Some Thoughts Again

Someone asked recently whether we participate in Lent. Lent is traditionally a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, sacrifice, and reflection leading up to Easter. But perhaps the deeper question isn't whether we "observe" Lent — it's whether we allow God to use seasons like this to draw us closer to Him. Lent isn't merely about giving something up; it's about giving ourselves more fully to God. It's about returning to the core of our faith: salvation, obedience, and sanctification — the ongoing transformation of our lives into the likeness of Christ.

In 1 Peter 1:1–2, Peter writes to ordinary believers scattered across Asia Minor. These were everyday people — workers, families, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles — learning how to follow Jesus in a complicated world. Peter himself was complicated. He walked on water and denied Christ. He preached boldly and stumbled publicly. Yet he was radically transformed by Jesus. And from that transformed life, he reminds us of three foundational truths: we are saved by God's grace, called to obey Jesus, and set apart by the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

At the center of Christianity is salvation. Jesus came to save sinners. He came so that we could be forgiven, freed from the penalty and power of sin, and restored into relationship with the Father. But salvation is not the finish line — it is the starting point. From there, we are called into obedience. "Follow Me," Jesus said. Obedience means reading His Word, listening to His voice, walking with His people, and choosing His will over our own. It is building our lives on the rock rather than the sand.

And as we obey, something begins to change within us. Peter uses the word sanctification — being set apart, made holy, transformed over time. Just as a career shapes a person's language and mindset, walking with Christ shapes our hearts and lives. We begin to think differently, speak differently, live differently. We are healed from the deeper disease of sin, set apart for God's purposes, and committed to follow Him fully. That is the heart of Lent — and really, the heart of discipleship itself.

Challenge:
What would it look like this week not just to give something up, but to give yourself more fully to Christ — in salvation renewed, obedience practiced, and sanctification pursued?

Authentic Discipleship

We live in a world of filters, edits, and carefully curated images. From social media to advertising, we're constantly presented with polished versions of reality. Long before digital editing existed, artists like Sir Peter Lely became famous for "improving" the appearance of their subjects. But when Oliver Cromwell commissioned his portrait, he demanded something different: paint me as I truly am—"warts and all." That phrase has endured because it captures a timeless truth: real transformation doesn't begin with pretending, but with honesty. The Gospel of Mark carries this same spirit. Mark doesn't airbrush the disciples into spiritual superheroes. He shows them as ordinary people—flawed, confused, ambitious, and still deeply loved by Jesus.

In Mark 10:35–45, James and John approach Jesus with a bold, self-focused request: they want the best seats in His coming kingdom. They imagine glory, power, and influence, but they completely miss the nature of Jesus' mission. Rather than rebuking them harshly, Jesus gently redirects their understanding. Following Him is not about climbing ladders or securing status; it is about drinking the cup of sacrifice and walking the path of surrender. Jesus reminds them that true greatness in God's kingdom looks nothing like greatness in the world.

Jesus Himself models this upside-down greatness. Though He possessed all authority, He spent thirty quiet years in ordinary obedience—working, learning, and waiting for the Father's timing. When His public ministry finally began, it unfolded not as a quest for power, but as a life poured out for others. Isaiah describes Him as the Suffering Servant, and Jesus summarizes His own mission plainly: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." There were no shortcuts to glory for Jesus—only the road of the cross.

That same road defines discipleship today. Following Jesus means dying to self, surrendering our agendas, and choosing the way of humble service. It means letting go of the need to be first and embracing the call to love, serve, and invest in others. The good news is this: Jesus does not require perfection—He calls ordinary people, "warts and all," and transforms them by His grace. The question is not whether we are flawless, but whether we are willing. Are we ready to trade our desire for recognition for a life of sacrifice and service? Because in God's kingdom, that's where true greatness is found.

This week, ask God to show you one concrete way to serve someone with no expectation of recognition. Then do it—quietly, joyfully, and in Jesus' name.