ASLC Devotions -- Friday

2 Corinthians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe,^* and not according to Christ.

The other night I was innocently watching a hockey game, minding my own business. And then there was a commercial break. That's when it started. Fear and violence came into my home.... by which I mean, more fear and violence than I had seen watching the hockey game. First was a commercial for a new television series about alien invasion. Then came the commercial by one political advocacy group that told me that if I don't recycle my newspaper now, there's no chance of the planet's survival. Immediately followed by another commercial that argued that if I don't call my Senator now to oppose health care reform, then the American way of life is doomed. Last but not least was a commercial for "2012" the new movie based on ancient Mayan predictions that the world will come to a violent end in late 2012. Some of these commercials seemed like well-reasoned and plausible arguments and some were political advertisements. But I was glad for the rest and relaxation of the hockey game after that commercial break.

Fear is all around us. And fear is nothing new. Irrational fear is nothing new. Conspiracy theories and "end-of-days" scenarios have been around a very long time. Let me quote Paul again: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ." The only thing that can possibly combat all this fear and all this uncertainty about the future is certainty grounded in Christ. Christ has already won the victory for us on the cross. In the grandest sense of things, in the great sweep of history, everything's going to be OK, because we are resting in God's strong and gentle hands.

Now, back to the hockey.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join together for worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11. If you have thoughts you'd like to share about these devotional messages, you can head over to http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com