Some will observe the Lenten season practicing the spiritual disciplines of fasting and self denial starting today as a way of drawing closer to God in self-examination, confession and repentance. Others, no less devoted to Jesus will not. We do well to remember what God's word teaches as we decide how or if we will observe the Lenten season.
Jesus teaches his followers to fast in ways that do not draw attention to themselves and not to pray or give to the needy with a view to attracting attention to their own piety (Matthew 6:1-18). The apostle Paul cautioned followers of Jesus against judging another believer's practices when he wrote "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls." (Romans 14:4, NIV).
This is good advice from Scripture. To those who observe Lent through specific spiritual disciplines, keep it between you and the Lord. Whether you fall into the camp of observance or not, do not judge those in the other camp. They are the Lord's children too.
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