From the Pastor's Pen

Pastor Sally’s Devotional 7/23

| July 23, 2020

What do you think, friends?  Are these steps going up or going down?  I suppose one could take them either direction, but every time I look at them I think about climbing up those steps.

The steps themselves are beautiful, but dangerous looking.  I wouldn’t want to take them too quickly.  But I believe if I paid attention to the placement of my feet and moved carefully I could manage all the way to the top.

I imagine that it is to the top that we would want to ascend.  I appears that the bottom is in some sort of valley and given the amount of vegetation and what appears to be moisture on the steps, I’ll bet there are mosquitoes at the bottom.  I’m guessing it’s humid and feels muggy!  I definitely want to go up those steps!

And what’s at the top of those steps?  I’m betting on sunshine and open space, a breath of fresh air and a view of the rest of God’s world!

I think these pandemic days feel like climbing steep, jagged, slippery and dangerous steps, but we can manage them if we place our feet carefully and go slowly.  This is not a sprint.  It’s a marathon. 

So is the life of faith.  It’s a marathon.  We like to think the life of faith is all rewards with the blessings of God’s love filling our days – fluff and sunshine!  The truth is, it’s a uphill climb.  There are challenges, moments when we’re unsure, and sometimes we feel like giving up. And we’re not even all that sure what’s at the top!  Then something reminds us that we do not climb alone and we take another step.  Jesus has been this way before and we follow him.

The author of the Hebrews knew the life of faith was a challenge.  He likened it to a race and urged perseverance.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12; 1-3)

Step by step we follow him.  It’s the only way.

Peace,

Pr. Sally

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