Lent

My Pastor has been teaching on the Names of God the past several Sundays. The messages have been wonderful! This past Sunday he taught on Yaweh Roi, The Lord my Shepherd. The passages he used were of course, Psalms 23, but he also referred to John 10. 9ff; 'I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture...'

He told  a story of a man who was traveling in a middle eastern country. His guide showed him a rock walled sheep pen. The man was puzzled by the open space in the wall. "where is the gate?" His guide replied, 'I am the gate.' 

Christ is our gate, our door. He stands in the gap. He is the keeper of the fold.  He died on the cross to keep eternal damnation, which I deserve, at bay. The walls of grace and mercy surround me, but He is the door. His presence, the work He did on the cross prevents me from ever passing the threshold, lest He bid me to follow to feed on green pastures, or forge the valleys, or mountain top. I am forgiven. I am His. Forever.

Several years ago my family and I went to the catholic church  where my sister attends, for Palm Sunday . We were given our palm fronds to carry with us. At the end of the service we watched as my sister began forming crosses out of the green frond. She said that they keep them all year and on Ash Wednesday, they take the crosses to church to be burned, then the ashes are placed on their forehead in the symbol of the cross.

Every year since when I have had a palm frond, I have fashioned it into a cross and have kept it. I have several hiding in drawers through out my house. This morning I came across one, so I decided to burn it and put the symbol of the cross on the back of my hand as a daily reminder of the sacrifice of Christ. As I watched it burn, I prayed a prayer of confession, be me made clean, to be made right before my God.

All day I was able to glance at my hand and be reminded of my Saviour. Even when I was busy and not able to glance at my hand, I could smell the scent of the ashes, that campground fire aroma. I was amazed that it lingered all day long.  It kept me focused on this first day of Lent, of my sin, of contriteness, of  forgiveness, of knowing that in 40 days I would celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!

I am doing different things this year for Lent. New things to give a freshness to it. Celebrating Lent is not commanded in scripture. When I celebrate Lent, it is self-induced. I don't get legalistic about it. It is an exercise of discipline on my behalf, but it is more a desire to be refreshed and renewed as I do it. Kind of a spring cleaning.

Whether you celebrate Lent or not, may you always know He is the door. He stands in the gap for you. He died on the cross to give you the promise of eternity with Him. He died so you could make the choice to follow Him, or not. He gave the ultimate sacrifice, so you wouldn't have to. That astounds me!  Let His grace and mercy surround you. Let His presence give constant comfort as you are reminded of His great and loving sacrifice for you. He is your door!