First Sunday In Lent

You will not find the word Lent in the Bible. However, many connect the 40 days of Lent with Jesus’ temptation in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights.
Jesus’ time in the desert was a time of fasting and preparation for his ministry. The 40 days before Easter is a time of fasting and preparation known as Lent.

As I learn more about Lent, I  learn that Lent is a season of preparation, grace, spiritual renewal, prayer, fasting, searching, repentance, forgiveness, transformation.. and the list could go on.

Psalm 25:1-10 MSG
My head is high, God, held high; I’m looking to you, God; no hangdog skulking for me.
I’ve thrown in my lot with you; you won’t embarrass me, will you? Or let my enemies get the best of me?
Don’t embarrass any of us who went out on a limb for you. It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.
Show me how you work, God; school me in your ways.
Take me by the hand; lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?
Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; rebuild the ancient landmarks!
Forget that I sowed wild oats; mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!
God is fair and just; he corrects the misdirected, sends them in the right direction.
He gives the rejects his hand, and leads them step-by-step.
From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions.

Psalm 25:1-10 MSG

EVERY ROAD YOU TRAVEL WILL TAKE YOU TO GOD.
Some roads are longer than others. Some are more dangerous. Some are taxing and cause you to suffer long. Some are fun, exciting, adventurous. Some are restful. Some are filled with joy. Some are filled with heartache and grief.
And still, EVERY ROAD YOU TRAVEL WILL TAKE YOU TO GOD

Every road Jesus traveled, it took him to God.

Here is a path recorded in Scripture that Jesus traveled. It began with a blessing and recognition and ended with being pushed into the wilderness.

Mark 1:9-13 MSG
At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”
At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.

Mark 1:9-13

Desert
The desert waits,
ready for those who come,
who come obedient to the Spirit’s leading;
or who are driven,
because they will not come any other way.

The desert always waits,
ready to let us know who we are –
the place of self-discovery.

And whilst we fear, and rightly,
the loneliness and emptiness and harshness,
we forget the angels,
whom we cannot see for our blindness,
but who come when God decides that we need their help;
when we are ready
for what they can give us.

Poem by Ruth Burgess

Imaginative Prayer of Jesus in the Desert:

Imagine you are Jesus. You are growing and maturing. You have done your best to listen to and follow your father. You go to the Jordan River to be baptized. Your beloved cousin is there, John. He is elated to see you. He looks to you as if you are coming to baptize him. But you assure him that you are in need of his baptism. He takes you down into the water. The water washes over you. You arise refreshed, cleansed.

When you open your eyes, you see a dove. You sense the Spirit of God in this dove. And then you hear a voice. It is your father’s voice. He says, “You are chosen and marked by my love. You are the delight of my life.”

You barely have time to relish in this delight before you are pushed into the wild. Many know this place as the wilderness, the desert. You are here to be tested, but you don’t know it’s a test. In fact, it’s Satan’s test. And he is ready to give it to you. But not until you are weak and weary. He lets you starve for 40 days and 40 nights. He calls it starving, but you call it a fast. Whatever is about to happen, you are preparing yourself.
And then it happens. 40 days and 40 nights are up. Satan pounces. He sees you in a state of extreme hunger and challenges you as God’s Son to turn stones into the loaves of bread. You see right through him. He is taunting you and baiting you. You reply.

Then he takes another shot. He takes you to the Holy City. He quotes Psalm 91 and tells you to jump, that angels will catch you if you really are God’s Son. You reply.

He tries for the last time. He takes you to the peak of a huge mountain. Promises to give you everything you see if you just bow to worship him. You’re done! You’re tired, you’re hungry, and you’ve had enough. You reply and tell him to beat it. The test is over! Satan leaves.

Angels come to care of you. You are open and willing to let them care for you. You are nourished, washed, and rested. And now you remember your father’s words: “You are chosen, you are marked by his love, and you are the delight of his life.”

Bask in these words for a moment. You are chosen. You are marked by God’s love. You are the delight of God’s life.

The poems says: The desert always waits, ready to let us know who we are. It is the place of self-discovery.

God told Jesus who he was after his baptism. I’m sure Jesus believed his father, but the real test was in the wilderness. He had to walk out who he was. And he did.

When children leave home, whether it’s to go away to college or move out on their own, they know who they are, or at least they know who others have told them there are. When they leave, there are tests! There will always be tests! We worry and fret, “Will they make it? Will they be strong enough? Will they give in?”
When people leave church, when marriages crumble, when people get new jobs, when sickness strikes, will they be strong enough…???

Can I put your mind at ease today?

EVERY ROAD YOU TRAVEL WILL TAKE YOU TO GOD. – now what you do with that is on you.
Every road, every wilderness is different.

The Psalmist said:
Show me how you work, God; school me in your ways.
Take me by the hand; lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?
Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; rebuild the ancient landmarks!
Forget that I sowed wild oats; mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!
God is fair and just; he corrects the misdirected, sends them in the right direction.
He gives the rejects his hand, and leads them step-by-step.
From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions.