Corona Devo 475

Ever played Pinochle (pea-knuckle)? After group-family suppers and in the afternoons and evenings during downtime on family vacations--the Pinochle deck comes out and the good times are dealt.
I don't play.
Why? In a word--it's complicated. Not my reasoning--I mean the game and the rules of Pinochle, they are complicated to me.  I might go so far as to say that Pinochle is too difficult for me, and it is...beyond my reach.
Gamerules.com explains "Pinochle" as "a trick-taking and melding card game and the Pinochle deck has 48 cards. In each of the four suits, the deck has two of each: A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9. These cards, however, do not follow the traditional ranking. Ace is high, followed by 10, and K, and there are several methods of scoring, some of which include Q, J, 9 as both being worth points and as NOT being worth points...".
Confused yet? I always am. I've accepted that Pinochle is too difficult for me, and it is...beyond my reach.  When the players gather and the cards come out, I finish washing the dishes or busy myself with the kids or another activity.  I find something else to do.
Unfortunately, I know people that feel the same way about the Bible.  That it's out-of-date, out-of-touch, too-hard-to-understand, or too-dry--and so they (we?) write off the Bible just as I have written off Pinochle.  When the opportunity arises to have quiet time with God and His Word, they (we?) finish washing the dishes or busy ourselves with the kids or another activity.  We find something else to do because we have decided that the Bible is too difficult...and it is...beyond our reach (Deuteronomy 30:11). 
But (newsflash!) the Bible is not Pinochle.  If we give God the chance to speak to our hearts through His Word and commands, we will find that He opens our hearts to receive, understand, and apply it to our lives.  He purposely did that so that it would not be too difficult for us and so that it would not be beyond our reach.
“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. (12) It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ (13) It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ (14) No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it."  ~Deuteronomy 30:11-14
Heavenly Father, You speak plainly about the plain-nature of Your Word and our understanding of it.  Unmask our worries and even fears about being inadequate in Your Word, and allow us to relax and realize that You designed the Bible with approachability and all-access in mind.  Your Word and Your love are not too difficult for (us), and not beyond (our) reach. 
Your Word is not just for the elite, the highly-religious, or the seemingly non-sinful.  Your Word is available and close and calling to us today.   It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ (13) It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ (14) No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:12-14).
Father, we thank You that Your message is very close at hand.  You are near us today, and Your Word and commands are as close as our Bible on the shelf or app on our phone.  Give us the courage and discipline to access You today.  Why?  So that our hearts can be changed.  So that our reactions can be changed.  So that our lives can be changed.  And so that Your message...is on our lips and in our heart so that (we) can obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:12-14).
If you have felt about the Bible how I have felt about Pinochle, today is the day to debunk the confusion and strip the intimidation from our hearts and minds.  We can stop avoiding God's Word, busying ourselves, and finding something else to do instead of getting into it.  God's Word is the thing to do, and it paves our daily path so that we can know how to play our cards for the rest of the day.
God has gone to great lengths to make His Word accessible and understandable to us, so that we can play by His rules.     
This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.  ~Deuteronomy 30:11
Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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