Ash Wednesday? What is the significance of this religious ritual many gather to practice? Participants gather at their local worship center, come before the officiant and allow an ashen cross to be drawn upon their forehead. This practice is a reminder that from “dust” we came and to “dust” we will return.
The season of Lent is a forty day event observed in various forms. Many professing Christians mark this period of time with acts of self-denial as a pathway to pleasing God. Other followers of Christ practice Lent as the daily discipline every day of the year. However you choose to respond this event turns us once again to the journey toward the celebration of Resurrection known as Easter Sunday. We are reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made in order to provide salvation of all who believe by faith that He is the Son of God.
Professing Christians must remember that we are called to a lifestyle of dedication and discipline. Fasting, prayer, and self-denial are worthy goals for all believers but they can never bring us into favor with God apart from His unmerited grace upon us. Salvation is not about guilt. It is all about grace.
As we begin the Lenten season we must remember that the only way to please God is not by what we do or don’t do but by accepting his gracious offer of forgiveness made possible through Christ’s shed blood on the cross. Let us not forget that first, salvation is God’s work not our work. Ephesians 2:8a “for by grace you have been saved” second, Salvation, is God’s work in God’s way, not ours. It is “through faith…not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2: 8b) No matter what one gives up or doesn’t give up salvation is not spelled D-O but D-O-N-E let us not forget that Christ paid a huge price to redeem us. He has paid the ultimate price. It is up to you to receive this gift by faith.