March 7, 2017
Lenten Devotions – Is Lent about Testing or Teaching?

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.” Deuteronomy 6:16

When we encounter a text like this, one of the first questions we must ask is: “What happened at Massah?” In Exodus 17, the Israelites have been traveling in the Desert of Sin, and they are thirsty. They quarrel with Moses saying “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to have us die of thirst?” The Lord tells Moses to take his staff and strike a rock, and water will come forth. Moses names the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord.

The bible is clear that we are not to put the Lord to the test – Jesus will use this argument against Satan while Satan is testing and tempting him in the wilderness. So when we consider a Lenten discipline to follow each season of Lent, there needs to be some thought as to what we choose to do. Will we be testing ourselves, you know testing our faith, or will we be seeking to learn a lesson about our faith?

“In the ancient church, Lent was a time for new converts to be instructed for baptism and for believers caught in sin to focus on repentance. In time, all Christians came to see Lent as a season to be reminded of their need for penitence and to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Easter. Part of this preparation involved the Lenten “fast,” giving up something special during the six weeks of Lent (but not on Sundays, in some traditions.) Let me be very clear: Lent is not a requirement for Christians. Dallas Willard has said that if a certain spiritual discipline helps you grow in God’s grace, then by all means do it. But if it doesn’t, don’t feel like you must do it. I’d say the same about Lent. If it helps you prepare for a deeper celebration of Good Friday and Easter, if it allows you to grow in God’s grace, then by all means keep it. If Lent isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t feel obligated to keep it. You should realize, however, that millions of Christians – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Independent – have found that recognizing the season of Lent enriches our worship and deepens our faith in God. See if the Spirit of God guides you to something. If nothing comes to mind, I’d recommend that you read a chapter of a gospel each day. If you start with Mark, you’ll have time to read all of Mark plus all of one other gospel during Lent.” (How Lent Can Make a Difference in Your Relationship with God, by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts, patheos website)

So, whatever it is that you choose to do for Lent, and even if you choose to do nothing, use these 40 days to do something – you know, doing nothing “IS” doing something. But why do nothing? Take some time to learn something about yourself, or to teach yourself something about your faith. You have forty days – why miss this opportunity real learning?

Pastor Dave