My early childhood was not spent in the Lutheran Church. I remember very vividly when my family and I arrived, though. I had never seen “robes” and had never heard chanting. I didn’t know what words like “liturgy,” “Communion,” and “justification” meant. On top of that, we walked through the doors in the winter time…uhh…I mean Advent. It was all new. It was all strange. But it left me wanting to learn. Learning was a process. It seemed like every week there was something new that stood out.

The “newness” factor began to run out throughout January and into February. Everything was the same week after week which helped to take it all in and commit the liturgy to memory. That is, it began to run out until the end of February (that year) when I kept overhearing one question over and over again. “What are you giving up for Lent?” I recoiled thinking about the day that question would be asked of me. It’s not because I was embarrassed about what I had given up. It’s because I had no idea what it meant! As inquisitive as I might have been, it was still a big deal for me to ask a question—especially one whose answer everyone else seemed to know.

I had never heard of Lent or of giving anything up for Lent. What was it? What was it all about? The answer I was given to those questions shaped my understanding of the season and of fasting for many years. You might have heard the same answer I did. “You give something up for Lent because during these 40 days, we remember Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and that He gave up His life for us. Because He gave His life for us, we give something up for Him.”

OK. I could get on board with that, especially coming from the denomination I had. It’s time to show Jesus how dedicated my life is to Him! But quickly, a few things didn’t add up. First, it was the Sunday thing. Are Sundays in Lent or are they of Lent? Your answer to that question would determine whether or not you kept your fast on Sunday. (I wonder if Jesus took a trip into the city from the wilderness on the weekends?) The second thing that confused me was the intent. For the first time in my life I was hearing the Word preached that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone and that works aren’t for God but for the neighbor. This idea of Lent seemed to throw all of that out the window. I was confused. I wondered how in the world giving up Dr. Pepper and Sweet Tarts was even close to measuring up to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us. And oh! How I looked forward to those Sundays! Not because we gathered for worship, but because I got to gorge on caffeine and sugar!

My whole line of thinking was misguided. Lent isn’t about us doing something for Jesus because He has done something for us. It’s not an exchange. It’s not a contest. You’ll see that the result of any of the above motivations for practicing Lent is condemned by Jesus in the Gospels. It leads to us playing the disciples’ favorite game: “Who’s the greatest?” It leads to the very thing it seeks to destroy—self-righteousness.

The purpose of Lent is to reveal to us our complete reliance on the Word of God. It shows us how fallible and depraved we are. Now, there’s certainly nothing wrong with choosing to give up Dr. Pepper and Sweet Tarts, and the consumption of those things is not sinful. But if I struggle to keep such a simple vow to give up something so petty as that, how much merit should anyone give to my other promises? What about my marriage vows? What about Confirmation? Will I make sacrifices in order that my word is kept?

Our word is often unsure. God’s Word is sure. Lent drives us to see who we really are by removing those things to which we so tightly cling. It forces us to struggle. It throws us into the Garden face to face with the serpent. “Oh, it’s just one bite. What’s the harm in that?” Yet Lent never leaves us without Jesus. The “Gl-ria” and the “All-luia” (see what I did there?) might be gone, but we don’t hide Jesus away until Easter. He walks with us all the way and then urges us to the cross during Holy Week.

I hope that you have chosen to practice the Lenten fast. During the season, you will surely see how needy and dependent you are but all the more you will see your Lord Christ who provides for all of your needs.