The Lord of the Sabbath

Matt 12:1-21

Mark 3

Luke 6

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Every morning, I like to take a little bit of time after my bible study to read a few pages in a book. Currently, I am working my way through Jesus the King by Tim Keller (also called King’s Cross). This book is a compilation of Keller’s sermons on the gospel of Mark, and I’ve enjoyed it so far. Interestingly, my reading today lined up perfectly with today’s passages.

In each of the passages today, we read of Jesus doing the work of God on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were outraged, saying, ‘Who does this guy think he is?’ And, each time, Jesus responded, ‘I am Lord of the Sabbath.’

Before we can dive into what Jesus is teaching here, we have to ask: “What is the Sabbath?”

The Sabbath was instituted in the dawn of time when God rested from his work of the world and then reinforced with the Mosiac law. Why did God need to rest? 

Keller answers this question in his book: “What does that mean? Does God get tired? No, God doesn’t get tired. So how could he rest? A different reason to rest is to be so satisfied with your work, so utterly satisfied, that you can leave it alone. Only when you can say about your work, “I’m so happy with it, so satisfied – it is finished!” can you walk away. When God finished creating the world, he said, “It is good.” He rested.” (Jesus the King, p. 45)

God didn’t need to strive anymore after his creation was made. It was very good, and he could cease from striving. Sabbath in Old Testament times shows a dependence upon the provision of God. The Israelites had to trust that God would provide enough manna so that they could rest on the sabbath. They had to trust that God would provide abundantly with their crops when they let their land rest every 7 years. 

But, by Jesus’ time, the Sabbath had become so distorted that it turned from being a testament to God’s very good creation and provision to being a heavy load carried on the backs of his people. 

As Keller says, Sabbath means ‘deep peace, deep rest.’ When Jesus says he is Lord of the Sabbath, he is saying that “he is the source of the deep rest we need” (p.44). 

Hebrews 4:9-11 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”

Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we can experience the same type of Sabbath rest. We can cease the striving, lay down our heavy burdens, and rest in what is already done. 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. What is the point of the Sabbath? Why did God institute the Sabbath?
  2. Do you think believers are still called to observe the Sabbath? What does that look like under the New Covenant? 
  3. What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath? What does that say about Jesus? What does that say about the Sabbath?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

“This is Water”

John 5 

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

David Foster Wallace, a popular modern literary author, gave a commencement address in 2005 that everyone should read at least once. Wallace wasn’t a religious person, but he was concerned about the search for meaning. His speech highlights a central truth about humanity while recognizing how this truth is realized in an increasingly secular world. 

He begins his speech with the story of a fish who greets two fish by asking, ‘How’s the water?’ After that fish swims away, the other fish turns to his friend and asks, ‘What the heck is water?’

Here is a quote, at length, from his speech: “Because here’s something else that’s weird but true: in the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. […]

“The whole trick is keeping the truth up front in daily consciousness.

“Worship power, you will end up feeling weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to numb you to your own fear. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart, you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. But the insidious thing about these forms of worship is not that they’re evil or sinful, it’s that they’re unconscious. They are default settings.

They’re the kind of worship you just gradually slip into, day after day, getting more and more selective about what you see and how you measure value without ever being fully aware that that’s what you’re doing. […]

“It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over:

“This is water.

This is a truth we all need to remind ourselves of. We are all predisposed towards following idols and worshipping things that ultimately are fruitless. 

In today’s readings, I see the same truth in Jesus’ words. In Jesus’ words to the Jews, he speaks of their reverence – their worship – for the law of Moses. But, he sees – and we see – how this reverence ultimately led them to reject the very thing that Moses was looking forward to: Jesus. 

In John 5:39-40, he says, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Their worship caused them to become focused on the wrong things, and in so doing, they missed the true life that was in Jesus. 

We have the same option before us. We can choose to follow after all of these idols, thinking we will gain something from them. But, ultimately, that will simply lead to a fruitless life. 

Or, we can choose to come to Jesus and gain true life. 

In Wallace’s speech, his conclusion is that people should just live to be kind, but he rejects the idea that there is a greater religious implication for his worship. And, the tragedy of Wallace’s life is that he never came to Jesus himself. In 2008, he committed suicide.

What are you choosing to worship today? Come to Jesus, and gain true life. 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. What were the Jews worshipping? Why was this ultimately fruitless without Jesus?
  2. What are you choosing to worship today? Will it result in something lasting? 
  3. Jesus says, “Come to me, and you will have life.” How does Jesus grant life now – in addition to eternal life? 

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Pursuing Jesus

Mark 2 

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Even so early in his ministry, the crowds had already begun to clamor for Jesus. They wanted to hear his words, to be close to him. In Mark 2, we read that there were so many people at a house where Jesus was teaching that there was simply no room left. 

My church has a fairly large sanctuary. Most weeks, it never gets more than ¾ of the way full. But, there are those special events (and Christmas and Easter) when most pews are full. 

It’s wonderful to go into a full church – not just because of the excitement – but also because we are bigger and grander when we’re together. We sing louder. We have better conversations. We are able to carry each other’s burdens more easily. 

But, even during the biggest service, there has never been a time where there was no room left. 

I wonder what it would have been like to be in this moment at the house with Jesus. What would it have been like to be a part of the growing excitement? To hear Jesus’ name in whispers through the countryside. To see people drop everything just for a chance to hear his teaching. 

What if you could experience this today? 

The truth is we have an even better opportunity to come and hear Jesus’ teachings. To meet with not only him, but also God our Father as well. But, all too often, we reject this opportunity.

How many times have you said the excuse that you were just too busy to pray? How many times have you moved through your days and weeks and just forgot to open your Bible? How many times have you said, ‘I just don’t feel like it,’ when Sunday morning rolls around? You hit snooze and go back to sleep. What about during weekly Bible study? How many times have you just said, ‘I just need some me-time, to relax.’ 

With recent national events, there have been several posts asking about churches to go to. People are searching for answers and trying to find them. 

We have an opportunity for revival in our community and nation if we can point them to the one who gives true life. Not only this, we can experience revival in our own hearts. We just have to commit to show up, be consistent, and be obedient. 

The young men who needed to get to Jesus climbed up on the roof, dug through it, and lowered their paralyzed friend down to Jesus to be healed. How are you pursuing Jesus today? 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some excuses that you make concerning your quiet time? What about going to church? Do you consistently show up, or do you let things get in the way?
  2. Have you invited someone to church recently? How have you been sparking conversations that may lead to evangelism? 
  3. Several of the events we read about today are about Jesus’ authority. He has the authority to forgive sins, to choose his disciples, when to fast, and even over the Sabbath. Why is the question of Jesus’ authority focused on so much in the gospels?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

The Fight Against Temptation

Matthew 4 

Luke 4-5

John 1:15-51

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we read of his baptism. This is a special moment of God clearly anointing Jesus with his spirit as he says, “This is my son, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is anointed and commissioned in that moment to go and preach the gospel of the Kingdom – which is what he does in Matthew 4:17. 

In between the anointing and commencing of his ministry, we read of a curious episode in Jesus’ life. He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

The devil shows Jesus three things to entice him to reject God in disobedience. He tells Jesus to turn the stones to bread, to command the angels to come and rescue him, and to elevate himself physically and figuratively so that the world will bow down to him. 

Interestingly, these things aren’t necessarily the same struggles we may be tempted by. In one Bible Study I was teaching about this passage, one of my friends looked puzzled and mentioned that he would think that Jesus would have been tempted with ‘the lust of the eyes’ because that is such a ubiquitous struggle for our society. But, I think that this instance is more than Jesus staying strong against the seven deadly sins – though he does and remains sinless throughout his temptations. 

In each instance, the devil says, ‘Just show your power to do these things. Show yourself to be like God.’ The devil knows that Jesus has the authority to do the things that he is tempting Jesus with. Jesus also has the power to do those things. But, Jesus knows that he must remain obedient. Jesus is not God, and Jesus knows that the only reason he has the power and authority to do supernatural things is because God has granted him that authority. 

These temptations echo the first temptations in the garden. The ancient serpent also tempted Adam and Eve with the chance to become ‘like God.’ Instead of trusting in God and remaining obedient to his word, Adam and Eve trusted the serpent and grabbed at the chance for the knowledge of Good and Evil. Of course, the serpent’s promises were empty and brought death, not happiness. 

We are also tempted. Yes, temptations mean that we have to be sure to follow the law of God and live righteously. But, more than that, temptations mean that we have to trust that God knows what is best for our lives. Jesus could have looked at his situation in the wilderness (that he was led to by God) and decided that he knew best. In that moment, he could have rejected God, acted disobediently, and sinned. 

But, he didn’t. 

Instead, his obedience required him to humble himself and trust God. Ultimately, this proved to be a training ground for what would be required of him later on. Philippians 2:8 says, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.” 

We have to take the same path. We don’t know best. We have to trust God and his word. 

We can take comfort in the end of the story, too. Jesus wasn’t exalted by the devil, but we know that the thing the devil tempted him with will come true because Jesus was obedient. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

We wait in hope for that day, and we live in obedience today. 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. How are the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness similar to and different from the temptations of Adam and Eve in the garden? 
  2. How does Jesus fight against temptation? How can you better equip yourself to fight against temptation? 
  3. Why did God lead Jesus to the wilderness? How was Jesus’ time in the wilderness preparation for the rest of his ministry? 

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

The Beginning of Ministry

Matthew 3

Mark 1

Luke 3

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

The past year, I just celebrated the big 3-0. With every new decade, life speeds up, and the long stretch of the future that seems endless at 18 starts to look shorter and shorter. 

I remember when I graduated from high school, I – and all my friends – wrestled endlessly with what to make of our lives. What college? What major? What city? What guy? It seemed like we needed to have it all figured out as soon as we walked across the graduation stage. 

But, as anyone who has a little life experience knows, life rarely goes as planned. What we thought would make up our lives at 18 rarely fits with what our life actually looks like at 30, 40, or 50. 

It always seemed strange to me that Jesus, with such a short life, waited to begin his ministry until 30. Here are some reasons why that could be

Traditionally, 30 was the age in Jewish culture of full maturity. It matches up with the pattern of scripture: David was 30 years old when he became king, Joseph was 30 when he entered the service of Pharaoh, the Levitical priests were 30 when they started their service, and so on (Ezekiel, King Saul, and maybe even Paul the Apostle). 

Jesus needed to wait to gain the experience and wisdom that comes with age. His authority and testimony depended on it. 

When I was younger, it seemed like if I had not decided on a thing by age 22 that opportunity would have passed me by for the rest of my life. Whether that’s a career or a specific ministry, it seems like I’m already too set in my ways to be able to make a change and start doing the thing. 

But, I’ve realized that is not how life works. Our lives are long and full of twists and turns. Joseph probably could not have dreamed of the many changes that would take place between his time among his flocks and entering the service of Pharaoh, but God knew and had a plan. 

Sometimes, I find myself falling into this trap today. If someone has moved on from the church or a friendship is broken, I often give up. I feel as though this will be how this person, this relationship, or this work will be for the rest of my life. 

We need to remember this: As long as we are willing to walk in obedience, it is never too late to start the work. God uses the time waiting and praying as preparation to help to mature our faith and grow our wisdom. 

What can we do in the waiting? 

We can pray, prepare, and trust – as we look to all those who had to wait to begin their ministry. We can trust that God, ‘who started a good work in us, will see it through to completion.’ 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think Age 30 was so significant in God’s plan? What is special about this age? 
  2. What thing do you feel is ‘too late to change’? It could be a job, a personality trait, a failed relationship, or a church ministry. How could you pray for change for this thing? 
  3. How can we ‘wait well’? What are some practical steps we can take to make the most of our time of preparation? 

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

The Gift of the Magi

Matthew 2

Luke 2:39-52

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

When I was still teaching seventh-grade English, one of the stories that my students loved (much to my surprise) was “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. In the story, a young couple needed to buy Christmas presents for each other, but like many young couples, they were severely lacking in funds to do so. In order to scrounge together what they needed for the perfect gift, they sold their most valuable possessions (hair in the girl’s case and an inherited pocket watch for the boy). 

At the end, to their dismay, the boy and the girl realized that the gifts they had purchased were useless, though very expensive. The boy had bought a comb for the girl who had shorn her hair. The girl had bought a chain for the boy who had sold his watch. 

As my students reached the end of the story, they would always laugh and shake their heads at the couple. But, the story ends with this famous quote: “Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.” 

Today’s reading almost feels like Christmas in July (or well… September). In four separate stories of travels, we learn about Jesus’ boyhood. He receives the gifts from the Magi, takes off to Egypt for several years, returns and settles in Nazareth, and finally participates in an annual pilgrimage for the Jewish feast of Passover. 

My students may think that the boy and girl in the story are silly, but when we read the story of the Magi, we should be struck as well. These men left their countries to go on a years long journey. To where? They didn’t know. For what? They also didn’t know. 

All they knew was this: “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

O. Henry recognized that this was true devotion and love. To recklessly sacrifice to show devotion for something that we hold as truly valuable. The Magi are famously called ‘The Wise Men.’

But, what is true wisdom? 

It is not always playing it safe. It is not always acting in a way the world deems prudent. 

But, it is always rightly ordering our loves so that we can show devotion to the best thing. 

What does that look like? 

It is choosing to put our faith at the forefront of our lives, prioritizing it. We talk of priorities as a list of 3, 5, or even 10. But, really, the word means the thing we hold first. If our faith is placed first, everything else we do falls behind it. 

And, when we devote our lives to our faith, we may pursue the way of the Magi. We may sacrifice (maybe a little recklessly) in order to obey our God. Because we know that the path of obedience is sweet and good. It is worth giving up everything – even our most valuable possessions – for. 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. We often think of the Wise Men as being Wise because they were simply ‘learned.’ But, how were their actions also wise? 
  2. What is our first priority in our lives? How do we show this through our actions? 
  3. How can choosing to live wisely and righteously look like foolishness to the world? 

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Leaving a Legacy

1 Chr 22; Ps 30, 108-110

There’s nothing quite like the moment when you hold your little newborn baby in your arms. For months, you dreamed of when they would arrive, what they would look like, and the sweetness of that moment. But, your dreaming of the future doesn’t stop once you get home from the hospital. 

With every birthday, we imagine the future self that they will grow into. Some of our dreams are realized, and some are given up as life passes on. 

My husband has always wanted to be a Golf Player (with a capital G, capital P). When we learned we were pregnant with our first, he immediately said, ‘He can grow up and learned to be good at golf.’ Even if we don’t want to admit it, we all do this.

We all have dreams that we pass on to our children. Some of these dreams are our unrealized hopes for our own future. We think, “I can’t do this, but maybe my kids can.” Some of these dreams are our way of passing on our accomplishments. We build a family business and want our kids to continue that legacy. 

David had his own special dream that he wanted to pass down to his children that was a combination of both his unrealized hopes and his hard-won legacy. Since Solomon was young, David knew that his little boy would grow up to do what he wasn’t able to do: Build the temple. So, David spent his lifetime paving the way for Solomon, assembling together all the resources he would need to do something magnificent. 

My son is still young. No, we haven’t done golf lessons – yet. But, he has a few clubs to play with. There is still time for him to become that Golf Player that we dreamed of five years ago. 

But, as I read through David’s story, I’m moved to imagine a different kind of legacy that I want to pass on. I don’t just want to have dreams that center around things that would be ‘cool to do.’ My dreams for him are to build a legacy that would glorify God and impact the world.

How are we launching others to do good work for God? Are you helping those coming after you build a lasting legacy of glorifying God? 

-Cayce Fletcher

Cayce blogs at https://amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, family, and life. You’ll find encouragement for how to build intentional lives rooted in faith and beauty. Check out the latest post on the human nature of Jesus here. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What were some hopes and dreams that you wanted for yourself but have passed you by? 
  2. If you have kids, how have you tried to realize those dreams in your children? 
  3. What is the legacy you want to leave? How are you setting up the people who come after you to glorify God? 

SGL.2025.MayFullPageDownload

A Man After God’s Own Heart

Ps 5, 38, 41-42

One Sabbath day, Paul came to a synagogue in Antioch (a city in modern-day Turkey) and sat down to listen to the law and scriptures. After the reading was down, Paul got up and gave a sermon. Nestled in the middle of his speech is this interesting passage, “After [God] had removed [Saul], [God] raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22)

How amazing it would be to be known as a man (or woman) after God’s own heart! Of all the epitaphs that we could put on our tombstones, this would be the highest praise. 

But, we know that there is more to David’s life than just this statement. In fact, it seems a little incongruous to describe the man who sent Uriah to die because of his sin and who sent an Angel of the Lord on his people because of his decision to do a census as a man after God’s own heart. 

I think the Psalms we read today – the cries written from David’s own heart – show how he reflected the heart of God. 

In the Psalms, we see that: 

  • David understood that God loves righteousness and hates evil. David repeats the truth to himself that God does not delight in wickedness. When he comes to God in prayer, he describes his wickedness as wounds that stink and fester. This bleak picture demonstrates his view of sin: it is evil and something from which you should flee.
  • David understood the importance of confession. David’s harsh view of sin did not mean that he was blameless. We know that he slipped and fell multiple times and had to deal with the consequences of his actions. Still, when David veered from the good and right path, he recognized it and he turned back toward God. He didn’t minimize sin, and once he humbled himself, he didn’t stay in his sin. Instead, he confessed and repented. 
  • David longed for God. He longed for God’s temple, God’s favor, and God’s very presence. He longed for it as deer pants for streams of water. He describes his soul as thirsting for God. And we know that God is the author and sustainer of life. As the very best thing, he is the ultimate thing we should long for. 

To be a man after God’s own heart didn’t mean that David had to be perfectly sinless. No human is able to do that in this lifetime. Instead, being a man after God’s heart means that we are trying to make our heart – our priorities, desires, and understandings – match the heart of God. 

If we want to be people after God’s own heart, we should: 

  • Love righteousness, and hate evil 
  • Repent from our sins in humility
  • Place God as our utmost desire

How would you describe your heart today? 

-Cayce Fletcher

Cayce blogs at https://amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, family, and life. You’ll find encouragement for how to build intentional lives rooted in faith and beauty. Check out the latest post on the human nature of Jesus here

Reflection Questions

  1. David was anointed king after the downfall of Saul. How would you describe the difference between the heart of Saul and the heart of David? 
  2. What is your view of sin? How do you show your view of sin in your actions or your willingness to confess and seek repentance? 
  3. What does it mean to long for God ‘as a deer pants for streams of water’? Do you long for God in this way? How could you deepen your desire for God? 

SGL.2025.MayFullPageDownload

Living Wisely in a Wounded World

2 Sam 19-21

The Kingdom of Israel is in the midst of a terrible civil war. Brother had turned against brother and sons against their fathers. The battle was over. Absalom, the rebellious son, had been killed. 

At first glance, it seems like David should be rejoicing. He was king again over Israel. Instead, he was caught up in his grief.

 Joab told him in 2 Samuel 19:5-7, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

Then, David picked himself up out of the sackcloth and ashes and made his way back to Jerusalem to take back the throne. 

This passage strikes me in the way that David has to navigate the circumstances that appear. People grovel at his feet while double-crossing their masters. Political turmoil and intrigue roil underneath the surface as another revolt occurs. A famine stretches the land to its breaking point, and difficult decisions have to be made. 

David has to live wisely to save not only himself but also the entire nation from more war, brokenness, and suffering. 

And through it all, we see this: our choices carry weight.

What does wise living look like? 

  1. Wise Living means stepping out of our circumstances to fulfill our God-given role. Grieving is a necessary part of life. It has its place as we mourn those we love. But, we cannot stay in a place of grief forever. We have to move on and step into our calling. 
  2. Wise Living means pursuing reconciliation without compromising truth. As David worked to restore peace in Jerusalem, he had to act as judge over the people who supported him and revolted under him. Through it all, David was not led by vengeance. 
  3. Wise Living means recognizing the long-term consequences of sin. In a heartbreaking scene, we see how to pay the blood guilt of Saul a mother who had to lose her sons. Our sin can cause brokenness in our lives, our families’ lives, and the lives of future generations. 

Wise Living is a radical decision in this world, but ultimately, it leads to righteousness. How are you pursuing wisdom in this broken world today? 

-Cayce Fletcher

Cayce blogs at https://amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, family, and life. You’ll find encouragement for how to build intentional lives rooted in faith and beauty. Check out the latest post on the human nature of Jesus here. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What decisions am I making today that will shape the next season of my life or family?
  2. Where is God calling me to seek reconciliation, even when it’s complicated
  3. How might I carry my grief with both honesty and courage?

SGL.2025.MayFullPageDownload

What are you looking towards?

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 16-18

POETRY: Psalm 106

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 6

One of the most memorable sermon illustrations that I’ve heard is about someone who is driving a car. If their eyes are on the road, they can direct the car wherever they choose (as long as the road and traffic patterns allow). But, how often have we been driving and our eyes drift from the road to something else? Maybe it’s something on the side of the road or a passenger in the back asking a question. Maybe we need to grab something from our purse or check our phone (even though that’s illegal in most states). 

In a split second, we can go from being on the right path to being in a ditch on the side of the road. This is why the push against texting and driving is so strong. We may choose to ignore the facts, but in 2022 alone, over 3,000 people died just from texting while driving. This is because “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

When you take your eyes off the road, you begin to veer off course. This can lead to destruction and harm. 

This is true literally when we are driving a car, but it is also spiritually true when we are thinking about our walk with God. The Bible often speaks of where our eyes are fixed to describe the spiritual health of our hearts. If our eyes are turned to God, we will be walking towards him. But, all too often, our eyes get focused on other things – jobs, pleasures, stresses, idols – and when this happens, we begin to veer off course. 

Isaiah 17:7-8 says, “In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made.”

At the time, Israel had their gaze fixed off-course. They had turned towards idols, with their Asherah poles and incense altars. That focus led their hearts away from God and ultimately ended in destruction. They were headed towards a spiritual crash. 

God spoke off a day in the future when the Israelites course would be righted. Instead of turning to their false gods, they would look to their creator God. They would be headed on the right and good path. 

When this happens, the ultimate destination is one that is filled with hope for the good things of God. Isaiah 16:4-5 describes, “The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness, a man will sit on it— one from the house of David – one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.”

We know that this is our hope too. We have a glorious hope in the kingdom, when Jesus is seated on the throne. There will be justice, righteousness, love, and faithfulness. We wait for that day. We long for it. 

So where are your eyes fixed? Are they fixed on idols, pleasures, or cares of this world? Or are they turned towards your Maker? 

-Cayce Fletcher

Cayce Fletcher is a teacher-turned-SAHM mom of two. She blogs and podcasts at A More Beautiful Life Collective where she focuses on how you can create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. Currently, she is working through a systematic theology series on her podcast. You can find her latest post on Bibliology here

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. What are some of the things that lead to ‘distracted driving’ in your spiritual walk? How do your eyes get taken off of God? 
  2. Where are you currently looking now? Are you looking to God? Or somewhere else? 
  3. How does Jesus fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 16:4-5? How does this fill you with hope for the future?