Back to School

Pause

Every person’s life tells a story. Sometimes our lives—quite unexpectedly—become part of God’s larger narrative.

The potential is there at any time, in any moment.

Prepare yourself now for what you may least expect—for the voice of God to join with yours in telling the story that is your life.

Listen

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:13-16

Think

Dear Diary,

Can you imagine working but not getting paid? Not chores around the house, but an actual job you go to five days a week, every month, and every year. Simple, you say; you would quit! No one would be stupid enough to do that job!

Some friends of mine in Russia had to do that. When their economy crashed and the government had no money to pay them, they had two options: quit working, lose their pensions, and look for another job; or keep working with the hope that a payday would eventually come. My friends chose to keep working with the hope that one day they would be rewarded for their faithfulness.

Today’s text describes Christians as people who live and work in this world but who are not satisfied with this world. Because of that, we look forward to a better heavenly reward.

Steve Cothran

Pray

Faithful God, when I get too attached to this world, remind me that no matter how good I think this life might be, it will not compare to the reward you have planned for me. Help me be faithful until that day. Amen.

Go

It’s easy to think you are alone, that no one else experiences life like you do.

But go now into your day knowing this: God has not left you alone, and your struggles are much the same as everyone you know and those you don’t know.

God understands. God accepts you. And God is leading the way.