Lent, Discomfort and Grace

A stagecoach was a very uncomfortable way to travel. Six or more people were crowded inside a small box that swayed, bounced and rattled over a dusty road, and sometimes got attacked by Indians or bandits. This would not be our idea of a good time! Our Savior gladly gave up comforts to travel with us -- all the comforts of heaven (Phil. 2:3-11) and during his
40-day wilderness fast, he also gave up the comforts of home and family and food, and was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1-13). (A stagecoach would have been much more comfortable!) But he took on that discomfort, gladly, for the sake of his brothers and sisters -- you and me.

After his trial in the wilderness, Jesus came back to 'civilization' and announced a time of God's grace, at the synagogue in his hometown, Nazareth. His listeners responded with, basically, "Aw, isn't that nice, the kid who grew up here can speak well!" Jesus' response might sound harsh to us. He reminded them of two prophets in Israel's history who blessed Gentiles instead of Israelites. The synagogue crowd got angry and tried to kill him (Luke 4:28-30). What was going on? I believe Jesus was challenging their self-satisfaction. Jesus invited them to start surrendering to God in faith, not resting in their physical heritage alone. Their response to his invitation showed how little their nation's God had gotten under their self-righteous exterior, and how little they were willing to receive his message of good news.

The season of Lent is 40 days in the Christian calendar that gives us a chance to submit our comfort level to God's scrutiny. As author Ruth Haley Barton writes, "Disciplines of fasting and other kinds of abstinence help us face the hold that our sin patterns have on us so we can somehow let go of our attachment to anything that is not God." It's not just that we sometimes sin; it's that we have comfortable patterns of behavior; and when we deliberately break our normal flow of work, chores, entertainment and everything else, we can see more clearly the less-godly reactions still in us. Like the people in the synagogue, Jesus reminds us that we cannot trust that we're doing pretty well. Our trust can rest only on the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and our energies must be directed toward serving him and not ourselves. And we get a bonus -- the more we trust him, the more grace we receive in our lives!

Lent is a time to get out of our 'comfort zone' and follow Jesus into his life of self-denial, pursuing the will of the Father. So this season, what are you doing to open yourself to God's continuing gifts of faith and grace? Discomfort for a time will lead to much greater comfort through Jesus. Give it a try!