We just celebrated Valentine’s at our house. We had family over for Asian food (side note: if you haven’t tried Burmese Khow Suey yet, I highly recommend it), and we wrapped up with lemon cheesecake.

There was no chocolate, no strawberries, and no bubbly. Instead, we had our fill of noodles and fried rice – perhaps kind of an incongruous choice. Instead of a candlelit dinner for two, we had a total of 12 humans and one always-hungry dog in attendance. Not quite a traditional idea of a day of love. But you know what else feels somewhat at odds with Valentine’s?

Lent.

It feels almost inappropriate to speak of Lent right on the heels of Valentine’s Day. Like Burmese food, it doesn’t seem to fit the ‘theme of the month.’

Or does it??

The more I think about it, the season of Lent points us to the Greatest Love Story of all time.

It’s not merely a day of love – it’s a love story that spans the past, present, and the future.

It’s a story about God becoming man with one intention – laying down His life so we could live in relationship with Him.

The Bible says that “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)

There is no love so extravagant, so lavish, so sacrificial, so perfect as His.

Over the next 40 days, I invite you to experience this love. I invite you to experience a love that breaks you in the most beautiful way possible

‘Journeying With Jesus’ is a YouVersion Bible plan to help us walk with Jesus through the last two chapters of Matthew. We stop to focus on Jesus’ last days on this earth and what that means to us. How does that change who I am and Whose I am today? We will take time to dwell on Scripture and “bring it home” with questions that make us consider where we are on the journey of knowing Jesus.

Over 120,000 people have done this plan already. Join us by starting this plan on YouVersion or  downloading a PDF version here

Lent is not just about the outward practice of giving up something or going without for 40 days. While I subscribe to the view that the disciplines of fasting or foregoing are important, Lent is about an inward transformation by the grace of God even as we intentionally pursue Him by focussing on Calvary’s cross.

It’s my prayer that as we journey with Jesus we would be divested of our own agendas, we would be undone by His grace, and we would be overwhelmed by His love.

Join me in journeying with Jesus. Join me in celebrating the Greatest Love of all time.

 

(Lent starts on Wednesday, February 17th)

 

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