With the loss of a #1 seed and a couple #2 seeds, many March Madness brackets are no doubt busted, especially since one of the #2 seeds was perennial power, Duke. And now that we are deep into Lent, there’s a good chance that your Lenten sacrifice is busted as well. So, just as online bracket groups offer “bracket busted” activities, maybe it’s time for a Lenten regroup, or more specifically, be reminded that #tpoCriiy. More below.
Not counting Sundays (since those are considered mini-Easters by those who’ve established Lenten guidelines), 23 days remain for Lent 2017 from the issue date of this newsletter (3/21). That means we’re not quite halfway, and that’s enough time to accomplish Lent’s intended purpose: dial in our focus on the upcoming celebration of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. So, here are a few focal points.
Reminder of Resurrection Power:
This is what everything is to point toward: the resurrection of Jesus. So, what can you do to sharpen your focus on Jesus’ resurrection? When you look at Ephesians 1:18-21, Romans 8:11, and Colossians 3:1–4 collectively, you draw these conclusions: the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is IN us. Further, He uses this power to bring life to our mortal bodies. That’s a lot of power. But it does us no good if we don’t access it. We either forget it’s there or get too busy to take advantage of it (our Enemy is crafty that way in getting us distracted). So, let’s be reminded: The Power Of Christ’s Resurrection Is In You! This could be the best, most powerful reminder we could ever receive for anything! It’s THE antidote to many life issues and problems (temptations, stress, anxiety, not to mention the hope of eternal life). In fact, using the first letters of each word in that phrase, let’s start a world-wide reminder: #tpoCriiy!
Sacrifice:
The tradition of a 40-day Lent derives from Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness following His baptism. That was obviously a time of abstinence and sacrifice. In addition, Lent points toward Jesus’ journey to the cross and His crucifixion which represent the pinnacle of sacrifice in the salvation story. This is why an act of sacrifice (no meat, no chocolate, etc.) is a powerful and worthy discipline for celebrating Lent. So, in the remaining days re-up on your original sacrifice or start fresh with a new act of sacrifice.
Discipline:
Over the centuries it’s become customary to not only subtract an activity by abstaining, but also to add an activity through spiritual disciplines like prayer or Bible reading. Keying off the idea of 23 days left of Lent: Start with Psalm 23 and read a chapter a day, working your way backwards in a countdown fashion, ending with Psalm 1. Another idea: Read a chapter a day in Jude and Revelation which total 23 chapters, as do these combos of books: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/2 Peter or Hebrews/James/1 Peter. A third idea: memorize a verse a day out of Ephesians 1:18-21, Romans 8:11, Colossians 3:1–4 (the verses mentioned above) and add 1 Corinthians 15:1-14 out of this foundational resurrection chapter. These passages, incidentally, add up to 23 verses.
Finally, it’s been said that if the Devil can’t get you to sin, He’ll get you busy. Busyness distracts us from the Resurrection power that resides in us, a power that patiently waits to help us as we journey along. Let these remaining days before Easter be an opportunity to restore what’s broken in your Lenten season. And when you think about it, that’s what the Resurrection power is all about—restoring what’s broken. Your brackets, however, are on their own.
I leave you with an image you can use as a reminder that The Power Of Christ’s Resurrection Is In You! (tpoCriiy!). I’m also including links to a small-group study and a personal teen devo on the subject.
Download Teen Devo #tpoCriiy! Here
Download Small-Group Study #tpoCriiy! Here
