a better term), every second of every day. It does not just revolve around forty days, every year.
Unlike a "New Year's Resolution," God expressly states, in the Bible (John 3:16), "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but will experience everlasting life." (Where a "resolution one day a year," is hardly a life changer.) The crux of the this verse is Christians have to "choose" to cleave and dedicate themselves for an intimate relationship, with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. A laying down of "your choices" and making "choices God would have a person make." Once the choice is made, to walk and strive daily for God's Will to be the mainstay in life, a catch twenty two is made. A person cannot make the choice to live a truly Godly life and follow the mainstream. They are able to keep with the commitment they have made to Christ, or they can live away/aside from God. One of the hardest things in the world is the choice to truly allow Christ to walk side by side a person daily, trying to make Godly choices, and living for the utmost excellence thru God, Himself. A person can't do both, what men would have them do/choose AND do what God would have us do/choose (as a rule). Therefore, when the real choice is made to make God the priority in a person's life, every situation, word out of a person's mouth, and action is accountable by God (rather than living life on man's scale, or what others do). Example: "I am a good person, because I am not a murderer. I am better than him/her, because they do this/that and I do not.
The beauty of Lent and God's Love, a reminder/template for Christian's lives, everyone is always able to choose to become a Christian and/or welcomed back to the fold. However, this is a process, which doesn't happen and/or change a person, overnight, in a day, or even in a year (it is a life choice). In the season of Lent, one thing(s) is given up for the forty days. Hopefully, making a person closer to God and living a "Godly Life." However, when Lent/Easter is over and a person has chosen to be a true Christian, there are discouraging and rewarding times. Yet, with that one choice to live by Christ's rule (thru the Bible and Holy Spirit) day by day, month by month, and year by year the walk with Christ becomes a complete paradigm shift in life, but they know the ultimate blessing of everlasting life, with God himself (a Christian only situation, not available in Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism, or Islam). Obvious Godly choices can become muscle and thinking memory (over time) and the hard choices in life are evident, making a person take a step back, look and then choose what God would want, or what Jesus would've done. Nobody is perfect (in fact, we are born into sin, since "the fall"/Adam & Eve), so the "choice" is a constant, but there is not always results, people fall short, and repentance is required. Yet, there is nothing more rewarding in life, then knowing where you are going and why.
This Lent season, remember Lent/Easter is not just a forty day event (or a "New Year's Resolution"), but it can become a lives long change. A change, or choice, every person must make for themselves in earnest, in turn changing their lives forever. When you are at the grocery store, bank, or using any service (where another person is involved) greet them, talk to them while they are ringing up your purchase, and say thank you, or God Bless You. These things cost do not cost a thing, but they make all the difference in the world, for you and for others. Finally, observe this Lent season (whether you are Christian, or not) the "Golden Rule" and "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." Seems like such a small thing, but think about the world, if everyone followed this one simple rule?
Unlike a "New Year's Resolution," God expressly states, in the Bible (John 3:16), "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but will experience everlasting life." (Where a "resolution one day a year," is hardly a life changer.) The crux of the this verse is Christians have to "choose" to cleave and dedicate themselves for an intimate relationship, with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. A laying down of "your choices" and making "choices God would have a person make." Once the choice is made, to walk and strive daily for God's Will to be the mainstay in life, a catch twenty two is made. A person cannot make the choice to live a truly Godly life and follow the mainstream. They are able to keep with the commitment they have made to Christ, or they can live away/aside from God. One of the hardest things in the world is the choice to truly allow Christ to walk side by side a person daily, trying to make Godly choices, and living for the utmost excellence thru God, Himself. A person can't do both, what men would have them do/choose AND do what God would have us do/choose (as a rule). Therefore, when the real choice is made to make God the priority in a person's life, every situation, word out of a person's mouth, and action is accountable by God (rather than living life on man's scale, or what others do). Example: "I am a good person, because I am not a murderer. I am better than him/her, because they do this/that and I do not.
The beauty of Lent and God's Love, a reminder/template for Christian's lives, everyone is always able to choose to become a Christian and/or welcomed back to the fold. However, this is a process, which doesn't happen and/or change a person, overnight, in a day, or even in a year (it is a life choice). In the season of Lent, one thing(s) is given up for the forty days. Hopefully, making a person closer to God and living a "Godly Life." However, when Lent/Easter is over and a person has chosen to be a true Christian, there are discouraging and rewarding times. Yet, with that one choice to live by Christ's rule (thru the Bible and Holy Spirit) day by day, month by month, and year by year the walk with Christ becomes a complete paradigm shift in life, but they know the ultimate blessing of everlasting life, with God himself (a Christian only situation, not available in Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism, or Islam). Obvious Godly choices can become muscle and thinking memory (over time) and the hard choices in life are evident, making a person take a step back, look and then choose what God would want, or what Jesus would've done. Nobody is perfect (in fact, we are born into sin, since "the fall"/Adam & Eve), so the "choice" is a constant, but there is not always results, people fall short, and repentance is required. Yet, there is nothing more rewarding in life, then knowing where you are going and why.
This Lent season, remember Lent/Easter is not just a forty day event (or a "New Year's Resolution"), but it can become a lives long change. A change, or choice, every person must make for themselves in earnest, in turn changing their lives forever. When you are at the grocery store, bank, or using any service (where another person is involved) greet them, talk to them while they are ringing up your purchase, and say thank you, or God Bless You. These things cost do not cost a thing, but they make all the difference in the world, for you and for others. Finally, observe this Lent season (whether you are Christian, or not) the "Golden Rule" and "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." Seems like such a small thing, but think about the world, if everyone followed this one simple rule?
