“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. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT)
As I look at photos of Niagara Falls, I can hardly imagine that people have actually walked across the Falls on a line! In 1901 a woman purposely plunged over the Falls inside a wooden barrel . . . and survived! It seems like these people were built differently, with a desire to do something extraordinary, and with no fear of death. A healthy fear of death is good for our own protection. God has given us a desire to live, and He has also put eternity in the hearts of people, that one day we will leave this world.
I realize that death is a somber thought. When I was younger, even in my 30s, death wasn’t in my mind at all. As I have approached 50, it’s more in my thoughts. There is an aspect of fear in dying but, as a
believer, why would I be afraid? Reading the above verses showed me that I don’t have to be afraid to die because of what Jesus has done for us at the cross. He broke the power of death so that we don’t have to be afraid of dying. We can live in the freedom that Christ Jesus has given to serve Him wholeheartedly. Christ has freed us from the fear of death to life. My “life” in Jesus is my main focus, not death.
Thank you, Jesus, for what You have done on the cross—breaking the power of the devil who had the power of death. I can live in freedom to serve You.
– Myrna Kopf
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org