Today is Ash Wednesday.  It’s a day that many Christians honor, but we do we do it?  What is the deal with Ash Wednesday and this thing called Lent?

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season known as Lent.  It’s a time when we focus on our great need for Jesus, what He sacrificed for us, and His high calling in our lives to be faithful.  We mark this day by applying ashes to our heads to remember that we “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Yes, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  But we are also frail.  Weak.  Torn by our temptations. Weakened by our sin.  In need of forgiveness. In need of grace.  The ashes that we wear remind us of this truth.

If you are in the Jackson metro area, we will have ashes available anytime today and we will have our Ash Wednesday service today at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary here at St. Matthew’s.

The thing that is powerful to me about this concept is the notion that is we forget sometimes what Jesus did for us. We talk so much about His love, His mercy, His grace, His compassion, all these things, that we forget what these things cost Him.

Just how much it cost Him to accept us.

We know that grace is free. But it is not cheap.  It cost Him more than we could ever imagine.

We don’t need to forget that.  It was for us He bled and died. It was for us He suffered.

It was for OUR sin.

It was for MY sin.

And so, when we “give up” something for Lent, we are remembering His suffering. And here is the thing. We aren’t giving things up to show that we are spiritual supermen or women, we do it to be driven to prayer. Every time you miss whatever it is you are giving up, pray.

Every time you have a craving for whatever it is you are giving up, pray.

Every time you think about what Jesus has done for you, pray.

May we have a holy Lent.  May we reflect upon what He has done for us. And may we remember all that we have to be thankful for.

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