(Discipleship) The Power Of God’s Love Humbles Us (Psalm 119:41; Luke 4:36) (Humility)

Ash Wednesday begins the time of Lent in our worship life. Lent often has the tradition of something you give up. Often the question is asked, “what did you give up for Lent?” But on Ash Wednesday we take on the ashes of our identity in Christ. Today can be more about what we take on than what we give up. As we know, Jesus gave up Himself for us on the cross. The ashes on our foreheads often come from the burned palm branches from last year’s Palm Sunday. So on Ash Wednesday we take on the death and resurrection of our Lord. The ashes on our head help us remember this but in fact after the worship we don’t even remember we have this mark on our forehead. And that is what Jesus wants us to discover. We live our lives of faith out of the freedom that we don’t need to remember that we are marked with Christ’s death and resurrection for us, but others will see the mark of God on our heads. May they also see the freedom this mark creates for us to be a witness to Jesus. Here are few more ways to understand the purpose of ashes on our foreheads. * Mortality & Humility: The phrase, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and the need to humble oneself before God. 


 * Repentance & Penance: Originating from Old Testament practices, ashes signify mourning for sins. 


 * Redemption & Renewal: As the ashes come from burned palm fronds of the previous year's Palm Sunday (celebrating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem), they connect us to Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. 


 * Identification with Christ: The cross shape signifies that we belong to Jesus and share in His suffering and triumph.