40 Days Closer to Christ

What if they decided to hold a concert and every member of the orchestra showed up with their instruments tuned anyway they wanted? I’ve been to a few middle school concerts and I have to tell you that it wouldn’t be good. There must be some standard to which all the instruments are tuned, or else you end up with a cacophony. But not only do the instruments need to be tuned, but they need to be tuned to a Master note.

In my house I have three guitars. (Actually since my kids played rock star with one of them only two are playable, but for illustration purposes lets suppose all three can be played.) If I tune one of them to with a pitch pipe or with an electronic tuner than I am pretty sure that it is conditioned for optimal performance. Now I can go to the second guitar and tune it by the first one. And I can get around to tuning the third one by using the second. Theoretically, all three should be tuned up just right. But if I strum a note on the third one, and check it with the tuner, more than likely it will be a little flat or a little sharp. It is just not quite in tune. No matter how good my ear is, a little variation sneaks in as they get tuned down the line. All three guitars have different tones and pitches but if they are all tuned with the electronic tuner and to the same standard then they sound good together.

It is the same way with us. We can get pretty close to where we should be in our spirituality, in our righteousness, and in our walk with God by sharpening ourselves against each other, but we will always be a little off. We need to go back to the Master to make sure that we are where we need to be. It is Christ alone who is the standard by which we measure ourselves. And it is by Him alone that we will be able to perform as we should. That is why we take forty days leading up to Easter and use it to draw closer to Christ and to reestablish our discipleship.

Forty days is the optimal period to form a new habit, to establish a new practice, and to change the pattern of your life. 40 Days – Closer to Christ is an activity (we won’t use the word program) that can change your life.

Forty is a significant number in the scriptures. When God brings about change, the scriptures often represent a significant event as having a forty day duration. Noah’s world was changed forever in forty days. Moses saw God face to face and in forty days received the word which is still the basis for law and government. The city of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes and turned away God’s wrath in the space of forty days. David became a hero after all Israel cowered under Goliath’s forty day challenge. Elijah lived by faith for forty days after God sustained him with one meal. The disciples were given the mysteries of the kingdom as they were taught by the Lord during an intensive forty day seminar after the resurrection. Jesus prepared with a forty day fast for a ministry which culminated in the salvation of mankind.

We can grow closer to the Savior as we study His life and His appearances throughout scripture. We become the people we should as we strive to lead a life of diligent discipleship. In these forty days we can review and renew the vital things that bring us to the Lord. We can refresh our memories and recall the eternal truths of who God is, who we are, and how we can have a close relationship with Him. 40 Days – Closer to Christ is an opportunity to more fully develop that relationship, so that we may see as we are seen and know as we are known.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Day 27 ~ Redeemer (Doctrine & Covenants 31:13)


A prince lived in splendor and love in the kingdom of his Father. All things were before him, but the prince had no way to appreciate all that he beheld for he had never known want, pain or loss. The prince did know that he wanted to be like his Father who was a great and mighty King. So he went out into the world to seek an education and to gain experience.

The prince was quickly overwhelmed by all the new sensations and choices of the world. He quickly forgot his Father and the splendor of the kingdom from which he came. It was not long before he felt like this new world was his real home. The prince did not know that his Father was always watching over him and standing by ready to respond should the prince remember to call upon Him. Nevertheless, this was the prince's journey, and the King let his child decide for himself what he would do. Bad choice followed bad choice and soon the prince was in misery and despair, he found no happiness in pleasure, nor fulfillment in his pursuits. He found himself enslaved.

The King sought to call back the prince (and all of His children) who had gone out into the world. So He sent out His Eldest Son, the Heir, with an invitation for His children to come home for a great feast. None could respond to the invitation. They had all forgotten. And they had all incurred debts which enslaved them in chains of captivity. Because He loved them, the Heir, at great cost to Himself, paid the debts of all His brethren in bondage. He called upon them to come home. But most still would not. They had forgotten.

When the prince heard of his Father's invitation, he was doubtful and suspicious. But he could not help himself and he would go to the gates of the palace and watch. He dare not go too close to the gates. He was aware of his shabby clothing and his filthy state. He did not remember he belonged there. And his debtor had not told him his debt was paid. He just knew that he was unworthy.

One day he decided that he would come closer to the gate. He humbly approached. As he came near he began to lose his nerve and he turned to go. Just then the gate opened, and his Brother, the Heir, called out to him. The Heir embraced His brother and wept with joy. The Heir took his brother into the palace and washed him and bound up the wounds and sores incurred in his journeys. Then He dressed him in the most splendid robes, and took him to the great hall. When the prince entered the great hall he saw his Father the king. All of his memory came back to him and he was filled with love and joy as he embraced his true family. He was restored. Gratitude and love for his Eldest Brother filled his heart and he adored and worshiped Him forever after.


The Old Testament prophets came to see Jehovah in the light of the social laws of Israel. In that law was the condition that if a man or family lost its possessions or inheritance than a brother, uncle, cousin or some near relative could come forward and stand up for them. This relative could ransom family members from slavery or bondage. He could redeem the original property inheritance and restore the unity and integrity of the family or tribe. This savior of the family was called the go'el or "next kinsman." It was important that the go'el be a family member for only a family member had the right to restore a lost inheritance for the family unit. The go'el was the "kinsman-redeemer."

When the prophets began applying the term go'el to the Lord they understood that the LORD was indeed our kinsman. Jesus is related to us. He is our Brother in the spirit, a kinsman by blood through Abraham, and He has adopted us spiritually. He has every right to function as our Kinsman-Redeemer and rescue us from sin and death. Far from being a remote and distant God, He is our Captain, and the Head of our household. As our Redeemer, He brings us home, restores our inheritance and clothes us in the robes of His righteousness (which is good, because if we were clothed in the robes of our own righteousness we would be arrested for indecent exposure). Christ upholds the creations of His hands, the integrity of His kingdom and the dignity of His family.
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