by Victoria Heinecke

Washed away.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 English Standard Version (ESV)

There are over 105,000 river miles in Colorado. Although none of these rivers match the Mississippi River in terms of its breadth, the water is channeled between the many mountains throughout the state. Unlike the Mississippi, which flows more slowly to the Gulf of Mexico, the mountain waters tend to move faster, as they’re funneled between mountains and canyons.

Colorado is prone to flash floods. They may not carry as much water as a larger river, but a flash flood will push through the mountains with speed and power, changing the landscape for decades. When water rushes through the canyon, nothing can stop it. The waters remove, destroy, cleanse and restore.

Four years ago, another kind of flood happened along the Animas River in southwest Colorado, when human error caused three million gallons of toxic waters to be spilled from a mine. Although much of it has been cleaned, there are parts of the river where you can see the waste and get an idea of the volume of water which carried it. Eventually, the water will wash the chemicals away. It is likely going to take many years to be restored.

When we are baptized into Christ, our sins are cleansed from us in an instant, and we are forever changed.

We are a new creation in Jesus.

God’s will has been done to save you, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Although Satan and his lies are a part of our lives on this side of Heaven, and while he schemes to pull us away, God’s love always prevails, and God is always there for us.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 ESV 

May you live in that newness and joy each day.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado