070225 Steeple Article – Pressures and Releases in this Time of Lent

You and I are now squarely in the middle of time the church commonly refers to as “Lent.” What does this mean? I know what it has meant to many with whom I share a common faith. This is a time to get back to basics – a time to reflect – a time to prepare. That last characteristic makes this similar to Advent before Christmas in that we prepared for the Birth of our Savior and now we prepare for the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Savior and God, Jesus Christ.

Other cultures use a clearer, more understandable, term for this period in the church year. The Germans call it “Passionszeit” Time of the Passion. Perhaps this gives us a closer identity with how God has a passion for us and how we have a passion for God. But God is Holy and Pure and we are not. Passion to be more like God is not enough. God has a plan to recreate us into His spiritual likeness. As Christians we celebrate our new life: “We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life (Ephesians 2:10).
At Dexter many devoted members have been cleaning, repairing, and clearing out junk that had accumulated over the years in different parts of the church buildings. This space was needed to store more useful items.

Emmette Weir of the Bahamas was part of clean up crew at his church when he observed that something similar applies in our spiritual lives. “Evil thoughts and ideas, hurts and prejudices enter into our hearts and minds over the years. If we store these up, they can crowd our hearts and minds and eventually cause us to commit sinful acts. There comes a time when they must be removed.”

Christ can remove these small and almost unnoticeable sources of sin from our lives. He cleansed the Temple by expelling the commercial opportunists, and He still cleanses guilt and the power of sin from those who turn to Him with consistent passion.

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I confess my sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. I repent and allow Christ to clear out a space for the good works You want to perform in and through me. I am fully confident that Jesus Christ forgives and cleanses me from all sin. O "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (John 1:29) forgive me and grant me peace. In the name of the Soul cleansing Christ, Amen.