Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29 NRSV
Originally posted in early 2020…
Everyone seems to be issuing COVID-19 communications. Here’s my take on things concerning the coronavirus and how people of faith should respond.
I hope it gives you a sense of calm and purpose in the storm. Remember, you are loved and treasured by God. He wants to see you holy and righteous, as He created you in His image and likeness.
I think at times like these, the best thing I can do is to use the gifts and talents the Lord has given me to share truth that transforms lives. And really, isn’t that what I should be doing all the time?
We’re all gifted in different ways and measures, but all the gifts are meant to be used to serve the Church, to build it up in love. If we all do our little part in obedience to the leading and call of God, everything will work perfectly.
God is doing something.
He’s calling His Church to repentance. Judgment starts first at the house of God. Very soon, He will call the whole world to repentance.
Earlier this year, I asked the Lord what was going to happen and He said it would be a severe cold and flu season.
Once the pandemic started, I asked the Lord what His will was concerning it and He said, “If My people pray…”
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 ESV
God calls us to live holy lives. Holy means separate from the world. We are in the world, but not of the world.
It’s time to purge corruption from the Church and that starts with each individual believer repenting of sin and returning to following God wholeheartedly.
As I’ve taken pause recently and spent more time alone with God, I’ve realized I got caught up again in performance based religion as opposed to doing what God asks of me, which is simply to walk with Him in faith.
I got so busy doing good works and helping everywhere I could that I found myself getting burnt out. My joy, my zeal, my love were growing cold. That’s not good. Something had to change.
The main thing is that we use the truth of God’s Word and our knowledge of His will for us in this season to lead humble lives of service, fueled by our love of God and neighbor, to encourage and strengthen each other and to meet critical needs when they arise.
If my people who are called by my name
If you are a follower of God, if you have been bought by the blood of Jesus, if you call yourself a Christ follower, then this is for you.
The original context is for the Hebrew nation, which is God’s chosen people. We, by faith, have been grafted into the Body. Jesus Christ makes us all one.
Humble themselves
Without humility it is impossible to please God. God hates the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility says that God is God and I need to follow His example.
Jesus came as a suffering servant. He didn’t exalt Himself. He didn’t make others serve Him. He taught and led by example. He did not boast. He did not revile. He lived His life in humble, perfect obedience to the Father. We would do well to follow His lead.
and pray…
Throughout Scripture, God tells us to pray. Prayer is simply talking to God. You can’t see Him, and you might not hear Him (yet), but He’s always listening and watching over the affairs of man.
You know what? This is starting to get a little long and there’s so much good stuff to share. Tell you what, I’ll wrap it up here and write some more tomorrow.
May God give you grace to make it through this day with joy in your heart and a smile on your face. Be blessed!