Good morning on this beautiful, blue sky Monday! It’s great to start the week out with you as we read the Scriptures and receive a fresh Word.
This coming Sunday is part of Memorial Day weekend. As with most things this year, this Memorial Day is a bit different.
As always we will be remembering and honoring our military men and women who have served courageously and sacrificed completely. Through their unwavering commitment and selfless sacrifice, they have paid the price of our freedom.
This year as we commemorate Memorial Day we will also be remembering our health care workers and other essential frontline service personnel. They are fighting a different kind of war, against an unseen enemy. Through their dedication, they have battled for the health and well-being of 1.52 million Americans who have contracted Covid 19. As of April 15, 9,200 health care workers had contracted the virus themselves and 27 deaths have been reported. Through their service and sacrifice, they are paying a price for our health and safety.
In light of the service and sacrifice on all fronts, it seems only fitting we reflect on “eternity” this Memorial Day weekend.
Our Scripture for exploring “eternity” will be from II Corinthians 5:1-9. What makes this text, and so much of the Apostle Paul’s thinking on “eternity” challenging and also comforting, not only does he write about the eternal from an earthly point of view, he also considers the earthly from an eternal perspective.
As always on Monday I invite you to read and re-read the text, silently and aloud. Copy it from several translations. Paraphrase it in your own words. Both Ezekiel and Revelation refer to “eating the scroll” and digesting the word of God. That may be a bit intense, but you get the idea… how much can you internalize what is being proclaimed in the Scripture?
As always make sure you have your notebook handy and jot down your ideas and observations. When thoughts come your way, you don’t want to let them get away!
I look forward to thinking about “eternity” with you this week. What “healthy choices” we can make in relation to this sacred dimension of life? With that question I’ll stop so you can get started!
Have a great day!
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you as we reflect upon Scriptural words about “eternity” they witness to the sacred depth of life where Your majesty and glory are fully present. We know there is no way we can imagine or conceive what this must be like. And yet as Ecclesiastes says, you have put “eternity” in our minds and hearts to continually reassure us and give us hope. Lord as we study this week, let us grow more fully into this blessing through our risen Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen