Presbyterian devotions: Lent Begins at 40 - Isaiah 51:11

Isaiah 51:11    The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Millions of Christians around the world will attend worship services to have the sign of the Cross placed upon their forehead using the ashes of last year’s Palm branches. They do this as an act of penance, beginning a forty day journey of humility and contrition, in order to prepare their hearts and souls, bodies and minds for Holy Week and Easter.

It’s also a time when self-importance gives way to a focus upon God. Self-centered sin is cast side, to be replaced with a deeply spiritual awareness of who Jesus was, is, and ever shall be.

Lent begins at 40. The ashes represent sorrow and shame. The forty days are symbolic of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness just before He began His incredible three year journey of preaching, teaching, and healing. The whole season of Lent is meant to bring us closer to God by aligning our thoughts and acts, our words and ways with those of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. If we are successful in maintaining this focus, then Holy Week and Easter will become incredible too.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we begin this forty day journey of Lent, be with us step by step and day by day. Allow us the blessing of Your presence and guidance over everything that we think, do, or say. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a bulletin cover designed by John for Lent and/or Holy Week. It is called “Purple Reign.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6913397537_14e0996d59_b.jpg

Presbyterian Lent devotion: Growing Godliness - 1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:8             For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come

Tomorrow, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and people all over the world will be thinking about what they can give up throughout the next six weeks. For some, it will be chocolate, candies, or desserts. For others, it may be red meat, fatty foods, or high calorie dishes. Still others may give up bad habits like smoking, drinking, or gambling. However, isn’t the whole point of Lent about trying to prepare ourselves spiritually to receive Christ, but not necessarily as thinner or healthier people?

So what about doing something positive for Lent instead of just giving up on something negative? What about growing our godliness instead of healthiness? What about cultivating the spiritual side of our lives instead of just looking after the physical frame we belong to?

How about setting aside time to read the Bible instead of Facebook? What about taking time to really pray instead of winging it each day? What about asking God to guide our future and show us what He wants for our lives, instead of taking Him for granted and automatically asking Him to bless our choices, our decisions, and our plans?

That would be a Lent worth keeping. That would be enriching our godliness and growing our faith. That would be worthy of our time and Christ’s ways.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we begin the Fast of Lent, show us new ways to grow godliness in our lives. Help us to see what is eternal and everlasting within us. Enable us to focus upon increasing the fruits of the Spirit each day of Lent. Draw us nearer and closer to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Lighthouse drawings. It depicts a silhouetted Venetian lighthouse at sunset on the Greek coast. It’s called “Katapausis,” which is the Greek word for “Sabbath Rest.” You can view a larger version of this drawing at the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5484353176_e200186e6b_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: Fishing for Souls - Mark 4 v 36

Mark 4:36       Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

There’s a wonderful 17^th century painting created by a Dutch artist Adriaen van den Venne called “Fishing for Souls,” which depicts the confusion during the time of the Reformation. It’s a picture of a stormy lake and many people are struggling in the water. Different boats are full of Roman Catholic and Protestant clergy trying to help the swimmers get into their vessels. On either side of the lake, hundreds of safe spectators are watching the whole tumultuous scene.

Venne portrays the anxiety that common people were feeling at that time. They didn’t know which side to turn to for salvation. The Roman Catholic Church excommunicated all Protestants and the Reformers called the Pope the Anti-Christ. Millions of people were caught in the middle of this gigantic theological struggle and were deeply troubled about the final destination of their souls. If they chose the wrong boat then they could end up on the wrong side of eternity.

Thankfully, we seem to have healed much that divides the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism today. If van den Venne was still around, he would probably paint a picture of boats and shores that contained both Roman Catholic priests and Protestant pastors in the same vessels. Souls would still be struggling in the water, but at least Christ’s Church would be working together to rescue the perishing.

It’s Ash Wednesday which officially marks the beginning of Lent. Although I do not practice the rite of placing penitential ash thumb marks on my head, I do give thanks that some of my brothers and sisters in Christ do experience this. If this brings people closer to God, to seek His forgiveness and receive His pardon, then it is a good thing. After all, we’re all in the same boat wanting the same thing: the salvation of all souls throughout the world.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for steering our lives towards You and for allowing us to climb aboard God’s Kingdom. May Your holiness and salvation be experienced by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world on this first day of Lent. Prepare our hearts and minds for the Cross that is to come and the Resurrection that will be realized. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.