By Pastor Michael Schotte
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Preston (Natrona), Kansas
It’s a time of preparation. It’s the season of Lent. The 40 days of Lent recall the Old Testament history of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness prior to entering the promised land.
The time of Lent recalls the 40 days that Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. We know how that turned out. Jesus declared the Word of God to the devil. Jesus, though divine, was sustained in his human nature by the written Word of God to overcome all the temptations of the devil. Scripture tells us that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
And then comes this promise: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have mercy and grace in Jesus.
We’re in Lent now. Some will say, “I will give up (fill in the blank) for Lent.” We might consider Lent to be a time of personal sacrifice. Maybe we base this on a section of Scripture that is read on Ash Wednesday. Words of Jesus instruct us in regard to giving to the needy, praying, fasting, and having the eternal treasure (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21).
And here the devil comes to deceive us. He would say that your personal sacrifices earn something for you. By making sacrifices, you can make an impression upon others and gain a good reputation for yourself. The devil would always have us believe that God’s favor comes to us because we earn it. But God Himself assures us that His favor comes to us through grace, paid for by Jesus on His cross, and given to us as a gift.
Listen to Jesus: “When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you. (Matthew 6:2). Don’t call it to the attention of others. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; (Matthew 6:3). Give to the needy because they are in need, and because you are commanded to love your neighbor.”
Listen to Jesus: “When you pray,” don’t make a show of it. “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father Who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6).
Yes, we pray together in church. Yes, we pray together as Christians, but not for the show of it. We do so because we confess together that God hears prayers that are spoken through faith in Jesus.
Listen to Jesus: “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:16). Do the opposite; give no indication at all of your personal sacrifice. Let it be between the heavenly Father and yourself. That is pleasing to the Father in heaven.”
Listen to Jesus: “Be careful of the kind of treasures you store. All treasures of the world will perish and pass away, if not in time, then on the Last Day. Jesus says, ‘Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’.” (Matthew 6:20-21).
Hold on to Jesus; He is your priceless treasure, the Savior Whose death and resurrection gives you eternal life.
It is a good discipline to make personal sacrifices, especially for the benefit of others. This is so during Lent but also during all the days of our lives in this world. Always look to Jesus, though, because our sacrifices are made in thanksgiving to Him Who made the perfect sacrifice for us. For our sake, God made His Son Jesus “to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
In Lent, we’re preparing for Easter. We look to Jesus Christ’s resurrection as the assurance of our eternal life. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).
