January 27, 2021

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1-4

I have a good friend who recently found out he has cancer. I have another good friend whose son has been struggling with seizures. And as many of you may know, I had an incredibly powerful seizure a couple of years ago that nearly took my life. What all these situations have in common is the ever-present fear of the unknown. My friend with cancer does not know what kind of battle lies ahead. My other friend does not know if his son’s seizures will continue to get worse. And we still have no answers as to why I had a seizure or if another one may occur. Being on guard every day is exhausting!

The truth is, however, none of us know what this year, this month, or even this day may hold. The difficulties I have mentioned only serve to make us much more aware of this fact. So how do we find peace? If we keep our eyes set on the physical struggles of this life, then the unknown is crippling. However, if we keep our eyes set on the things above we can have peace even in the middle of the most difficult times. Now hear me clearly; I still have a lot of work to do when it comes to this spiritual discipline. I am often ashamed of my own immaturity in this area. However, I do know that the answer lies there. So, I will continue to strive for a mind that is set on the things of Heaven to such an extent that the things of earth will continue to grow dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Heavenly Father, whether my eyes are open in daily living or closed in prayer, let me always see Jesus.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon