Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Hebrews 13:20
Because the end of the school year is near, I’ve been doing a backward glance. There is naturally an expanded glance back over the last two school years in pandemic life. I have wondered, laughed, tried new things, pivoted more than a few times, practiced classroom basics. Exhaustion, surprise, protocols, tears, and joy have covered the days.
How about your backward glance of the last two years? We’ve learned new skills, understand delivery for all sorts of things, experienced crazy settings on computers, DVRs, and in our living spaces (did you go to church in your living room in your pjs?) We have wondered, laughed, tried new things, pivoted more than a few times, practiced the basics. Exhaustion, surprise, protocols, tears and joy have covered our days.
Life, no matter what the season, causes upheaval, explosions in routines, rollercoaster emotions, grief, anxiousness but also grit, creativity, relief, even amazing silence and stillness.
Life in general can smash against what we understand, hope for, believe in.
The book of Hebrews reminds us about the unseen, the adventures of our faith forefathers and mothers, the hope we have even when life isn’t what we hoped.
Glance at Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace,
who through the blood of the covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ
to whom be glory forever and ever.”
What a blessing. Or is it a short sermon? A prayer request?
May the God of peace.
Oh what a thought.
The God who keeps his promises and displays his power over death.
Oh what a truth.
The Father of the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
Oh those sheep.
May this God of peace, equip you and me with everything good for doing his will.
His will not mine. His purpose not my agenda. His way not my ideas. His supply not mine.
May this God of peace work in you and me what is pleasing to him.
Even in the midst of the unsettling, the unknown, the uncomfortable, the unwanted, the unreal.
May this God of peace work in us what pleases him.
For the glory of our Jesus Christ.
Breathe. Take a backward glance for your next forward steps.
Glory to Jesus.