Put Evil to Death

I have talked with quite a few people this year and many others who have “given up” things for the religious season they call “lent.” Usually, the thing given up was something the person enjoyed, like dessert, or alcohol, or television. Recently, a friend was digging in the chocolate dish by my front door as he left after a visit. While picking his favorite variety, he informed me that he had given up chocolate for lent. I suppose the look on my face caused him to further explain, “Sundays in lent don’t count.”

I don’t remember anyone in my experience ever giving up being hateful or selfish or manipulative for lent. Seems like a better idea to me.

Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath comes on the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his practices and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator.
(Colossians 3:2-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®)