Matthew 4:1 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. (The Message Bible)
Lent began last week with Ash Wednesday. I didn’t see anyone outside of our evening service with ashes which made me wonder if Ash Wednesday was not as prominent as it had once been. Lent is 40 days, not counting the Sundays, between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It parallels Jesus’ time in the “wild” as the Message Bible words it and invites us to do something similar. What would it be like to spend more time over these 40 days to carve out regular time to simply be alone with God? Being alone and still can be threatening for us. We fill the void with audio and/or video from any number of sources. Who are we when it is just us before God? What thoughts might come if we let the depths of our hearts and minds bubble to the surface? Part of the ”test” for Jesus was to claim his identity as the beloved child of God. What would it take for you to do the same this Lent?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 