First Sunday of Lent

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. Lent is intended to prepare us for Easter. In reality, every Sunday is supposed to be a celebration of Easter. During Lent people tend to be more religious and more observant of Sundays. Additionally, Easter and Christmas tend to be the two times a year that people attend church. Sunday is not just a time set aside for ritual. It is the day we dedicate to worship and rejoice with other believers. We should remember that it was Jesus' habit to go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). It was the custom of the early Church to meet every Sunday to commemorate the Resurrection. Participating in worship is more than just getting a gold star on an attendance chart. The believer needs a congregation because it is the body of Christ and we need to encourage one another. The author of Hebrews writes, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:24-25, KJV). We worship to praise God, for He is worthy to be praised. We go to church to worship and encounter God. We also go to church to encourage one another. Let Lent be a time when we renew our zeal for worship and our encouragement for one another.