Day 9 - Why 40?

Verse of the Day:

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." Matthew 4: 1-2

40 is an important number in the bible. It almost always proceeds new birth. Noah had to endure 40 days and 40 nights of rain as the world was made new. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai as he received the 10 commandments birthing the people of the covenant. The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years before entering the land they were promised. And Jesus? What did his forty days mean? LIFE!

As we spend these 40 days giving, we should also be preparing for new birth. When these forty days have passed, Three Bridges will be getting a new Pastor and a new birth for our congregation. Spring will have arrived with flowers blooming and no more snow. After spending 40 days of giving we might find that we have changed. Tomorrow you will be a fourth of the way done. Don't give up! Remember the reason people give something up for lent is to be reminded of the sacrifices that Jesus had to endure.

As we spend another day in the snow, think about a new birth waiting just around the corner.