Lent 2011

I realize that I am a Baptist and that most Baptists do not participate in Lent, but being as I also affiliate with the United Methodist Church, I like the idea of Lent. Traditionally during Lent you are asked to give something up and whenever you tempted to eat that something, or watch it, you pray. It is a time to prepare your heart for Good Friday and Easter.

In this modern era I know a few people that take something on during Lent, they will volunteer at the food shelter, help out at a school or church. The idea of Lent is about being intentional. I think that ALL Christians could use 40 days to focus on being intentional in our walk.

During Lent we say, "Ok God I am going to take these 40 days and really focus on you. I am going to spend the days being intentional and focused on my relationship with you." Everyone, even people like Billy Graham and Jonathan Falwell could use some spiritual growth. I know that I am looking for ways to grow and be a better reflection of Christ.

One of the things that I want to focus on this year is God, and just who God really is. I am taking each day and studying a new facet of God. Today I am focusing on God as Compassion.

Way back in the beginning of human time God created the universe and God considered humans to be a crowning achievement because we are created in His image. For awhile Adam and Eve did ok, they walked around, they loved, they were face to face with God in the garden. Then, sin entered the world through the choice to go against God's wishes.

It wasn't that they ate a piece of fruit that got them in trouble. It was that God had put choice out there, so that we are not automatons, and humans chose to say, "I don't believe God, what He said about death that isn't true, so I'm going to do it my way." It was arrogance and pride.

Even though humans sin, God still loves us and considers us His crowning achievement. So, God showed compassion. God is a just God (more on justice tomorrow) and there had to be a payment for sin. God knew that on our own we couldn't pay for our sin, so He took compassion on us and came down and paid the penalty himself.

Ultimate compassion, laying down his life, putting aside his glory to take on our shame, our death. He bought our way into Heaven. God is utter compassion.

-JP-