Listen

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. He set free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15

Think

When my wife and I were first married, we babysat for a friend’s three-year-old. After the parents left for the evening, we found out their son had recently learned of the concept of death. He emphatically told us that he didn’t want to die and eventually had trouble getting to sleep at bed-time. My wife discovered the biggest part of his fear was the idea of being separated from his parents. She assured him that his parents, his family, and everyone he loved would all be together even beyond death. He would not be alone and did not need to fear. He drifted off to sleep peacefully.

Of course a child would be terrified at the idea of being forever separated from their parents! And it’s no wonder we all fear death in our own ways. The writer of Hebrews assures us that because Jesus shared flesh and blood, life and death with us humans, we are freed from the fear of our own death. We are not alone now, and we won’t be alone then. How could Jesus set you free from fear?

Chad Senuta

Pray

Living God, thank you for releasing me from the power of death. Help me to rest in the promise that I am not alone now, I will not be alone then, and I need not fear. Amen.

Go

Though I'm prone to leave Your side / You draw me like the tide

You are constant in my wandering / You are brighter than the dark in me / You are the love that sets me free

You are faithful / You are faithful / You are

from “You are” by David Crowder (2014)