Not that I would normally disagree with Dr. Horton, but I don’t feel that ANY act of ours will lead us to Christ, even something like Lent. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. If the HS wants you to withhold something because it would cause you to reflect more on Jesus and what he has done for you, the HS is not and should not be constrained to any limiting period of time, such as a 40 day Lent season. It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to Christ and all his benefits. And speaking of benefits...
If your loving and compassionate spouse scrimped and saved to buy you that shiny new red sports car you’ve always wanted and presented it to you, do you look them in the eye and say “I love you and your gift so much, I am going to set it in the garage for forty days so I can enjoy it so much more later.”? No, you enjoy the car every day, and rejoice in such a wonderful gift of sacrifice.
Jesus sacrificed so you don’t have to. The Father gives you what you need, and much of what you want. I think it is idiotic to say to a loving Father that you want to leave the gifts he gave you alone, so you can appreciate him all the more, when actually you should be praising him every day for the wonderful things he has given and continues to give. If something has caused you to think more of it than of God (coffee, smokes, internet, whatever) that you think you should forgo it for 40 days, just get rid of it altogether, it has become an idol.
In other words, you don’t need a special season to do that which you should be doing every day, rejoicing in ALL that is good from God.
Gamey, sorry for the long post.
"Everything in moderation, however, too much whiskey is just enough... Mark Twain)"
So I guess No abstinence of Whiskey while You are too bleary eyed to praise Jesus in the right fashion? So I guess either on the floor or standing up would be the right way?
Wow! What a statement and with that tagline.