Lent is a Season of the Church year in which we prayerfully prepare to observe the crucifixion of Christ. Typically Lent is marked by a focused preaching of our need for a Savior from outside ourselves. Often to reflect on this need, Christians have engaged in the practice of fasting and giving. Both a means of focusing on Jesus not on ourselves.
Personally I don't always "give something up for Lent". More often than not I start something new. The attempt is to start something new that will keep me focused on my need for Jesus, and not become complacent in sin. This year I am going to spend Lent reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, and I invite you to join me. There are only 31 installments which means you can read one letter a day, while leaving Saturday and Sunday for filling you mind with Scripture, which I highly recommend!
This work is a rather haunting but helpful look into the crafty and cunning ways that the accuser of men uses to draw us away from Christ. Lewis says in the preface to the book; "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." I agree with this sentiment. I have long said that one of the tricks the father of lies employs is to convince you he does not exist. That way you have no need for Jesus to rescue you. Lewis also advises us "to remember that the devil is a liar. Not everything that Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle." We actually have Jesus word to back this one up. See John 8:44.
That said, I do not believe - nor can I with any Biblical support - say that talking about the work of the "prince of the power of the air" (that means he actually controls nothing) opens the door for his attack, that is unless it is our intention. Scripture has much to say about wanting to practice such things, and none of it is good. The ancient evil foe cannot create, he can only twist that which God has given to us for our good. This is the very scheme in the question we know too well..."did God really say?" Remember 1 John 4:4 says "...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world". So "have no fear little flock, for the Father has promised to give you the kingdom", in that great promise we have Life Together, fulfilled in Christ.
To that end, during our Sunday Sermon Services this Lenten Season I will be shedding light from God's Word on the dark devices that we see the diluter of faith dispatching, that in the face of his distraction we might be driven to the Gospel. In this way we bear witness to Christ our Light and our Life.
Personally I don't always "give something up for Lent". More often than not I start something new. The attempt is to start something new that will keep me focused on my need for Jesus, and not become complacent in sin. This year I am going to spend Lent reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, and I invite you to join me. There are only 31 installments which means you can read one letter a day, while leaving Saturday and Sunday for filling you mind with Scripture, which I highly recommend!
This work is a rather haunting but helpful look into the crafty and cunning ways that the accuser of men uses to draw us away from Christ. Lewis says in the preface to the book; "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." I agree with this sentiment. I have long said that one of the tricks the father of lies employs is to convince you he does not exist. That way you have no need for Jesus to rescue you. Lewis also advises us "to remember that the devil is a liar. Not everything that Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle." We actually have Jesus word to back this one up. See John 8:44.
That said, I do not believe - nor can I with any Biblical support - say that talking about the work of the "prince of the power of the air" (that means he actually controls nothing) opens the door for his attack, that is unless it is our intention. Scripture has much to say about wanting to practice such things, and none of it is good. The ancient evil foe cannot create, he can only twist that which God has given to us for our good. This is the very scheme in the question we know too well..."did God really say?" Remember 1 John 4:4 says "...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world". So "have no fear little flock, for the Father has promised to give you the kingdom", in that great promise we have Life Together, fulfilled in Christ.
To that end, during our Sunday Sermon Services this Lenten Season I will be shedding light from God's Word on the dark devices that we see the diluter of faith dispatching, that in the face of his distraction we might be driven to the Gospel. In this way we bear witness to Christ our Light and our Life.
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