Give it up
Lent begins today. It’s that period leading up to Easter where 1000’s of Christians around the globe give things up and enter into a period of prayer and reflection.
Many years ago, I led a school’s team, called Centre Stage, and we were asked by a local primary school to do an assembly on lent. As part of presentation we taught a song to the children, and the lyrics were:
I’ve given up chocolate, I’ve given up treats
I’ve given up TV, I’ve given up sweets
But who gave up everything?
J. E. S. U. S. Jesus!
It had a catchy little tune which the we and the kids loved to sing!
If I’m honest, I’ve never really given things up for lent. However, I do try to reflect on the life and sayings of Jesus. For example, I love dwelling on the conversations Jesus had with his closest friends, the disciples, and to see how he trained, encouraged and challenged them! On one occasion he heard them arguing and asked them what was going on...
“But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus sat down and called the twelve apostles to him. He said, “Whoever wants to be the most important must be last of all and servant of all.””
Jesus used this opportunity to teach them an important Kingdom principle. If you want to be great in this Kingdom, then become a servant! Here was the creator of the universe, God as a man, living a life of total humility. Jesus was the master of practising what he preached!
God’s kingdom is not about self-promotion or dominance, but rather putting others before self and becoming like a servant to all. That was not what the disciples were expecting!
This Kingdom principle is just as powerful and relevant now as it was when Jesus first said it. In our self-obsessed culture, we have an opportunity to demonstrate something else: God’s Kingdom way.
You may be someone who always gives up something at Lent: chocolate, alcohol or social media? Fantastic! Perhaps you have never given it much thought? Let me encourage you this Lent to consider giving up putting yourself first?
God bless you!
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader