The Heart of the Lent Journey
| I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John15:1-4) |
This passage describes the heart of the Lent Journey.
While we may be pursuing goals, adding or subtracting from our lives, the heart of it is not the abstinence or the ticking of boxes. The heart of Lent is to be a branch connected to the Vine.
It is to remain in Him.
I'm world famous for coming up with good plans for Lent:
- "I'll get up earlier and read 3 chapters from God's Word."
- "I'll spend more time in prayer."
- "I'll cut sugar or stop shaving or cut social media"
- "I'll give more to charity or volunteer somewhere or deliberately do good"
Usually the plans are ambitious and enthusiastic and, because I'm pretty determined, I usually get them done. But the danger is that it has actually been more about ticking the boxes and achieving the goals (and the bragging rights) than it has been about staying connected to the Vine (Jesus) and remaining in connection with Him.
The other danger is that I can perceive these disciplines as a way of saving myself. But Jesus is clear, we're already clean because of the word He has spoken to us. We are clean because of the Gospel - we are saved by Grace, forgiven by Jesus and even our pruning is done by the Father.
The beautiful truth is that the Father is the Gardener.
If I stay close to Jesus and the Father, He will cut and prune and work in me.
Any "holy habits" or "lent disciplines" that I undertake are like tyre-tubes floating in the stream. We hang on to them and kick a bit but we are "carried along" by the stream of the Father's love and care - not primarily by our own efforts. Sometimes hanging on is hard and the effort shapes us and forms us, but the credit goes to Him.
So work hard in Lent - pursue God with all your heart - not your Lent Goals.
The moment it becomes more about the goals than about "remaining in Him" then reset.
A couple of years ago, I set up an ambitious set of goals for Lent.
To get it all fitted in I was getting up early, going to bed late and getting cranky when my rhythms got interrupted. I realised that while I was sincere, devoted, dedicated and sacrificial, I had lost sight of Jesus who just wanted me to bask in His love. I dropped the list and spent the rest of Lent doing only one thing: Remembering that I was deeply loved - just as I am. In other Lent Seasons, I've worked hard, but my eyes were firmly on Jesus and I grew significantly.
For this Lent - whatever you do - Remain in Him - it's the only way to bear fruit.
LENT PRAYER:
Lord, You love me and died for me.
You are at work in me.
In this Lent Season I really want to draw nearer to You.
I've set some goals, but I ask You to set the pace.
Give me the wisdom and passion to reach out to You with all I have.
But help me to be open to Your voice and course-corrections from You.
I want to bear more fruit for You Lord.
So come Holy Spirit and be my guide.
In the amazing name of Jesus.
Amen.
