Service Tonight at 6pm
Lent is here again. We begin our forty-day journey that will take us to the cross where our Lord Jesus paid for our sins and the empty tomb where we see death defeated and life immortal open to us.
This season begins on Ash Wednesday. It is a day that reminds us that death is the wages of sin. Our Creator looks sadly upon the people He has made, and has to tell us what we have done to ourselves “Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Yet, our Lord does not abandon us to the grave and to hell beyond it. He promises His own Son as our Savior. During Lent we follow the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World. We let Him take our sin and kill it. We let Him take our hearts of stone and make them living Christian hearts. We follow Him as He conquers the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature so that we may live with Him.
Lenten Devotions
Here is the devotional book we will be using this Lent. We will have some copies to pick up here at church, but you can also download them from this link or purchase as a Kindle book.
Also, on Ash Wednesday, our Lord calls us to habits of life that help us to fight against the forces of death. The following are suggestions for bringing our Lord’s Words into our lives.
Hearing and Reading God’s Word
God’s Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. Hearing and reading it brings the strength of God’s right arm right into our hearts. This Bible-reading plan can help. Forty days on this plan will be a good start to a lifetime habit of growing in Christ through His Word. Also, make sure to join us to receive the Lord’s gifts of Word and Sacrament each Sunday, and at our Wednesday midweek service which will be at 6pm.
Repentance
On our own, we are but dust, deserving of the death that is the wages of our sin. That is the broad easy road that leads to hell. We are called to consider our places in life according to the Ten Commandments. This is a helpful guide to see where sin has taken hold of our lives, and to see the shape that a life in Christ must take as we follow our Lord on the narrow road that leads to our heavenly home. Confess to the Lord where you have fallen short of His Holy law (either in prayer, or by scheduling a time for confession and absolution with pastor). If you have sinned against another person, go and confess your sin to them as well. If someone confesses that they have sinned against you, draw strength from the wounds of our Lord and the cross and forgive them.
Prayer
In Prayer we call on God just as dear children call on their dear father. When it comes to our battles against the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, with might of ours can naught be done, but in prayer, we ask for the help of the valiant one whom God Himself elected, Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is a guide to prayer for each day of the week that is formed by God’s Word, and fitted to the specific places where we live and work.
Fasting
Our Lord reminds us that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. A quick look at our world, and in fact our own lives show us how much of our lives are devoted to the fleeting desires of the body. We feels these urges like an itch to be scratched. But after that, what do we have? How many lives are ruined for the fleeting pleasures of a moment. Fasting is a weapon the Lord urges us in order to keep our bodies in check. We have some freedom in how we practice this. Some limit the total amount of food they eat (perhaps by skipping breakfast and eating a light lunch). Others abstain from something that they strongly desire (sweets, soda, alcohol, etc.). In the past few years some have done things like “fast” from television or social media or screens altogether. Choose something that seems appropriate for your situation, and try it for Easter. It does not “earn” salvation, but it is useful for training your body for the righteous life to which your Lord calls you. Also, even during Lent, Sundays are a feast day upon which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, so the fast is set aside on Sundays.
Almsgiving
Jesus says “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Our money is God’s, and He gives it to us to manage well to care for our families, our church, and to bless our neighbors (especially those in need). Lent may be a time for you to look over the state of your financial life and see where your heart is. If you are not already doing it, during the next 40 days consider giving 10% of all the money you bring in as an offering to the Lord before you spend anything else. If after doing that, you find you still have margin (or if you are already tithing), set aside money so that when you see a neighbor in need or a worthy charity you can help.
May God bless us on this 40 day journey, as we learn to take up our cross, follow Jesus, die to sin, and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity.
In Christ, Pastor Sherman