I grew up attending a very traditional mainline denomination. We sang hymns, recited the Apostle’s Creed and planned potlucks. I learned a lot in that little church. I learned how to live in a family of believers, how to study God’s Word and how to be a faithful follower of Christ. I also learned about church history and traditions.
One of those traditions is happening today, and that is Ash Wednesday, which typically marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) leading up to Easter, and is to be a time of preparation – much like Advent is for Christmas.
The traditions of Ash Wednesday go back to the 6th century, when Christians would mark their foreheads with ashes to signify penitence in preparation for Lent. Some churches still follow that tradition today.
While we at the Vineyard don’t have any special services for Ash Wednesday, I think it can be a time for us to reflect, and to set our hearts right in preparation for Easter. What does that really mean, though? Let me explain what it means to me, and to do that I need to go back a in time a bit.
Growing up as a “good” Christian has its drawbacks. One of them is that it’s easy to miss your need for a Savior. You see, when you have avoided many of the obvious sins (no stealing, lying, cheating or killing anyone) you get confident (over-confident, really) in your own abilities. You forget that it’s only by grace that anyone is able to stand strong. And more dangerously, you can overlook the fact that at our very core – everyone is a sinner in need of a Savior.
For years, I lived unaware of my great need for salvation. Not a good place to be. When I did come to truly understand my need, my life was transformed.
In light of all our need for a Savior, Lent can be a time to focus on that need, and the sacrifice that Christ made because of it. It can be a time to do a spiritual inventory and discover if we’ve been hanging on to any remnants of sin. Some of those that are stubborn, difficult to identify, and even harder to deal with can be pride, judgement, resentment and unforgiveness. Then it’s a time to repent and turn back to God, with grateful hearts.
We all need Jesus … desperately. The more we understand that need, the greater our appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice will be, and the even greater our joy will be as we celebrate His resurection on Easter.
Romans 5:7-8 sums it up perfectly, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Praise God!
In His Love,
Glynnis Whitwer
Thank you, Glynnis, for this poingnant reminder!