Devotional - February, 14, 2024
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday on the same day...? Do they go together or are they related in any way? St. Valentine was both a priest and a martyr; not much there. We normally think of Ash Wednesday as a time for personal reflection; not much there either. So, where do we look for all the issues entailed here: life, death, and love? One place, oddly enough, is a grave marker. Listed underneath the person's name and sometimes a short quote are the dates that encompass their life. Their date of birth and death, and in between, is a dash. Their entire life being represented by a single, short, horizontal line. And it is the same for everyone. As you walk past the many grave markers, many of which are shaped differently and made from different materials, the same dash represents all their lives. The old preacher of Ecclesiastes similarly endorses the idea that all lives end in the same condition. Yet, we know the dash does not come close to representing the lives of all people, let alone one. But, let's think a little more about what that line represents: birth, life, and death. For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, we can add another line to the horizontal line. We can add a vertical line bisecting it which makes a cross. Yes, we may all end up in the same condition physically, but how we get there is different. For the Christian, we come to realize that the cross is a symbol for all lives. Its message is the foundation of our life. We realize that God's grace, redemption, salvation, and hope underline our entire life from birth to death (Hosea 11:4). Come what may, the love of God is our Rock (Psalm 18:2) and Refuge (Psalm 46) that carries us through. So as you take a moment and give thanks for your loved ones today, remember the One who loves you and is there for you from the beginning all the way to the very end.
Pray with me..., Holy God, it is easy to get discouraged by all that goes on, all the hard times in our lives. Remind us, You are with us, You love us beyond what we can comprehend. You went to the cross and beyond so that we can be with You. Lord, we give You thanks this day for what You did for us, hear our praise. Thank you for our loved ones, we ask Your blessing upon them. And we give You thanks for our church. Guide us so we can be the people you call us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
