Tag: Aaron Winner

Rest in Peace

Deuteronomy 33-34

Psalm 32

Mark 15

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

I have never had trouble falling asleep. This is not meant as a brag, but as an acknowledgment of a blessing. If I am tired, anytime, anywhere is fair game. I once slept for a week of church camp on a wooden church pew without a pillow or blanket. I slept on the couch in my classroom (after school, of course). I have fallen asleep in conversations, while holding children, and even while writing devotional blogs. I often joke that my conscience is either incredibly clear or non-existent because I so rarely lie awake in bed. This is the sleep of life—the kind that repairs, restores, and brings rest, and I enter it so easily.

Some fifty times, the Bible refers to death as a differing kind of sleep. Moses is described as entering into rest with his fathers. Daniel foretells that multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake (Daniel 12). When Jesus speaks of Lazarus in John 11, He tells His disciples that he is sleeping. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul repeatedly refers to those who have died in Christ as asleep, and that what has fallen asleep is the firstfruits of the dead. Death is an eventuality, but it is not a finality. Though the sleep of death brings decay, it is not this death that brings ultimate destruction.

“With a loud cry, He breathed His last.” — Mark 15:37

Jesus fulfilled the will of the Heavenly Father to the point of death. Where there was once healing, there was now stillness. Where there was once preaching, there was silence. The Savior, once full of life, entered into the sleep of death for three days.

We tell this story over and over again, but have we ever imagined what it would be like to be a disciple of Christ during those three days? If I were ever to lie awake, it would be on those nights—replaying the Gospel, recalling the prophecies, searching every word I had heard for hope, fraught with fear over the fate awaiting me as His follower, and asking:

What does the death of Christ mean for me?

On this side of the resurrection, I can answer. If Jesus Christ is raised, then death is not the end. The sleep of death can, in fact, repair, restore, and bring rest. It does not simply mark the end of excruciating pain—whether from a cross, a battle with cancer, or the unexpected loss of someone we thought was “too young.” Instead, it becomes the completion of this life and the beginning of the next. Christ died for our sins, and we can rest assured of this—not only as we one day enter that sleep, but even now as we live in the fullness of faith.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” — Psalm 32:1–2

In the final hours of His life, the suffering of Jesus became the answer to the problem of sin. We do not overcome this world by striving harder or fighting in our own strength. It is through Christ’s propitiation, the sacrifice of His Heavenly Father, and our willingness to take up our own cross and follow Him. In Jesus, we find that we can rest in peace even now, because the sacrifice has been made. Though our transgressions are many, our slate has been made clean.

What was once feared is no longer final. To fall asleep in Christ is to awaken to the assurance of things not yet seen. Christ has finished the work, so we can fully, faithfully, and freely embrace that finish.

Death, where is your sting? For even in you, we can rest in peace.

Reflection Questions

  1. Where in my life am I resisting rest—striving for control instead of trusting God?
  2. How would my perspective change if I truly believed that even death—and every ending—is held securely in God’s hands?

Prayer

Thank You for the rest that comes through forgiveness. Thank you for the stillness and quieting of my soul that comes in the tomb of Jesus, for even death has been transformed.Help me release what I continue to carry—my guilt, my striving, my need for control—and rest in the finished work of Christ. Teach me to trust You not only with my life, but with every ending, every unknown, and every moment of surrender.Because of your plan, I can rest in peace in life and death.

In the name of Risen Jesus

Amen

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The Noise

Deuteronomy 31-32

Psalm 31

Mark 15

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

As a new parent, there is little you are truly prepared for. You are not prepared for the noise—the deafening cry of a child who is wet, hungry, or simply needs to be held in the middle of the night. In those moments, exhaustion sets in, emotions wear thin, and clear thinking feels out of reach. No one expects a sleep-deprived, emotionally fatigued parent to make calm, selfless decisions; yet, this is exactly where trust is formed. In the noise, in the uncertainty, in moments where no clear solution seems apparent, you respond in faith, in commitment to your child.

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.  You have not given me into the hands of the enemy, but have set my feet in a spacious place.” Psalm 31:5-8

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect. and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:3-5

In Mark 15, the noise reaches a deafening level. Jesus stands before Pilate as accusations are hurled and expectations rise. The crowd grows louder, more insistent, crying out for crucifixion. The pressure is relentless. There is no reasonable path forward that leads to life. Yet in the pulling undertow, as the hope of exoneration moves further and further away from the shore, Jesus trusts his Heavenly Father to deliver him. In the piercing, the crushing, the beating, the bruising, and the relentless barrage of physical and emotional punishment, Jesus still quenches the requirement of His offering, trusting God will not only deliver Him, but is acting divinely, doing no wrong, and showing an infinite love.

Reflecting on this model of Jesus, when tensions are high or we watch life unravel around us, are we ready to stand firm, trusting our Heavenly Father’s nature?

This is the God who rescued mankind on the darkest day of human history. The day that each of us condemned Christ, the only innocent life to walk on earth, is the day we call Good.

Reflect on this: God can redeem ANY day and call it good.

The loud, life-altering noise can be victory if we are obedient.

What I realized in our second go around with an infant is that the cry that was disconcerting and dissonant can also confirm that a child is alive and well.  Often we pray that God will take away the noise so we have a moment to catch our breath, to think, to sleep, to figure out a plan.  The Creator of the universe needs no assurances from us other than assured obedience: to act in love for those who despise us and to feed his sheep.  Who we are as parents or followers of Christ is defined in the presence of pressure, not in the absence

Jesus trusted his Father even when none of what was happening made sense, or the outrage and consequences felt unmerited and unjust.  That same faithfulness is cutting through the noise and calling us today.

Reflection Questions

  1. What noise, pressure, fear, or frustration tempts your faithfulness?
  2. What is the Good of Good Friday? How can God redeem ANY day and call it good? What good have you seen come from noise, pressure, fear or frustration in the life of others? What about in your own life?
  3. Aaron wrote Jesus is “trusting God will not only deliver Him, but is acting divinely, doing no wrong, and showing an infinite love.” What do you trust about God and His character, even on the noisiest, hardest day?

Prayer


In the noise of life—when everything feels loud, overwhelming, and uncertain—teach me to trust You. When exhaustion sets in and my thoughts are unclear, help me respond not out of fear or frustration, but out of faith and commitment. Thank You for Jesus, who stood in the noise of accusation and suffering and chose to trust You. When the pressure was relentless and the path forward made no sense, He remained faithful.


Help me to see that even the noise has purpose. Just as a child’s cry is a sign of life, remind me that You are still working in the tension, still present in the uncertainty, still faithful in every moment. Teach me to follow Jesus—to trust You when I do not understand, to stand firm when life feels overwhelming, and to believe that You are redeeming even what feels broken.

In The name of Your Son who poured out Himself as a sacrifice, Amen.

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Choosing Death

Deuteronomy 29-30

Psalm 31

Mark 15

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Other than being selected for jury duty and settling a speeding ticket—both nearly twenty years ago—I have very limited courtroom experience. Most of my perception of trials comes from cinema. Films like To Kill a Mockingbird, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Few Good Men often portray the defense similarly: counsel advises the defendant to remain quiet, not allowing emotion to lead to self-incrimination through testimony or reaction.

In Mark 15, we see Jesus standing trial. Though not advised by earthly counsel, He embodies perfect restraint. Blameless, perfect, and fully justified, He stands before Pontius Pilate, accused for declaring the truth—that He is the Son of the living God. Every defense was at His disposal. He could have commanded, cajoled, or called down divine power. But instead, “Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed” (Mark 15:5). The only One who could offer a true testimony chose silence on behalf of our guilt.

This frames the words of Deuteronomy 30 in a different light. “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Yet before us stands Jesus, choosing the path that lead to  crucifixion in order to spare us. He bore our sins, knowing He would be justified by the Father and raised to eternal life. Moses calls God’s people to choose life, but that life is not found in preserving ourselves.

In Psalm 31, we hear the cry that echoes both David and Christ: “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God” (Psalm 31:5). To live in the Spirit of God is to entrust ourselves fully to His care. It means we do not grasp for every opportunity to justify ourselves or defend our image. When pride rises and we feel compelled to prove our righteousness, we may be stepping away from the cross we are called to bear. After all, it was Barabbas—the guilty—who was released, while Jesus, the innocent, accepted his date.

This is the paradox of the Christian life: “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25). Our heart, soul, mind, and strength are not meant to empower self but to surrender fully. Jesus knew that accepting His sentence would yield eternal glory. Likewise, we stand before our Heavenly Father not with arguments, merits, or credentials, but with a desperate plea for mercy—relying on Jesus Christ, our mediator and counselor

Choosing death is not choosing despair. It is the daily decision to lay down our rights, our pride, and our need to justify ourselves—and instead trust fully in the example of Jesus Christ.  We choose conviction.  We choose meekness. We choose death.

Reflection Questions

  1. Can you think of a time when you chose to not defend yourself even though you would have been justified to do so? Can you think of a time you did defend yourself but it might have been better if you had not? Why was Jesus silent?
  2. What could it look like to today live out Psalm 31:5 – “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God”? What do you want God to deliver you from? What does God want to deliver you from? In what ways have you been trying to hold onto your own spirit, your rights, your way of doing things?
  3. How many times do you think you could read Mark 15 today?

Prayer

Dear God, I praise You for Your amazing love for me and the whole human race, a love so deep you gave us the greatest gift, at the cost of the life of Your perfect Son. I thank You for Jesus who teaches us how to life in obedience to You and how to die to self. I thank You for Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Mark 15. Thank you for the written record of Your love and faithfulness and Your plan unfolding. Help me to love You and Your Son Jesus well today. In his precious name I pray.

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Little Children

Deuteronomy 5-6

Psalm 25

Mark 9

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

What is the simplest way to draw closer to God? To receive our children and teach them about their Lord.  Whether it is our blood, our church, or our villages, the relationship our Heavenly Father has with us is best understood when we become the loving adult meeting the spiritual needs of kids.  Invite them to talk about God. Remind them of His commands, His promise, and their purpose in Him.  Pray in the car. Read devotion at the dinner table. Take them to church.  Hold them in your arms while you worship. Admonish and acknowledge God in front of them in all your struggles and victories.

I think these thoughts are best shared today in seeing the through-line in our reading listed below.  Additionally, I have shared the words of a song recently inspired by these scriptures, which has acted as a daily reminder to the role I serve in my family, my occupation, my village, and my church.  I have also attached a link of a generated version of this song that you are welcome to listen to as you contemplate the fulfillments of the challenge in today’s reading.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord Your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’  He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,  ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’” – Mark 9:35-37

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.  Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,  and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” – Psalm 25:7

The Only One

God is not a man that he should lie

Every promise He has made, he will supply

If we wander through the desert

And our walk is filled with strife

We can look to the heavens

For the coming Bread of Life

Come sing with me, oh God we believe

You are the Only One

Here this old and young, He’s still not done

Til every battle’s won

Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart

Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart

His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One

God is not a man to change His mind

From beginning to the end there’s Jesus Christ

Though like sheep we’ve gone astray

He’s still searching for us now

Turn your eyes to God, ev’ry idol disavow

Come sing with me, oh God we believe

You’re the Only One

Here this old and young, He’s still not done

Til every battle’s won

Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart

Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart

His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One

Here is the link if you would like to listen: https://suno.com/s/tKPiG0mCfWYUqZnU

Reflection Questions

  1. What happens when we don’t live out Deuteronomy 6:4-9? Whether you are a parent or not, how can you improve the way that you live out this passage?
  2. Give some examples of what it could look like to “welcome a child”. From Mark 9:35-37 and your own experiences, what are the benefits of welcoming a child? When was the last time you welcomed a child? In what additional way(s) can you practice welcoming a child this coming week?
  3. How do you allow God to teach you, so that you in turn can share with others? How do you hold God’s words in your heart? What else can you do to be more teachable? What happens when we don’t let God teach us?

Prayer

Dear God, the One and Only god, that makes You worthy of our praise and of my love with all my heart, soul, and strength. Thank you for sharing Your precious words with us. I want to learn from You, God, more and more. Help me to be teachable. Open my ears and my mind to lessons from You. Help me hold Your words – not my own, and not the world’s – but Your words – in my heart, throughout my home, and spilling over into every conversation. Show me how you want me to welcome the children so they receive a bit of Your words and the love of You and Your Son through me.

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Addition and Subtraction

Deuteronomy 3-4

Psalm 24

Mark 9

–Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Many people know I love to write. I hope that is apparent as you read through my devotions when I have the opportunity to share with Seek Grow Love. Additionally, I love science and history. Having taught both of these subjects, I love the story that each tells about creation and humanity. A fact that fewer know is that I’m pretty good at math and love Excel with extensive formulas—in fact, that was my job at one point: building elaborate spreadsheets to compute cubic feet, pricing, man hours, and profitability. Consequently, I know that a single piece of punctuation or an added numeral can set off a chain of poor computations that completely miss the mark.

“You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God.” — Deuteronomy 4:2

Moses reminds the people of Israel of this principle long before spreadsheets. Do not add anything to the commands of God. Do not take anything away from them. Keep them. Jesus gives us a similar warning in the Revelation to John—addition and subtraction have a direct impact on judgment (Revelation 22:18–19). Let me say this clearly: God’s Word is not a suggestion. To knowingly misinterpret it or treat it without the greatest care—molding it to fit our preferences, our culture, or our experience—is to lose sight of God.

More often than not, we fall into the temptation not to change the Word itself, but to reshape its practice. We ignore what is divisive or costly and choose to emphasize what is comfortable and easier to manage. In the age of preference, our faith is on the line. Instead of forming our lives around God’s discernible commands, we cling to standards set by ourselves or the world. These can become idols—hedged assurances of our ego, stature, time, wealth, or sacrifice.

Who is the one who ascends the hill of the Lord? Whether it is David as he brings the Ark of the Covenant to Zion or the disciples witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, the question remains (Psalm 24:3–4; Mark 9:2–7). The call is not based on effort alone. You cannot add to or subtract from your efforts to receive lesser or fuller reward as an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Because of this, purity is a whole, never a part. It is not achieved through addition or protected through subtraction, but through alignment with what God has already spoken.

Apart from the warning of Jesus—that judgment follows when we distort His Word—we will naturally drift. When we add, we place burdens, red tape, and elevation onto a grace that was freely given, though it still calls for obedience. When we subtract, we remove what is essential, lowering the standard and risking a faith that cannot hold. In trying to soften truth, avoid conflict, or live without conviction, we find ourselves living in tension—or worse, in the comfort of denial and ignorance.

The truth is this: God does not ask more than we can bear, but He also does not ask any less. The formula is not complicated, but the math is not easy. An errant doctrine is not the solution to humanity’s problem of sin. We may come to God through wandering, in our watching, or as a witness—but we are never called to customize the truth.

Reflection Questions

Consider these questions as you read today and place your obedience before the Lord:

Where have I added expectations for myself or others that God has never given?

Where have I subtracted or omitted truths that feel too difficult to hold?

Where is God inviting me to search His Word more deeply—and to truly listen?

Prayer

Dear God,

I praise you for being a righteous and holy God. There is none other. All your words are true and right. Thank you for the gift of the Bible where You reveal yourself and all truth, goodness, and the way to salvation. Help me see any errors I have committed in adding to or subtracting from Your perfect Word. May I stand alone on Your words which give life, never seeking to conform Your Word to my way, but always, always, always, changing and molding myself to reflect You and Your Son. May Your Spirit guide me in all things!

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Amen

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At the Edge of Promise

Deuteronomy 1-2

Psalm 24

Mark 8

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

As an educator of a dozen years, I find that I have a handful of what I call “pocket TED talks” that I return to time and time again as a way of conveying convincing life lessons to students. These are well-practiced insights that I return to most upon hearing a common signal word or phrase. For example, one cue is the word “just,” which minimizes any role or behavior, demonstrating our belief in its importance. The second, and more relevant to today’s topic, is “what if…” I have heard this opening phrase almost every single day as a history teacher and a principal. “What if World War 3 started today?” “What if there was a real fire in the building?” While I might provide a framing or a forecast, I say you cannot predict the future, but you can look to the past as a tell of what is most likely to happen.

At the opening of Deuteronomy, we find Israel still moving, but now at the edge of the Promised Land. From both a literal and figurative mountaintop, Moses pauses to look backward. He recounts their journey; the victories, the failings, the wandering, and the waiting are all part of his retelling. It is the spiritual season recap for God’s people, who have the tendency to forget.

“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” — Deuteronomy 2:7

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” — Psalm 24:3–6

Below is a list of some of these important reminders we find in today’s reading. Reflect on the history that is presented to us and consider your own. As we stand at the edge of the coming Kingdom of God, take a moment to survey from the mountaintop.

– God gave manna when there was no food in the desert. Jesus duplicates this in the feeding of thousands while the crowd waited for spiritual sustenance. Reflect on your own blessings of daily bread and how God has given you what you need to live today.

– God directs Israel’s path, guiding them as a cloud by day, fire by night, and through his direction to Moses. Jesus duplicates this when he asks each of us to bear our cross and follow him, showing us the way to live. Reflect on your own walk with God and the path He has you on, and the people he has brought alongside you for the journey.

– God remained faithful to the people of Israel even when they worshiped other gods and disobeyed direct instructions. Jesus remains faithful to his disciples even when they gripe about not having bread shortly after watching the very same miracle performed. Reflect on the faithfulness of God to you. Remember how God has shown up in the most difficult seasons.

– God was on the side of his people in battle, bringing them victory. The death of Jesus, as God’s design, is a battle that Jesus came to fight on our behalf once and for all. While it might be easy to reflect on your current battle, reflect instead on God’s gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice of love, restoring us to Him.

If you are “just” waiting for an answer in the present, or you are reeling in “what ifs” about the future, pause to remember the Lord. The wandering has not been wasted. He has made a path with a purpose. No doubt, we are not out of the wilderness, but we are also at the edge of promise.

Reflection Questions

See bold faced reflection above

Prayer

Dear God Almighty – I praise You for Your faithfulness and mercy. Over and over again You provide for me and You show me which way to go. I thank You for being such a GOOD GOD to me, every day in my past, all day today, and every day in the future. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son and the Kingdom You are preparing for those who accept and follow Jesus. Everyday, it is getting closer. Everyday, help me move closer to You, too.

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Miklat

Numbers 35-36

Psalm 23

Mark 8

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

On any given day in Israel, the sounding of an alert can send an entire city scrambling toward a miklat—a bomb shelter—seeking safety from the enemy’s incoming attack. While this would not be commonplace for most of us, this is just another routine feature of Israeli life, a reality woven into the mandated architecture of homes, hospitals, and schools. These shelters stand as silent witnesses to the real persistent threat, offering all within its walls refuge from the destruction.

We can find the use of this word in Ancient Israel too, describing again, protection from harm, although the enemies are more likely to be within the same walls. In Numbers 35:6–15, God commands the establishment of six cities of refuge, places where those guilty of involuntary manslaughter could flee for safety. These cities were not loopholes for the guilty, but lifelines for the vulnerable—spaces of mercy in the midst of justice. Without them, the accused would face certain death at the hands of an avenger. With them, they were given time, protection, and the hope of appeal and even restoration. God used the physical space to deliver a message of hope for his people.

That truth echoes in Psalm 23:4–6, where the psalmist walks through “the valley of the shadow of death” yet fears no evil. Why? Because refuge is no longer merely a place; it is a presence. “For you are with me.” In seasons of fear, sorrow, or struggle, our instinct is often to run—to escape, to deny, or to despair. Yet the Shepherd leads us differently. He guides us to green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23:2), even though it may look more like scorched earth than scenic mountain hike.  A family singing hymns in the dim light of a bunker, the shared hope in a friend’s embrace as we grieve, a desperate flight from addiction that leads you back to the Word of God, all can be reminders of a present, working God.

In the same manner, we find this constant companionship in Jesus Christ. As the fulfillment of the Law, He becomes our ultimate miklat, both the bearer and redeemer of our sin. In Mark 8:1–9, Jesus feeds the four thousand, revealing Himself as the true Bread who satisfies not only physical hunger but a far greater spiritual need. Just as those awaiting the Gospel message outside of the boat, we neither have the strength to stand judgment nor the ability to walk to the next town over. Our miklat is built in the foundation of salvation’s careful plan, so let us be constantly reminded we can run to His refuge at any moment.

Reflection Questions

  1. When and where have you experienced God’s refuge?
  2. What might God’s refuge look like in a current situation you face?
  3. How can you be a part of offering God’s refuge to someone who feels like they are in a dark valley?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, giver of all life and true refuge, thank you for providing refuge and giving the gift of Your Son and salvation. Help me see and feel that You are near. Even when my situation doesn’t change, Your presence calms and shelters me. Show me where and how I can share You, Your strength, Your guidance, and Your peace with others. In Jesus’ name I pray.

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Hide and Seek

Genesis 3, Proverbs 3, Matthew 2

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Our two-year-old’s favorite game is probably hide and seek. She is actually pretty remarkable at staying still and quieting her breaths so she will not be found. The only problem with her strategy is that she always chooses the same hiding spot—the curtains in our master bedroom. For her, the game is not about actually remaining hidden. It would lose its appeal quickly if she stayed concealed too long. Her joy is ultimately to be found and to be reunited with family, “Daddy, you found me!”

In today’s reading, we see God playing the seeker as He looks for His favored creation in the garden. No matter how still Adam and Eve remain, God knows the hiding place. When He asks, “Where are you?”, it is a loaded question from the one who knows us most intimately, both our physical location and hearts. God is not met by the joyful giggles of a toddler, but by the shameful chagrin of sin (Prov. 3:7). Even though God knew where He would find them and did not withhold discipline (Prov. 3:12), by His infinite grace, He still searched for them.

That same grace carries forward into the arrival of the Son of Man. God hung a star in the east to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. He is the hope first spoken in Genesis, the One who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). Though the distance was far, men who were seeking found a child, guided by both the heavens and the Word of God (Matt. 2:6). God makes His mercies known.

And so, when we are searching, we are always led to the same place. If we are looking for rest, we look to Jesus. If we are looking for meaning, we look to Jesus. If we are looking for hope, we look to Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament, again and again, God “hides” His promise of His Son in plain sight some 300 times, all pointing toward the life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ, who conquers sin once and for all.

So who are we fooling if we think we can remain hidden among the foliage and unseen by God? If we feel distant from him, the heavens and His word are still declaring we need only turn to the same place where our faith begins, Jesus Christ. Unchanged is the place where grace and hope begin.

Let us pray this together:

Abba Father, I have been desperately hoping you would find me. I will trust in You with all of my heart. I won’t lean on my understanding but Yours. Give me correction along with your grace that is greater still. In all Your ways, let me submit to You, for I know You will make my path straight. Lead me to the advent of Christ, to be found among the faithful who seek You. In your name of your Son, whose resurrection gives us hope. Amen

Reflection Questions

  1. It is good for us to remember we do not have the mind of God – but what tone of voice do you imagine God used when asking, “Where are you?” Why might He have started with a question, and this specific question? What tone of voice might He have used when giving correction and consequences?
  2. How are you like Adam? How are you like Eve? How did God show grace and correction with consequences to Adam and Eve? How have you experienced both grace and correction with consequences from God? What is the purpose of each?
  3. Adam and Eve obviously didn’t have Proverbs 3:5-7 on their refrigerator. How might it have helped them to know these verses of wisdom? How can you better live out Proverbs 3:5-7? When do you most need to hear these verses? How can you memorize them and/or plaster them in your life so they will be part of your first line of defense against temptation so you can spend less time hiding from God.
  4. From today’s readings, what are some beautiful things about God’s plan of salvation through His Son Jesus?
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Without Shame

Genesis 2, Proverbs 2, Matthew 1

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Visit any home with young children after bath time, and you’ll quickly understand that it is not uncommon to see a child streaking through the living room with nothing but a grin. Our children still live in a stage of innocence, and while their word “nakey” simply defines a lack of clothing, it carries none of the weight or connotations that often accompany the word naked. While comfort levels with wearing one’s birthday suit vary widely, physical exposure is usually reserved for environments of trust and intimacy.

Adam and Eve stood before one another in the Garden of Eden in such a state. Without shame, they walked fig-leafless as they tended to their calling as caretakers of creation. Their nakedness reinforced intimacy within marriage, but it also revealed something deeper. They stood before their heavenly Father “nakey” as well. As with childhood innocence, the absence of sin allowed exposure without fear. This openness demonstrated not only their relationship with one another, but also their unguarded connection with their Creator.

So, to have meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, should we band together to form a nudist colony? Please, no. But in a far more important spiritual sense, we are invited into this level of intimacy. God forms relationship with us through His presence as He moves alongside us while we tend His world—speaking truth, laboring together, and allowing Him to shape us through shared faith and testimony.

Narrowing our focus further to our nuclear families and closest friends, we are called to be even more personal and exposed, not performative or guarded in appearance. Whether we look at the forming of the first family, the father-to-son instruction in Proverbs, or the genealogy in Matthew, each offers examples (and warnings) of how trust, proximity, and intentional teaching shape the spiritual life of a household. Today is as good a day as any to check in on someone within this circle, or to seek them out, so that we might better know one another and, together, better know our Heavenly Father.

“For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it.” Proverbs 2:21

With the propitiation of sin through Jesus Christ, we can now be presented before God without shame. The promise remains the same: the blameless will remain in the land – A perfect, promised one to come, which makes me scratch my head and wonder, “Will our resurrected bodies be ‘nakey’?” I know we will be wearing smiles—and we will have to see about the rest. But even now, we are invited to live and walk with one another in a spiritual closeness that reflects what was once lost and is now being restored. And in that place, we may once again find ourselves standing without shame.

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you imagine life was like for Adam and Eve before sin entered? What do you imagine it was like for God? What changes took place with the first sin?
  2. What do you feel shame about? Why? What does God want for us when we feel shame? How can shame be overcome?
  3. What are your thoughts when you read Proverbs 2:21?
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Unpacking the Beginning

Genesis 1, Proverbs 1, Matthew 1

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Twenty years ago, I moved 1,000 miles with all my possessions loaded into a Buick Skylark, including my goldfish riding shotgun, to share a two-bedroom apartment with my newlywed wife. Now, as we move out of our home of fourteen years, it has taken six trips with a U-Haul, countless carloads, and a dumpster to move just 10 miles away. Granted, our family has grown to five people and a dog, but the math still doesn’t justify an increase of roughly 100 times more stuff. I can’t help but wonder: When did we get all of this? And why? Does it make us better equipped? Not necessarily. Does it bring us joy? Not really—especially not over the last month. Does it move us closer to God? Rarely.

This is not the rant of a minimalist millennial, nor a critique of your cherished possessions. There is still quite a plank in my own eye here. Rather, it is simply an acknowledgment that while we stand at the beginning of a calendar year, the beginning of a new reading plan, and the beginning of both the Old and New Testaments, we are not at the beginning of our lives. We carry things with us as we move from one year to the next. Our trailers in tow may look different, but they are often filled with trophies and affirmations, expectations and disappointment, habits and vices, grief and trauma. There can be a quiet vanity, trending toward insanity, in everything we accumulate along the way. However, in all of this, we can still look to “In the beginning…”

In Genesis 1, we are reminded that beginnings matter because our sovereign God is a God of purpose. Creation is not a random display of infinite power, but an act that makes all things matter (excuse the science pun). God purposely names, separates, and shapes what was formless, repeatedly calling it “good.” From the very first verse, we learn that clarity and meaning do not come from compiling, but from God’s intentional and intelligent design.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” —Proverbs 1:7

Accumulation can be a trap —more plans, better systems, or tighter control—will somehow translate into the power and wisdom of our Creator. However, Proverbs’ opening provides a clear contrast. It is a pursuit in fear and reverence that makes God’s wisdom accessible. As we begin to examine what fills our moving truck from one year to the next, it is through God’s understanding that we prioritize what matters, process the hurt, and chunk into the bin the things that no longer serve His purpose for us. A good start might simply be to pause your reading long enough to tell your Heavenly Father you are ready to revere Him in the coming year.

Finally, our last beginning comes from the Gospel of Matthew, where Mary is foretold of the birth of Jesus. Gabriel says He will be called Emmanuel—“God with us”—the ultimate title given to God’s greatest gift of great joy to creation. He entered a crowded, cluttered world, as He still does today, not asking us to take on baggage on His behalf, but instead inviting us to bear only the burden of His cross.It is the one thing that should be clear and conspicuous as we wander, move, and rove; it is Christ who shoulders the majority of the burden, carrying it alongside us.

As I consider this moment —and the truckloads of stuff waiting in storage—perhaps the question is not what can I add to make this year memorable, but instead, where can I begin to let go in reverent surrender. As we begin to unpack what the next year might hold, let us first make room for God’s presence, preparing only to keep only what can be called good by our Heavenly Father in the beginning.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are you carrying with you into the New Year? What positive things? What has been put into your moving truck that is not beneficial to you? What might God like to see you surrender this year?
  2. What do you love about the creation account? What do you learn about God from His creation?
  3. How do you/could you prioritize the fear of the Lord? Pray for God to give you wisdom, insight and dedication to living this new start in a way that is pleasing to Him.
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