REFLECTIONS ON LENT

As we embark on another season of Lent, we should seek to make it personal and more than just a commitment to sacrifice things we already overindulge. Traditionally, Lent has been the sacred season when followers of Christ express their devotion through prayer, repentance, sacrifice and service; doing so in honor of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Over time the tradition grew from having one meal a day with the exclusion of meat, to abstaining from certain foods like sweets or carbs or even giving up television or the internet. How we honor this time is a personal choice and one that should be made with the purpose of Lent flowing through our spirit.  

We must remember that the purpose of Lent is to draw us nearer to God. It is an opportunity to eliminate the background noise that get in the way of our communication with Him. When we deny ourselves before God we express a willingness to be open and vulnerable to His will. As we fast and pray we gain the spiritual strength to walk in faith and fully embrace God's will for our lives. So before we make our decisions to give up chocolate, beer, meat or sweets; spend some time in prayer and see what God lays on our spirit to do. He is amazing and He can bless us beyond anything we can ask for or imagine!

Prayer: Father God, we come before you asking forgiveness of our sins and thanking you for your grace and mercy. You are awesome and worthy of all the praise and glory due to you. Fill us with your spirit so that the next 40 days will be pleasing to you. Reveal to each of us what your will is for this time of fasting and prayer. Help us to discipline ourselves and follow your lead and not our own. We ask these and other blessings in the name of Jesus, Amen!

Read Matthew 4 and know that Jesus endured, so can you!

RESIST THE NEED FOR GREED

The world would have us to believe that the pursuit of happiness consists of obtaining more, earning more, building bigger, and buying better. To make it worst, popular culture embraces those that have the most and flaunts the excess in front of those that have the least; and this is done with little or no regard to the true needs of man. Many of us are consumed by greed and the never ending lust for more. We want more power, more control, more money, more food, more land, more cars, more clothing, and more trinkets… just more of everything. The nature of greed dictates that the pursuit may be selfish and arrogant, with little time and resources spent outside of self. Greed has no room for giving or seeking to benefit others; it feeds a need without ever satisfying it. Greed touches everyone at some point, but how we respond to it is what matters the most, especially in the eyes of God.
The Bible teaches us that greed is tantamount to wickedness, idolatry and immorality and it begins with a thought (see Mark 7:21-23). Greed has corrupted many that were in search of something great; it has infiltrated all sorts of institutions including homes, churches, companies and governments. The reasons are plentiful:

• “I want a better life for my family,” says the husband with the eighty hour work week.
• “It’s for the good of the company,” says the CEO that takes a pay raise as the company downsizes and employees are laid off.
• “I need each member to give $1000 in offerings this morning,” says the pastor that arrived in his luxury vehicle.
• “Universal healthcare is destroying the economy,” says the government official whose benefits are secured by law.

Service to others is important in the Body of Christ; it is revealed as the key to our inheritance (see Matthew 25:34-40). Instead of being helpful to others, many will pursue the next level of extravagance. The greatest of men have had pursuits that lead them away from righteousness and the willingness to do what is right, all in the name of greed. We get entangled without realizing that our behavior has become idolatry and it is displeasing to God. And since the God we serve is a jealous God, we should want to play by His rules because the alternative could be severe (see Deuteronomy 5:7-9).
Greed is a trick of the enemy to take our focus away from our faith. Greed tells us that we do not have enough and that we are missing out on something bigger and better. No one is exempt; we all would like to improve our lives and seek something better for ourselves, but we must be careful of our motives for doing so. Is it because the neighbor down the street built an addition to their home? Did the co-worker’s husband buy her a bigger wedding ring? Does the study partner wear a new outfit to class every day? Did the rival company obtain a billion in profits first? 
If our motives are not pure and focused on the Kingdom of God, then they are covetous and sinful in nature (see Exodus 20:17). We must forsake greed so that God can feed our needs; Praise Him, He is more than enough!

Prayer: Father God, please forgive us for being greedy and wasteful. You continue to bless us abundantly with all that you have and all that you are, yet we still seek more outside of you. Renew our minds that we will be greedy for more of you…more of your love, more of your grace, more of your mercy, and more of your word. Thank you for the never ending supply that meets us at our need, for in you is where we should always place our requests. We uplift you and exalt you as the Ultimate Provider of all that we can ask or hope for. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read Philippians 3:18-19 to understand how greed can destroy us.