Fast 40: Practicing the Ancient Spiritual Discipline of Lentنموونە

Lent is an opportunity to repent. It's an opportunity to identify within ourselves those fleshly areas that are still alive and kicking, still squirming and reeling, still obstinate and obstructing our growth.

In the Old Testament, God instructed Israel to eradicate and exterminate the heathen nations within the Promised Land. He delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, baptized them in the Red Sea, consecrated them at Mt. Sinai, and gave them an inheritance of freedom. But that freedom was meant to be experienced, yet Israel never completely experienced it. Why? Because they never completely eradicated the enemies within their dominion. They never completely obeyed. God got Israel out of Egypt, but He couldn't get Egypt out of Israel. They had to do that themselves.

As Christians, God can save us, deliver us, wash us, cleanse us, and empower us, but we still need to cooperate with His grace. Our free will must still choose to obey. God can save us from sin, but He can't save us from sinning. Israel was always plagued because of its disobedience, and ultimately, it was divided, conquered, and enslaved once again. And if we don't die to our flesh, if we don't resolve to repent, then our sins will likewise result in slavery, and our slavery will result in death.

As George MacDonald once said, "You will be dead so long as you refuse to die."