Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024
“Marked for Greatness! Get Ashed!”
Woohoo! It’s that much anticipated, incredibly exciting, and overwhelmingly beautiful season of Lent!
I know. I’m so excited I can barely stand it. For the next 46 days, I’m gonna be reminded that God is always doing big things for me and I’m excessively selfish with what I give back.
Beginning today with Ash Wednesday, churches will be offering to mark our foreheads or hands with ashes as evidence of our humility before God. Ashes have been used for thousands of years to remind us that all of us were created from the dust of the Earth, and that, eventually, all of us will return to the Earth’s ground.
Humility is one of the dominant themes of Lent, especially on Ash Wednesday. But today, I’m considering something a little different. I recognize that many of us are feeling bad about giving stuff up during Lent, but let’s take a few moments to consider just the opposite.
Instead of feeling bad about our mistakes, I would like us to consider feeling good about ourselves and the potential God has for all of us. Sure, on Ash Wednesday, we should remember how small we are. However, as we receive Ashes, we can also receive them as the greatness God hopes for all of us.
God wants us to succeed. God wants us to win. God doesn’t push us into holes, nor does God push us off the cliff. Instead, God is pulling us towards something bigger, better, and greater.
Today, get Ashed somewhere. If you can’t make it to a church or chapel, use an ink pen or some dirt from the garden and make a mark on your hand or forehead. The mark we make is evidence that sometimes we’re messy and dirty. However, the mark is also a sign that greater things are ahead for those who seek the LORD.
When these 46 days are completed, we won’t be perfect! When Easter arrives, some of us are still going to be messy and dirty. But guess what? If we are even one step closer to the LORD, we will experience things that we could never have witnessed without making the effort.
Be Marked for Greatness. Get Ashed. Practice Lent.
“…God will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair…” (Isaiah 61:3, NIV)
