The notice on page five reminds me that Lent will very soon be with us. How quickly Easter follows on from Christmas. That is of course, as it should be, for you cannot separate the one from the other; they are inextricably entwined. The Christ child of Bethlehem is the same Person who went to the cross at Calvary for you and for me, on Good Friday. That such a Love could be shown in that kind of self-sacrifice is in itself a great wonder. As the hymn of old puts it:
"It is a thing most wonderful,
almost too wonderful to be;
that God's own Son should come from Heaven,
and die, to save a child like me."
Even more wonderful is the joy and glory of Easter; when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the lesson of Easter is that the Cross was not the finale - but the prelude to an even greater miracle! Only God's unselfish Love could be shown in such a wonder.
Which brings me right back to Lent. For the Church, in its wisdom, uses the forty days of Lent to prepare us for that Glory of Easter. How shall we use that period of preparation? For many people, the answer is to "give up" something for Lent, Give up a luxury, perhaps; or a pleasure; or even a bad habit! all of which is good discipline, of that there is no doubt.
But, why not make Lent a period for some positive action? Maybe in our prayer life; our Bible reading; and our worship, both private and public.
If our prayer life has been erratic or irregular, we can try to set a minimum of "X" minutes daily; each of us to decide how long "X" is to be. And, to use that time, not just to talk to God, but also to listen!
If our Bible reading has been erratic or irregular we can try top read a minimum of one chapter every day; a habit we do well to continue long after Lent is over.
If our worship has been erratic or irregular, we can likewise try to discipline ourselves to be "with the Lord" in private worship day by day; and in public worship week by week; taking advantage of the various Services by our three Churches. Finding time, making time for the only One who could
"unlock the gate of Heaven and let us in."
If we are already perfect in our disciplines of prayer, bible reading and worship (and how many of us, if we are truly honest with ourselves, are perfect) then we can still do something like doubling up on the time we are already giving to God in each of those disciplines.
After all - God had ... God has... all the time in the world for us; how worthy - really - is our response? how much time are we prepared to give, to Him?
Let's...
W.W.W.