Contemplative Bible Reading

Hebrews 2:14-15 (New Living Translation)

14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

I don’t want to die. Not yet at least. I mean I have a loving family and many luxuries that make life pleasurable every day. Why would I want to end this? God’s blessings are all around and inside me.

Let’s move to the deeper conversation about death. The devil had the power of death. The devil used that power to torment people. Many people over the ages were slaves to the fear of dying. To stay alive, these people did all sorts of evil deeds. The “survival instinct” was the devil tormenting them.

The Son of God became flesh and blood. The Son of God died just like every human dies. I don’t fully understand the physical life and death of a spiritual being—it’s just to complicated for me. Nevertheless, it happened. That miserable change to physical to die freed me from slavery to the fear of death.

I don’t want to die. I don’t, however, have a morbid fear of dying. I believe there is something good waiting for me. Please God, help me in my unbelief.