by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Crossing the Jordan River

You can listen 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

I used to produce a weekly video called, Monday Morning Muses. I enjoyed publishing these videos and hopefully will return to them when I retire.

Retirement.

I’m doing a lot of musing on what the next phase of my life will look like. Right now the idea of retiring is somewhat overwhelming, not because I don’t want to retire, not because I’m afraid of retirement. I just don’t know what the other side of the Jordan River will look like. I don’t know what retirement has in store for me. I’ve never been there before.

When the nation of Israel stood on the brink of the Jordan River ready to enter the Promised Land, Moses spoke to the people. He called the people to remember what the Lord did for them in bringing them out of slavery in Egypt. He called them to remember God’s steadfast love even when they had failed God as they crossed the Jordan into the great unknown.

What had God done for them? He created symmetry out of their brokenness, out of their sinful rebellion against his ways. He never gave up on them and created a new beginning out of their brokenness.

I’m about to cross the Jordan into a new beginning, but I’m not alone. I would guess that a number of you are also crossing your own personal Jordans. You too might be wondering what life will be like in the next phase of your life. Can God redeem my sinful past to create a new beginning?

God’s promise is the same for you as it is for all who have been baptized into Christ. “All things work together for good.” In Christ, God will create symmetry out of the brokenness of your life and point you to his presence in your journey across the river.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado