Ash Wednesday and Lent

Tim McCoy’s comments:

When you saw this smeared ash on my ace what did you think? One of you said puzzlement.  One of you said humility.

In 1500 years of Christianity, and still in the orthodox denominations, Lent, starts with ASH Wednesday.

Why ashes?

Biblical societies relied very heavily on wood fires for heating and cooking, which meant that keeping ashes under control was a major housekeeping task. Imagine that there is a death in the family. A friend stopping by to pay their respects might gently say, “Did you know you have ashes on your face?”

So ashes became a sign of remorse, repentance, and mourning. Today someone might wear a black armband to signify that they are in mourning; back then people put ashes on their foreheads.

This was a witness to both the fellow members and those outside that an oath of obedience to God had been made.

To those who did not take the ashes, they felt convicted that God was invited into the lives of those who had the ashes. 

For us, who really exhibit naturally in our lives the presence of God, this uncomfortable feeling or comfort is like this scripture:

2 Cor 2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing - 16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life...

Purposefulness. 3 things...

1.  Finding God's will through total death to reserving judgment to yourself how God deals with your life… heightened awareness of God present.

2.  Finding faith and trust to be committed once and for all so that it is natural to speak out and to reach out to those around us.

3. Find community and restfully take your place. Fulfill your body part ministry naturally.

Be fully committed so that nothing prevents real responses. Not just an obligation.  Why do you do what you do?

Ashes on the forehead represent oneness with Christ: the odor of life or death.

Fast to find and do only Gods will. To belong wholly and only to God.

Lent is the name of the transition between winter and spring.  From death to life. We participate by fasting and prayer. By loosing the bondage. That's the fast He has called us to. 

Commit.

Lenten--reverence and awareness of the living God.