Christmastide

December 27, 2019

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18

Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. –Hebrews 2:14-18

My mother told us when she was a little girl, but old enough to go to the outhouse by herself, she would run as fast as she could to that little building so the devil could not grab her by the legs and pull her into hell. She never told us who had planted that seed of fear in her, but it was very real. Her telling of this story, I am sure, was to assure us that God is always with us and God is always stronger than evil. Two thousand years after the book of Hebrews was written, we still have not ferreted out the dynamics of evil verses good or death for that matter.

Evil remains active in our world today. I read about it on all the various ways of collecting information. Evil Is very astute at selling its worth. Evil requires us to be intentional about avoiding become enticed and enslaved by it. All those wonderful sources of information are also outlets for the spreading of misinformation designed to divide us as a people and take advantages of our vulnerabilities. One of my primary tests when considering new information is asking the question: does this information or behavior pass the test of God’s love? Will what it is selling be good for the betterment of all God’s children not just a few? Is it striving to make us afraid of our brothers and sisters rather than heal relationships? You may want to add your own tests, but it helps to have some measures of worth ready to help us discern what is right, what is just.

Prayer: God of Mercy and Justice, guide is at every step of our way in discerning what is of God and what is not> Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.