Wheatful Wednesday with Wheat and Honey Co.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
The Lenten season is a period Christians observe through prayer, fasting, and reflection. A time marked by the observance of Ash Wednesday, which begins the season, and culminates in the celebration of Easter. This is a time in the church calendar that can be particularly enriching as we take intentional time to contemplate the cross. Today, I’d like to invite you to sit with me in the contemplation of the freedom resulting from the cross, and particularly the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The power coming soon, at Easter, of new beginnings and the fulfillment of Jesus’ death and resurrection, offering hope of salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
At my church, Irving Bible Church, our leadership created this beautiful visual for our congregation. During Lent, a wooden cross hangs high as a backdrop for our eyes to wander to. Inviting us to contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means for our faith. During the weeks of Lent, black cloth is draped at the altar and the people of our church are invited to write words in black ink on the black cloth. These words can be burdens we carry that cause us shame, sin we want to confess. Anything we want to give to the Lord and cry out for His forgiving and kind nearness in our brokenness. It’s a freeing opportunity to physically walk to the front of the church during closing worship and pray, confessing so tangibly what we don’t have to carry anymore because of Jesus. During our Good Friday service, held the Friday before Easter Sunday, we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. The cross that has hung for our contemplation is brought to the ground, displayed with the black cloths draped over it. We have the opportunity to walk by and touch the cross, experiencing the forgiveness of sin found in relationship with Jesus. On Easter Sunday, the cloths are gone and the cross hangs high again for our eyes to gaze upon, covered in the most beautiful array of colorful flowers.
This season we are walking through now is an opportunity to contemplate and find freedom because of Jesus. With this last week and a half of the Lenten season, I invite you to sit with Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally. What might God be calling you to lay down before Him so that you can live in the freedom His son, Jesus Christ, died for?
Britt Goff #wheatfulwednesday