Saturday 2nd April
Jeremiah 16.10–17.4Ps 31Hebrews 8John 9.1–17 Lent: Only Forty Days or Throughout the Year?To read the passages mentioned below click on Gateway Bible and enter the quote into the top box. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration of the death and resurrection of Christ. But what does the Scripture say about it? Is it a requirement to follow the tradition of Lent during 40 days which the early church started around the 3rd century? Is it not reported that Christ started his earthly ministry after His 40 day fasting period and only died and rose almost three and half years later?Prayer – only 40 days or throughout the year: The Scripture is full of verses giving examples about how the LORD’s people prayed early morning, afternoon, evening and even midnight (Job 1:5; 2 Chr 29:20; Ps 55:17; 63:5-6; Mk 1:35; Lk 6:12) and in the epistle to the Thessalonians we are asked to pray without ceasing (1 Th 5:17).Penitence – only 40 days or throughout the year: Repenting or feeling remorseful of things we were not supposed to do - and again the Scripture is full of verses asking us to come and ask for forgiveness, not during a specifically defined period, but continually (Ps 51; 1 Jn 1:9).Almsgiving – only 40 days or throughout the year: Scripture says “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).Self-denial – only 40 days or throughout the year: which means denial or sacrifice of one’s own desires which could mean giving up drinking or not getting drunk or giving up on some food like chocolates, sweets, meat etc. The Scripture is very clear on these aspects mentioning clearly that Christians are never supposed to get drunk (Pro 20:1; Eph 5:18-20) and making its point also against any gluttonous behaviour, not only 40 days within a year (Pro 23:21; Ecc 10:16-17; 1 Pet 4:3-7).The point is NOT that fasting is bad, on the contrary, we are called to fast and pray, but does the world require to know about this? NO (Matt 6:16-18). The question arises why we only choose to focus on a God-centered life during the 40 days Lent period – what about the remaining 325 days of the year? Aren’t our lives supposed to be the salt and light for the world (Matt 5:13-16), are we not supposed to live lives pleasing to the LORD, for He defines love as obeying His commands (2 John 1:6)?So during this period of Lent, let us just be quiet and think, are we living our lives pleasing to the LORD, will He be proud to say to his angels or Satan, look at my servant like He did for Job?We should not forget, as Samuel says “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam 15:22). Marika and Anu
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