This year the Lenten season has taken on added urgency because of the Coronavirus.
Things people relied on – money, jobs, government, medical service – have been shaken by a plague with no cure. We are rediscovering that the only firm foundation for our lives is God.
At the same time people have been told to shelter in place without their usual diversions of work, sports, entertainment, eating out, and even going to church. For Christians, their newfound solitude represents a golden opportunity to deepen their spiritual life.
This is also a time of opportunity for the Body of Christ if we will follow God’s plan to overcome a plague and heal our land:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and then turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land” – 2 Chroncles 7:14
Step 1 Humble Ourselves
Follow Christ’s plan for humility and righteousness he modeled during his 40 day “Lent” in the dessert.
1. Renew your faith –Mathew 4:3-4 and Deuteronomy 8:1-5
2. Resolve to obey God’s commands – Mathew 4:5-7 and Deuteronomy 6:16-26
3. Rekindle your love for God- Mathew 4:8-10 and Deuteronomy 6:4-15
Step 2 Pray and Seek God’s Face
Connect with God to advance His Kingdom and bring His will to Earth.
1. Hear God’s plans – Psalm 27:7-9, Romans 12:2 and John 15:12-15
2. Pray in place – Mathew 6:6
3. Pray with others using conference calls or simultaneous prayer in place –Matthew 18:19-20
4. Join with larger prayer initiatives like:
• President’s national day of prayer, March 15 – 1 Chronicles, Chapter 21
• Pope’s global united prayer, March 25 –Joel 1:13-15
• National prayer initiatives like Lou Engle’s thejesusfast.global – Joel 2:12-14
Step 3 Turn from Our Wicked Ways
Put our faith into action to show God’s love to the world
1. Work with Christians of all traditions to spread God’s kingdom – John 17:20-23
2. Go outside the Church walls to care for the sick and needy – Mathew 25:31-40
3. Show God’s love by blessings instead of condemnation – 1Peter 3:9
4. Do not become complacent – Mathew 25:1-13
This year the last day of Lent, April 9 coincides with the Passover. Let us remember how the Jews put the Blood of the Passover Lamb on their doorsteps so the Angel of Death would pass over their households. During the Lenten season we are covered also by the Blood of Jesus, our Passover Lamb. Pray that the Angel of Death will Passover your home.
On Good Friday, April 10, remember how Jesus paid the price for our healing, for “by His stripes we are healed” – 1 Peter 2:25
Let us then on Easter Sunday April 12 celebrate the victory of Jesus over sin and death. A victory we share with him:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:37-39