I will not offer that which costs me nothing

Today is nicknamed “Fat Tuesday” because of the feasting on this day before the beginning of Lent. Some cultures mark the day with “Carnival” literally meaning ‘goodbye to the flesh’- marking the beginning of fasting for Lent;  the 40 day season of spiritual discipline leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. Spiritual disciplines have been largely abandoned by Christians so the ‘fast’ of Lent for many is ignored or merely symbolic such as giving up chocolate.

Do American Christians of 2011 even understand Paul’s declaration? He said, “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) Our culture of indulgence has convinced us that real life is found in having more of everything. We eat huge portions of food, consume exorbitant amounts of energy coddling ourselves in perfectly controlled climates, think that the meaning of life is sex, and spend vast amounts of time and money entertaining ourselves. Our souls wither, starved for worship, atrophied by neglect. Yet, we boldly lay claim to the Kingdom of God and expect to waddle into Heaven to claim our rich reward.

Recognizing human frailty, the first generations of Christians built regular times of renewal into the annual calendar. Those times were to be a collective time to remember and refocus. But, even then, religion replaced reality. Fasts became mere outward form, conformity to a rule that produced more guilt and more death, instead of a cry for the Spirit to bring life and freedom!  I clearly know the temptation to worship the form that is part of religion. Jesus roundly condemned the Pharisees of His time for their rigid observation of religious law without turning their hearts to God. “You wash the outside of the cup, but leave the inside dirty and polluted,” He told them. “You’re like whitewashed tombs, gleaming on the surface, but full of death!” If our practice of Lenten fasting fails to focus on the Lord and His life, we have nothing but an adventure in missing the point! Knowing that danger, we still must recognize the importance of allowing the Spirit to work in the disciplines to break the stranglehold of pleasure that chokes the Life out of us.

Near the end of the letter in which Paul rails on mere religion, on loving form more than substance, of turning from the Cross to the Law, there is this call: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25, NIV) This Lent I encourage you to recover the fast with meaning. Pray for the Spirit to lead you to some discipline that will allow Him to enlarge your soul’s capacity for the Presence of God. Spontaneity has its place in our adoration of our Lord. So does devotion! Ask the Lord to show you what bids to own you. Then, pray that He will lead you to crucify the flesh, to put it to death, so that the Spirit will own you: body, soul, and spirit.

Here  is the word from the Word, a story from the life of David. May the challenge to offer sacrifice of real cost speak to you today.
"David said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.”

Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.”

But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels of gold for the site. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering." (1 Chronicles 21:22-26, NIV)

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Take my life and let it be

Consecrated Lord to Thee

Take my moments and my days

Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing

Always only for my King

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold

Not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect and use

Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose

Take my will and make it Thine

It shall be no longer mine

Take my heart it is Thine own

It shall be Thy royal throne

Take my love my Lord I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store

Take my self and I will be

Ever only all for Thee

Take My Life And Let It Be

© Public Domain

Frances R. Havergal