40 Days to Remember His Humbling

1 Kings 19:1-8

Elijah did the right thing on Mount Carmel, and suffered the wrath of Jezebel for it.  God provided for Him, but he had to flee into the wilderness for 40 days.
 
Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all fasted for 40 days in service of God.
 
The church developed the practice of Lent, 40 days before Easter, to focus on the earthly ministry of Jesus, His suffering, denial, and state of humiliation for us.  Over the years it was corrupted into some simplistic and self-righteous practices.  The reformers mostly rejected this season because of those corruptions.  But we do also see some wisdom in focusing on the life of Christ in the calendar year:

 - His Incarnation at Christmas.  
 - His ministry and self-denial during Lent.  
 - His suffering and death at Good Friday.  
 - His resurrection at Easter.  

The key is to stay focused on Jesus Christ, more than on our own works of self-denial in this time.  We look to what He did centrally, and then ask ourselves:
Are we taking up our cross, denying ourselves, and following JC, as He calls us to do?
 
This reminds us of our need to confess our sins...

3/6/22