Lent- Week 1

Lent (Week One)
Scripture Focus: Job 42: 1-6

Objective: Discovering our need for repentance
Almost one full week down for our Lenten experience! Last Wednesday marked Ash Wednesday for the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten season with a look at repentance. Ash Wednesday is a time for believers to examine the sins that separate us from God in order to truly experience closeness with God; therefore, Lent is a season of facing sin head on. Biblically, ashes are a sign of repentance. There are examples throughout the Bible where individuals sit in ashes in order to demonstrate their state of mourning and repentance (Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:21, and others). I keep throwing this word around-repentance! To repent literally means to turn away from. There are things that we need to turn away from in order to turn to God. Not all of these behaviors, habits, foods, etc. are "bad"...but they may stand in between us and God sometimes. So, Lent season urges us to REPENT (turn away from) those things long enough to grow closer to our God.

In Job 42: 1-6, we catch a glimpse of a repentant heart! We know the story- Job was a good man who would pray and sacrifice "just in case". God allowed Job to experience a "desert experience" as an opportunity for growth. In the midst of being challenged in his "desert experience," Job cursed the day he was born and even questioned God. However, after hearing from God, Job is enlightened and has a repentant heart. Although Job was not literally in the desert, we know from last week's lesson that desert experiences come in all shapes and sizes. So, yes, we can learn from him too! Job teaches us that (v.2) God's plan is solid! In spite of Job not understanding his circumstances while in them, he came to a place where he had to declare that God could not possibly fail! Beyond this, Job reached a point where he (v.3) acknowledged his lack of knowledge. We serve an omniscient God; therefore, no matter how rough the storm, He knows the outcome! Ultimately, in order to reach the level of true repentance (v.6) that Job came to we must (v.5) incline our senses to God. Job declared "my ears HEARD of you, but now I SEE you".

I invite you during this Lenten season to not be satisfied with simply "hearing" about God- SEE GOD! See God in the midst of your storm...see God in the midst of the doctor's report...see God in the midst of your schoolwork...see God in the midst of your job...see God in the midst of your haters...see God! See GOD!

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for..."--FEEL GOD-- "...and the evidence of things not seen"--SEE GOD--

As you prepare for another week of GROWTH in the desert, SEE GOD! My prayer is that your cup overflows!

Blessings,
Pastor C