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Lent has traditionally been a time of “giving things up.” We can give up many different activities in our lives, and most of us do that to focus more on the things of God. It helps us seek God more, examine ourselves more closely, and even repent from things we want to change in our lives.

One of the interesting things about repentance is that repentance is more than “stopping” those things that don’t please God. We do that through confession and asking forgiveness. And the scriptures assure us “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

But repentance is more than “stopping”. Repentance also involves turning around and going in the other direction. Many of us have tried “stopping” things in our lives without very good results. “Stopping” leaves a void that needs to be filled. Stopping something should be paired with “starting” something. The Scriptures speak of this process over and over again, but I think the Apostle Paul summarizes it extremely well when he says: “But thanks be to God, that, though, you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:7) Below are several of the Scriptures that talk about starting and stopping. Putting off one thing and putting on something else. Can you find one to concentrate on during Lent?

Let’s move forward in a purposeful way and be more like Jesus every day.

Pastor Jim