SCRIPTURE And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 ESV
THOUGHT Have you ever felt like you were living on a fault line, asking yourself from time to time whether the fault is your own? I have been at the place where every few months the plates seem to shift; at best, everything gets shaken; at worst, part of my life falls into the pit.
I look around at those I perceive to have it all together, and think they are living on something more solid, and wonder what are they doing that I’m not? Then I learn that their grandchild has cancer, or a parent has Alzheimer’s, or a job has been lost and life is in chaos.
And so, I conclude, it’s not just me. We all live on a fault line in some sense of the word. God does not owe us an easy, carefree life, nor does he seem much vested in that approach to spiritual growth. Through it all, it is our soul he is watching for evidence of life within. Even the most righteous man or woman will face the question: will I die to myself and my own desires and ideas of what life should be, or will I cling to them as they fall into the broken earth, intent on following them to the point of no return?
There is something worse than fearing those kind of losses — and fearing all the other tragedies that can happen on this side of heaven. Jesus said “fear not” a lot, and in the midst of all his “fear nots,” pointed out the One worthy of our holy, reverent fear: God, who has the final say over the soul.
PRAYER Jesus, life here is hard as you so well know. Help us live on our fault lines with courage, knowing that to follow you – instead of whatever dream is disappearing in whatever earthquake we’re experiencing – will lead to resurrection and life that goes on for the soul who loves you.
Dear Reader,
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ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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