Reconsidering Lent: How to make the most out of the next six weeks

Discipleship, Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. The term “lent” originally meant “spring” but was adopted by the early church for the name of the six weeks (or, 40 days plus Sundays) leading up to Good Friday and Easter. It has been celebrated by Christians, in some form, for over seventeen centuries. It is intended to be a season of preparation, filled with prayer, heartfelt repentance, humble sacrifice, healthy introspection and turning afresh to Jesus. While this season is perhaps most commonly associated with Roman Catholicism, it is also widely celebrated by many Protestants including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches.

No Meat Fridays

If you’re like me, growing up Roman Catholic, all I understood about Lent was that (1) I had to give up something that I liked for six weeks and (2) I was not able to eat meat on Fridays. In hindsight, this had more to do with my own heart than anything else. But, even after I began to follow Jesus I virtually ignored Lent, chalking it up as an irrelevant religious exercise. It wasn’t until later that I better grasped its meaning and ongoing function for Jesus’ people today. That is, in part, why I am writing here.

Lent is Not Magic

There is nothing ‘magical’ about Lent. It is not commanded in the scriptures. Christians are free to participate or not. Many traditions celebrate differently. You don’t have to give up meat on Fridays. There is no one right way to go about it. Lent serves the same purpose for Good Friday and Easter as Advent does for Christmas. My encouragement, for us all, is to consider utilizing these next six weeks to intentionally prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and sin on that first Easter morning.

Four Suggestions

First, make Lent primarily about Jesus, not just ‘giving up’ something. Too often this season becomes more about what we’re giving up, than who it is about. Lent is a ‘means of grace’ to draw us closer to Jesus. Make growing in relationship with him your goal. What would that look like for you? Maybe carve out extra time on Saturday mornings for reading a book on the cross, such as John Stott’s classic, The Cross of Christ or CJ Mahaney’s, Living the Cross Centered Life. Or, re-boot your Bible reading by taking in Jesus’ life through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Or, meet with a group every week to talk about the gospel and its implications in our lives. Or, you could follow along with this excellent devotional called, Journey to the Cross: Reading and Devotions for Lent. Each daily devotion includes a call to worship, confession, contemplation and closing prayer.

Second, a significant aspect of Lent is heartfelt repentance over sin. Take time to consider what is keeping you from him. Don’t rush this. Find a comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted. Keep a journal. Ask the Spirit to highlight areas of sinful unbelief and then bring them to Jesus for forgiveness and renewed faith. If you have little joy or interest in the things of God, consider why that is. Are there areas of your life that are off-limits to Him? What is it that you treasure more than Him? What aspects of the world are more attractive to you than He is? Are you struggling in the dark? Don’t be afraid to go there. He already knows, but loves you too much to let you stay there. His ocean of grace awaits. Involve others too. And remember, as the Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne said, “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.”

Third, Lent is traditionally a time when fasting is common and helpful, provided that stoking your affections for Jesus is your primary goal. Letting go of things that are dear to us for a season often reveals much about ourselves that we never knew was there. Fasting highlights our mortality and our absolute dependency. Ultimately, it points us to God who alone can satisfy all of the deepest longings of our hearts. Fasting, or ‘giving things up’, for Lent may look like a lot of things. You could give up food for one, two, three days or more. I have a friend who does a juice fast (fasting from everything but hearty juices) for the entirety of Lent. Or, you could fast from social media, technology, or tv. Or, you could fast from certain spending habits and use that money to serve others. Talk to others and see what they’re doing. John Piper’s book on fasting called, A Hunger for God, is an excellent resource.

Lastly, keep in mind that Lent is not about earning the approval of God nor impressing others. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus lived, died and rose to forgive our sin, give us his righteousness and bring us home to God forever. In Christ, your righteousness is spotless and secure. You can’t add to it, which means nothing you do during Lent can make you more acceptable to God. In Christ, you are fully accepted, approved and loved by God. Rather, Lent is about pursuing Him afresh, renewing your affections and re-asserting him as your greatest treasure. Let’s do that, together. I’m already looking forward to hearing stories of how He moves among us.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25

Because the tomb is empty,
Pastor Adam