Motivation for the Lenten period
In the Lenten period, bear in mind the basic realities: You shall die. You shall stand before the judgment seat of God. Your eternity will either be happy or unhappy. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, suffered and died for your sake to give you eternal happiness after death. Your impurity made Him suffer bloody scourging, your pride made Him suffer humiliation when He was crowned with thorns and covered with spittle. Your devious sinful paths made Him walk the way of the cross. The death of Christ conquered sin and the devil and opened for you the way to eternal glory. Jesus says to you today: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” Where to? To Golgotha. Narrow is the path (Mt 7:14) that leads through the death of Christ to eternal life.
In the Lenten period, make a resolution to deny yourself at least once a day. Self-pity, envy, impure thoughts, anger… Say: “Jesus, I deny myself, I deny myself… I break with the spirit of lies and vanity.”
Freedom is a matter of our mind. Our mind should be truthful and pure. Then we are united to Christ and His Spirit of Truth and Life which breathes through the Gospel.
What is your cross which you are to carry? It is your corrupt nature, wounds from the past, inclination to evil and various forms of spiritual bondage. Your cross can also be the awareness that you are not perfect, pure or humble. You must carry this cross and follow Jesus. Once you resolve to follow Him, He is with you to help you carry your cross. Then you must be crucified with Him through faith and enter into His death as often as possible (2Cor 4:10). You have been baptized into the death of Christ and received a new life, the life of the risen Christ. You have already been raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places in spirit (Eph 2:6). The following of Christ is a question of a living biblical faith and divine grace which works through the Holy Spirit. The true following of Christ unites us to Him not only passively but actively. Then the words of Christ become true in our lives: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (Jn 15:7)
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