LENT is the yearly 40-Day period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving to the poor that Christians worldwide observe. We remember: Jesus' time of fasting in the wilderness, and His death, burial, and resurrection. Lenten consecration begins today with Ash Wednesday. Penitent Christ-followers meet in spaces of worship to express sorrow and regret for their wrongdoings, and make the choice to repent—to turn away from their sinful ways.
The Lenten season is more than giving up chocolate and media, substituting burgers with fruits and veggies, or eating fish on Friday. It is meant to be a mini movement of self-denial and cross-taking for disciples of Jesus Christ. There is no Scriptural command to observe Lent. It, like many things of worship, is voluntary— motivated by our love for God and our appreciation of His love for us. People observe Lent because they believe Christ is worth their sacrifice. We are honored to die to ourselves, to focus our attention on Him, and on those in need. It seems apropos that Lent/Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day fall on the same day this year. Jesus said,
9As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:9-12)
During Lent we celebrate the greatest love of all. As a youth I was a huge fan of the incomparable Whitney Houston...but the greatest love of all is NOT learning to love yourself. It is learning to receive God's love, and returning it to Him, to yourself, to your neighbors, and even to your enemies. LENT is about LOVE! 1 John 4:7-11 admonishes us:
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. | 
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