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: Mardi Gras or Mighty Grace?

Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise His Holy Name.

Today is Shrove Tuesday and usually our church gathers this evening for a Pancake Supper. It’s a great time of food, fellowship, and fun. Pancakes and sausages are served to our families, and then we have a sing-along. We often sing old spirituals like ‘O When the Saints,’ ‘Down By the Riverside,’ and ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.’

I love the party atmosphere at the church and I think it’s a much better tradition than the brazenness of Mardi Gras parades and Fat Tuesday fiascoes that take place all over the world. People go overboard and turn the whole celebration into a drunken orgy, instead of taking time to gather together for one last community meal before Lent begins.

A lot of Christians ignore the feast because of the all night partying that is sadly associated with it, but I believe that our families and kids should get the opportunity to experience the religious side of the celebration and show that faith can be full of fun.

Wherever you are today, take time to praise God for the life we have, the food we eat, the friends we know, the families we love, and the faith that we cherish. Mardi Gras then becomes a feast of Mighty Grace, which is something more worthwhile and everlasting than anything that New Orleans, Rio, or anywhere else has to offer this day.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for this day of celebration where we cast off our sins and look forward to Your coming sacrifice. We praise You for the forty days of faith that begin tomorrow with Ash Wednesday and end on Easter. Help us to prepare our hearts and homes to welcome You as our Resurrected Savior and Everlasting Lord. 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.