Lenten Walk - Part 15

[1]

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.  The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.  They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.  Psalm 84:5-7^(NLT)

Lenten Season is all about setting your mind on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Now, before you chalk me up as one of those preachers who is trying to get a free trip to the Holy Land by signing others up, let me re-cast the whole image of what’s being asked in these seven weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

This trip to Jerusalem is substantially different than the void created by an absence of chocolate, caffeine or pizza.  Too many of us with way too much on our plates or DayTimer^™ tend to default to going through the motions.  We plug-in to get things done in the most pragmatic way.  We don’t want to miss-out on anything, so we attempt to do everything.  Instead of a slow-down/look-inward and upward season of joy where some “normal” stuff in our lives get put on hold, and our whole direction turns toward Jerusalem (a metaphor for the presence of God)…we ADD Lent to our schedule and obligations.  By the time Good Friday arrives we’re panting at the thought of holding-on for just this weekend to get’er done – to check-off another got-it-done on the To-DO list.  Where the Psalmist characterizes the pilgrimage as a refreshing journey through life, even in the most trying times – like a bubbling spring oasis in the dessert – we push to find a single breath of fresh air trudging through, creating yet another burden.

My friends, this is Lent on Pharisee steroids…which isn’t really Lent at all; it’s a formula for a heart attack or stroke, and another brick in building a wall between you and the loving presence of God. 

Listen to what Jesus said about that kind of approach to Lent:

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example.  For they don’t practice what they teach.  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.  “Everything they do is for show.  Matthew 23:1-5a^(NLT)

So…is your pilgrimage through this Lenten Season a walk with Christ, discovering that you’re being refreshed and growing stronger, closer to appearing before God with rejoicing?  Or is it really just one more seven week sprint of this or that to add to your religious resume’? 

For You Today

We’re a little less than half-way through this year’s Lenten Walk.  If you’ve been tempted to lug all your heavy baggage with you this season, there’s still time to check your bags and lighten the load.  After all, isn’t that what Christ’s invitation to come to Him is all about?  How about laying the burdens down and walking with Him?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

---

[1] Title Image:  Courtesy of Pixabay.com