MARCH NEWSLETTER 2015
LENT - LET US WELCOME A NEW SPRING!
March is already here! Where has the time gone? As I have been reading through the Bible by using "The Two Year Bible", The entire Bible divided up into 7 minute daily readings with God's promises highlighted - NLT. The Word of God has been challenging me in a variety of ways. Looking forward to this self examinational time of year for Christians we call Lent.
If you will please read this selection of scripture through many times this month as you ask God to reveal Himself to you through it in Matthew 15:1-20, Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to interview demanded. "They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat." 3.Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? 4 For instance, God says, 'Honor your father and mother,' 'Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say, 'You don't need to honor your parents by caring for their needs if you give the money to God instead.' 6 And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, 8 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. 9 Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' 10 Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, "Listen to what I say and try to understand. 11 You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do." 12Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?" 13 Jesus replied, "Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be rooted up. 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch." 15 Then Peter asked Jesus, "Explain what you meant when you said people aren't defiled by what they eat." 16 "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked him. 17 "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out of the body. 18 But evil words come form and evil heart and defile the person who says them. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!" (NLT)
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 18th) and ends on Holy Saturday (April 4th). Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians. The first Sunday describes Jesus' temptation by Satan and the sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His subsequent passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection (United Methodist Book of Worship p.320).
Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter; we confront our own mortality and confess our sins before God within the community of faith. The form and content of the service focus on the dual themes of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ (United Methodist Book of Worship p.321).
What does all this mean for you? Let me give you a scriptural answer from Psalms 19:7-14, The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life. 9 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true, each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (NLT)
May God use these scriptures to inspire you to keep reading His Word to further your hearing of His commands. Enjoy your Lent Season. Have a blessed month of ministry!
In Christ Jesus,
Bro. Tony Antonelli