HeThis week is important in the religious communities as Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday begins a season of preparation and reflection 46 days before Easter Sunday. The season of Lent helps God’s people prepare for the Easter season.
Different denominations have different practices and traditions; below are some of the more common practices during Lent.
- Fasting
- Remembering
- Prayer
- Almsgiving ( Service is service to other part of Lent)
Lent is a special time when God’s people focus on spiritual acts and ideas in a time of preparation leading up to Holy Week and Easter Sunday.
Lent is a type of spiritual purification to help set God’s people apart from the world as commanded by God (Deuteronomy 14:2. It is a way to get us to prepare for and focus on the Kingdom of God instead of this temporary kingdom and earthly greatness.
The Bible teaches us we all have been led astray by our selfish wants (Psalm 14:3, Isaiah 53:6, 1 Peter 2:25.) Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world that has a time and place for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1.)
Time
We each have a different perspective on time because we are at different stages of life with different experiences that make us who we are. Time really is relative. Time is defined as, “The measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues.”
The human perspective of time is limited because it has a beginning and ending point. God is the author of the time and lives outside the boundaries of time (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1.)
Perhaps that is why the Bible has a lot to say about time and God’s timing (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Matthew 28:19-20.) Because God isn’t limited by time, He knows the future and His timing is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3:11, Romans 13:11, 1 Corinthians 7:29, Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5, 2 Peter 3:8-9.) King Solomon and the apostles remembered their Jewish education about time.
Zᵊmān
The Torah begins by explaining how God created and time (Genesis 1:1-7) we see how God made day and night to help creation measure and understand time. We see God’s authority over time and creation.
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for time is zᵊmān and it can also mean, “Season or a set time,” depending upon the context it is used in. It was the wisest king ever who determined that God made a set time for everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1-22.)
Judaism emphasizes the difference between man’s understanding of time and God’s perfect timing (Psalm 27:14; 31:15; 90:12, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 40:31, Lamentations 3:25-26, Habakkuk 2:3.)
Judaism also emphasizes the need to wait on God’s timing (Psalm 33: 20-22; 130:5-6, Isaiah 30:18, Micah 40:31.) That is why patience is one of the most valued Jewish virtues.
- Patience
- Humility
- Love
- Social justice
- World peace
- Charity
The New Testament continues this respect for and understanding of time. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the birth of Jesus at the perfect time (Genesis 4:4-5.) Jesus’ Disciples struggled with understanding God’s timing and how to prepare for the Kingdom of God.
Even Jesus said the time had not come for His Kingdom (John 7:6.) Jesus told His followers that only God knows when this world will end and God’s Kingdom would arrive (Matthew 24:36.) Jesus taught His followers to be prepared because only God knows when man’s time on this earth will end.
He told them parables to help them understand God’s timing and how to prepare for heaven (Matthew 13:1-9; 22:1-14; 25:1-30.) Jesus taught His followers to pay attention to the signs of the seasons to know when change is coming (Matthew 24:3-24, Luke 21:25-27.)
God’s people are called to be wise with their time instead of wasting it being foolish and chasing temporary happiness and pleasures of this world like the world (Romans 13:11, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Ephesians 5:15-16, James 4:14.)
Mardi Gras
This week marked the end of the Mardi Gras season where many people celebrated the coming end of winter and the anticipation for spring’s arrival. Spiritually Mardi Gras is seen as a last chance for celebration and foolishness before the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
People celebrate Mardi Gras by indulging in temporary pleasures like drinking, sex, lewd acts, and lack of responsibility. This year many celebrations were canceled in Louisiana due to the potential of severe weather outbreaks in the area.
Instead of preparing for spring, it is more of a rushing or anticipation of it. Farmers understand the importance of preparing before the arrival of spring (Matthew 13: 3-9; 18-23.) Spring is a season of growth and renewal; it is also one of my favorite seasons.
- Spring
- Fall
Winter isn’t my favorite season, but I understand God’s unique purpose for it. Winter is a time when nature rests and prepares for the spring season. It is a time when animals and insects rest and regroup for the more active seasons of the year.
God has created every season for its unique purpose and we should use those seasons wisely (Psalm 74:17, Proverbs 20:4, Song of Solomon 2:11.) Brothers and sisters, now is not the time to waste pursuing earthly greatness and temporary happiness, the Kingdom of God is nearer than ever. Yes, God has a purpose for the winter zᵊmān!
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