Lent

P.K.’s Corner
Psalm 51: 16,17
“For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The Lenten season is upon us. For the next few weeks, the churches that follow the Liturgical Calendar will be sharing in Lenten sacrifices. But, contrary to popular belief, giving up something is not the intent of Lent.

The Psalmist points out how sacrifice alone is not pleasing to God. Just going through the motions of holiness does not bring us closer to God. Showing up at church, reading the bible, while all worthy activities mean nothing if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You can fast for 40 days, give up all of your income, live in rags to show how pious you are, and with out giving yourself to Christ, those actions are naught.

Lent is meant to make room for God in our lives. We give up something that takes us away from God. The ultimate abstinence if you will would be to give up our selves. The broken spirit, the one that says I am yours, dear Lord, that is the sacrifice God will rejoice in.

Lent is not a time of self-deprivation, but a time of self-forgetfulness. God’s call to us is to focus on God, not on ourselves.

If you are going to give up something during these 40 days of lent, why not give something to God that God desires most, You.

Amen
Pastor Kent