We didn’t seek God first. Even before we knew anything about God or cared, God sought us out.
Our world celebrates the self, our own effort, and improvement. On the contrary, Lent calls us back to the reality of divine initiative and empowerment. We didn’t climb or earn our way to God. We didn’t begin the process of salvation. We couldn’t. Unless God revealed himself across the divide of sin and brokenness, we would never know about him at all.
God moved toward us first with his love, mercy, and grace. The apostle John reminds us: “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) That single verse redefines our perspective for the season of Lent.
While we participate in Lent’s practices of prayer, fasting, and service, we aren’t trying to earn God’s love. We already have it, and he already proved it on the cross. Lent reminds our hearts and minds, renews them, with the truth that every step we take toward Jesus only responds to his initiation toward us.
In the cross, we see this with ultimate clarity. Jesus didn’t wait for the world to get its act together. He came while we were lost and unable to save ourselves. His pursuit began before we understood our need, felt conviction, or repented in faith, all gifts of God.
We return to God because he has already revealed his love for us. We confess that he already offers forgiveness in Christ. We surrender because he already provided a path back to the Father.
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