“Let your moderation be known to all, for the Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5)

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which serves to mark the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a significant moment for us as Christians to reflect on our mortality, to repent of our sin, and follow Jesus to the cross throughout the season of Lent. Christians during Lent traditionally practice restraint and renewal through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, abstinence, fasting, and serving others.

And in between today and Ash Wednesday is Fat Tuesday. This is a day where traditionally the practice is to indulge in fatty foods and alcoholic drink before having to give it up for Lent. A report coming out of New Orleans shared that such indulgence leads to a rise in alcohol abuse, leading to drunk driving, increased accidental injuries due to falls or fights, violence, overeating, excessive spending, and disorderly conduct.

Officials, therefore, are pleading for people to celebrate Fat Tuesday with moderation. They aren’t the only ones. God pleads with us to also practice moderation. Philippians 4:5 states, “Let your moderation be known to all, for the Lord is at hand.”

The call for such moderation, gentleness, or this spirit of yielding to others is that the Lord is at hand. Meaning, the Lord’s return is near. We are called to be self-controlled and alert so that we might be aware of Jesus’ Second Coming. This instruction is for our good as well as the good of others.

So we have Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday–let’s make today moderation Monday.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You very much for all Your good gifts and the opportunities that we have to celebrate and rejoice over so many great things that You have given to us.