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2010-03-09 - Why are there 40 Days of
Lent?
Orginally, in the third century A.D., Lent was observed for only 2-3 days.
However, around 325 A.D., the Council of Nicea extended the observance to
forty days. Throughout the history of the people of God, you will find that
the number 40 recurs in both the Old and New Testaments. For example, Genesis
8 tells us that after the flood, Noah waited for 40 days after seeing the
mountain tops, before sending out a raven to seek dry land.
In addition, the number forty is associated with fasting and the wilderness.
The Jewish people suffered in wilderness exile for 40 years, before reaching
the Promised Land. Moses fasted for 40 days, before God gave him what have
become known as the Ten Commandments. And in similar fashion, Christ fasted
in the wilderness for forty days, before embarking upon his ministry.
Are you in a wilderness experience - a period of spiritual dryness, painful
relationships, devastating illness or something else? Ask God to use this
period of Lent to redeem that situation for you. He may not lift you out
of it, but He can use it for good, a la Romans 8:28.
Jan
cfdevcfpray@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
Author's Note: This week, because of family visits and time limitations,
I will be interrupting our "Bad Guys of Lent" series, and instead present
an encore devotional. After having prayed before choosing it, we will send
out this devotional about Lent, which was originally published in 2008. |
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