I know that I’ve only been doing one devotion a week for the past few years due to the increased responsibility and workload I’ve taken on. But this week – often referred to as Holy Week – was always my favorite week of the year to preach when I was still a full-time pastor. As a result, I’m going to do a few more devotions this week.
Have you ever wondered why God left Jesus on the cross for hours before relieving his suffering? Clearly, God could have had Jesus crucified, shed blood, and ended it within a minute. But he didn’t. God is that way. He seems to never be in a rush about anything – not even when it comes to the crucifixion. I’m sure He has great reasons that maybe someday I’ll understand, but for now, I don’t understand it. All I know is that when God is doing something great, it takes time, and He doesn’t rush it.
Perhaps I don’t understand because we live in a break-neck speed world. News travels around the world in less than a second. We rush around like chickens with their heads cut off (and yes, chickens with their heads cut off can do that!) just trying to get to the next thing we have to do and then we repeat that cycle again.
If there was ever a time to slow down and take things in, it is this week. Not only was time changed by what happened this week 2000 years ago, but eternity itself changed.
Still, we rush through the familiar routines from Lent, through Palm Sunday, through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, silent Saturday, and we barge right into Easter Sunday at full speed. What a waste of the precious time God has given us if we fail to think deeply about the events of Holy Week.
Ann Voskamp recently wrote the following: “A person who is looking for something doesn’t travel very fast.
“And I pause here. And my soul stills.
“Those who aren’t looking for anything worthwhile, think it’s only worthwhile to travel fast.
“And that wide way beckons to the fast and the furious, to the hustlers and fear-mongers, to the big and loud, to the angry and soul-hungry and joy-malnourished.
“But there is another way.
“Those looking for something sacred travel slow.
“Those looking for the holy linger.
“The way of genuine spiritual formation is slow. Taking the Way of Jesus takes time.”
I beg of you to please take the time to look for something worthwhile in the historical events of this week. Look for the sacred. Look for the holy. Let it transform your heart and free your soul from the prison bars that hold you. Be free – free to take time to ponder the events of this amazing, wonderful week.
God is present in the events of this week. What a shame if we miss him because we don’t take the time to see His most majestic work on display.
PRAYER: Let us look for, and find, the Holy One this week. Keep us from hurry that we may linger at the foot of the cross and then at the empty tomb, awestruck. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright 2024 by Galen C. Dalrymple.
DayBreaks Devotions 