The season of Lent this year marks the 40 days (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday (March 5) and Holy Saturday (April 19), the day before Easter (April 20).

Lent is traditionally a season of reflection, meditation, fasting and spiritual disciplines, to focus on Jesus Christ and the meaning of His life, suffering, death, burial and resurrection.

But why should this matter? Are seasons in the Christian calendar important? Or are they artefacts of old religion? Should it matter to us as a body of Christ?

The answer is a resounding “yes!” Here are 3 reasons for us to consider why this is so.

1. Lent helps us to go lower

Without seasons, we can sometimes have “general faith”.

We can be generally thankful for God’s grace for our salvation, provision and protection. We can also go about our lives faithfully serving others and worshipping God in our daily devotion, choices and obedience.

But Lent is an invitation to go deeper.

When we make room for reflection, self-denial and repentance, God has room to reveal to us our hearts, and the areas where we have allowed sin or disobedience to hide (Psalm 139:23-24).

Our excuses are exposed, and we can no longer put off what the Lord is prompting in our hearts. We are alerted to areas of neglect or compromise, or places where we no longer have faith, or areas where we have lost the will to pray or hope.

Just like the ashes that are received on foreheads on Ash Wednesday, Lent invites us to consider our utter dust-like humanity. We come humbly before our God to repent. We are in need of renewal and salvation. We are in need of a Saviour.

2. Lent helps us to look higher

Our awareness of our need for God can lead us to welcoming Him once again.

When we behold the cross again, we may become aware of the victory that is missing from our “normal” lives. The victory has already been won (1 Corinthians 15:57)! The work on the cross is finished (John 19:30)!

Jesus comes to comfort us, but He has also come to reign in us. May we boldly ask for the greater things, and may we behold Jesus as the One who leads us into triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14)!

3. Lent helps us to look further

Lent and Easter remind us that we are united across the world to the body of Christ. They point us to the one baptism, one Lord and one faith that we share (Ephesians 4:4-6).

As we ponder during Lent on the implications of our resurrection, we quickly realise that we are not only called to a personal salvation, but also into a global family of believers. We share the same Saviour and belong to the same family. We have access to the same new life, and are empowered by the same Spirit.

This should encourage us to join our brothers and sisters around the world again to proclaim the Gospel of His Kingdom to all nations, until His return (Matthew 24:14).

Today is not too late to consider this season of Lent, and to let it have an effect on us individually, as well as a church family. May we prepare our hearts and be ready to joyfully celebrate our King together on Easter Sunday!

This article was first published by Kum Yan Methodist Church and is republished with permission.

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