One Year Bible - February 8
Scriptures to read:
Hebrews 4:14-6:12; Genesis 49:1-50:26; Psalm 39
When I initially read through these passages I had felt like I had just read the ending to some terrible TV show where everyone died and I wasted 3 seasons worth of binge watching time. Why did I just read through this? Why is it so sad and why was death mentioned like 85 times? Had I not been scheduled to write the devo, I likely would have marked it off my list and said, “No thanks, I don’t know that I want to read those together ever again.” But here I am. Scheduled for the devo and reading it over and over again - because, why is this here?
The Bible makes it clear in all of these passages that death is a very real reality each of us will face. It goes as far as to tell us that “the span of my years is as nothing before you.” While yeah, I get it and it’s true - dang, it feels a bit harsh. So it has me thinking, if our years here are short, how are we called to be spending them? I’ve certainly given myself a free pass to be lazy and whiny over the past few months. The world is sad and I’ve been sad right along with it. At some point, I told myself that these months and now years in the pandemic don’t count and I can keep everything on pause until we’re back to normal.
But I guess what we’re hearing in Hebrews is a very stern stop to please wake up. We are not infants - or at least we should hope not to be one forever. These years are so so short - pandemic or not - and our lives can be filled with endurance and calling it we let them. We just need to ask for help. We need to remember that God is with us, that we are not His babies, we are His children and He is ready to come to our aid when we are ready to pull our heads out of the ground and ask. We need to change our perspective from, “God get me out of here” to “God use me in this.” If Joseph can tell his brothers he forgives them and take care of their families, I can probably stop complaining too. What I’m not saying is that this world isn’t chaotic, sad, and broken. I’m not saying that our lives haven’t been hard in recent months, that there are real tragedies daily. I’m saying that we have a Father that understands these pains and welcomes us to lean into him and use this time to be fruitful whatever that may mean right now. He has promised to bring us through this just as He promised Jacob.
Memory Verse: We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. - Hebrews 6:11-12
Prayer: Lord, help us to lean into you and understand your promises are not lost. Guide us to find what is fruitful and important in this season. Allow our lives to be used by you no matter the circumstances because we know you are here with us. Amen.
