SPECIAL DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL ON LENT (1) March 5, 2025 Scriptures: Exodus 34: 28; 1 Kings 19: 8 – 9; Matthew 4: 1 – 2
Before reading through, readers are to know that the opinion of the devotional here is on the need for Christians of denominations to participate in Lenten periods together. This formation will manifest into greater spiritual evolution impacts wise. But you are at liberty to follow your belief and doctrines.*Today, the fifth day of March 2025 is known as Ash Wednesday by some Christian denominations. It is a day that preceds 40 days of fasting and abstinence and penances so as to welcome Easter Day. _Ash Wednesday got its name from receiving of mark on the foreheads with ashes. Receiving the ashes signifies submitting selves to penitential practices. The period called Lent starts tomorrow.
Lent period preceds Easter. Lent period is that which Christians devote themselves to fasting, abstinence, and penitence possibly after the pattern of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. In the Western Churches and the Catholic Churches it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, and so includes forty days. For proper definition, The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lencten”, which means “springtime” or “lengthening of the day.”
Historically, the earliest evidence of a 40-day period of fasting before Easter dates back to the 4th century when the Council of Nicea in 325 AD mentioned it as a common practice among Christians. However, the exact origin and meaning of this practice is not clear. Whatever the case, the 40-day fast gradually became a universal observance in the Christian world; but with varied rules and regulations from place to place. In the early centuries, fasting during lent was very strict, as Christians abstained from all kinds of foods and drinks except for bread, water, and sometimes fruits and vegetables. They also refrained from other pleasures.
One vital question here is why all Christian denominations are not observing this lenten period together. The answer to this question could be drawn from doctrinal differences among the first Overseers of these denominations. The interesting thing here is that Roman Catholic Church, Methodist Church, the Lutherans Church and the Western Churches, to mention but few, observe Lent Period at the same time._ The practices embarked upon are almost identical with few variations.
Very interesting thing amongst the churches observing Lenten Period is that 40 days are allocated to the period. The four Sundays within the period is not counted. They referred to the Sundays as “relax fasting days” when serious fasting and abstainances are not strickly observed. The choice of the 40 days was based on the Biblical ways some have fasted. In the Bible, Moses (Exodus 34:28), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8-9) and Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2) all went through intense fasting experiences for 40 days and 40 nights. We Christians can accept the 40 days and 40 nights as Biblical standard period of lent fasting collectively. The second edition of this devotional will settle for various but common ways some denominations observe Lent.
PRAYER:
Pray, asking God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to enlighten your Spiritual understanding about observations of Lent by more Christian bodies.
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