Brother in Christ

Lent is a time we look inward. It is a time to look at ourselves and reflect on areas we need to improve to become more Christ-like. It is a time for us to reflect on where we are now, where we want to be on Easter Sunday, and what we can do to bridge that gap.

Most of us will try to give something up, add something to our daily routine, or a combination of both. This is to help us take one step closer down the narrow path. Despite our best efforts, we all share in the fact that we will face temptations. No matter how prepared we try to be, temptation is like a lion waiting for us to show a sign of weakness so he can pounce.

Although we may struggle with temptations, when reflecting this Lent, remember the example Christ gives us and use it as a blueprint to become more Christ-like.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gets baptized and then goes to the desert to be tempted by the devil. As our king, Jesus takes the lead and shows us exactly how a king should lead he people. Jesus shows us how to handle temptation because He knows on our own, we are weak but by following His example we may succeed.

While being tempted by the devil, Jesus does not rely on his flesh, but on His Heavenly Father. Despite the devil’s temptations and twisting of Scripture, Jesus responds with truth and understanding of Scripture.

During Lent, each of us will face our own temptations. Some may be small and some may be big, but when temptation is creeping like a lion, take a breath and remember that Christ faced temptations. Temptations are not bad, but our response to it will determine how strong our faith us.

When temptation hits, will you turn to the devil and give in, or will you use this Lent to truly learn and understand Scripture and Christ? Christ is our king who showed us how to handle the ‘deserts’ we walk through. It is our choice to follow our King and Savior; to use this Lent to become more Christ-like as we prepare for Easter Sunday.

Sincerely,

Your Brother in Christ.