Week 18: April 27-May 3, 2025

This week’s daily readings:

This week’s devotional:

A Sense of Wonder

by Rt. Rev. Brian Bethke

Scripture:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

— Psalm 103:11-12 (ESV)

Reflection:

There is an interesting term in mountaineering called the “false summit.” The false summit is a peak that appears to be the top of the mountain but is actually just part of a series of peaks leading up to the true summit.

I can remember being 19 years old and hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The top of the mountain in the area I was staying at was called 9494 (because it was 9494 feet high). One early October morning a friend and I decided to conquer 9494.

We started at a good pace and were determined to make it up this mountain in record time. About two hours into the hike, there it was: the summit! We picked up the pace even faster. The summit was in sight! As we reached the summit, we looked up and realized we had just begun. This was a false summit! We looked up and viewed the vastness of 9494 in awe. We soon realized the true peak was way higher than we could imagine.

After many hours and after many false summits, we finally made it to the true summit. Exhausted, I soaked in the awe-inspiring scenery. I can remember feeling so small, yet so serene. I did not conquer 9494, it conquered me!

God’s continual love for us in Christ is so vast and incomprehensible. Once we think we have reached the peak of his love and grace, we realize we are not even close. Only when we let God’s love and grace conquer us can we truly experience the sense of awe and wonder our hearts yearn for.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I am in awe of you! Just when I fear I’ve come to the limit of your love and grace, I find you have even more to give me. I find I worship a God that is so far above me, I could never come to the end of you. In your presence, I feel true peace knowing how far you have removed my sins from me. Thank you that, although I continue to miss the mark, you have sacrificed your Son for my sake. Jesus, I long to know you better, to feel your peace, and bask in the righteousness you bring. Holy Spirit, conquer me with your love and guide me in my spiritual walk. In Jesus’ holy name I pray. Amen

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