How can I apply what Jesus was teaching the crowd in these verses? The first thing comes from James 1:22, “Don’t merely listen to the Word…do what it says.” For I know I can be in my Bible daily, but if I don’t take what I’ve learned and make it part of my life, what have I gained? Secondly, I know my journey as a Christian isn’t going to be all goodness and light…sometimes it will involve digging down deep to the depths of my soul and going into areas of my life that are painful in order to build on God’s solid foundation. Finally, when the storms of life hit, I will with God’s help stand firm and not be shaken by the outside world…all the while being reminded of Psalm 62:2, “He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Category: Quarantine Ministry
Joshua 1:5 ” No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If I’ve discovered anything the past few months during this pandemic…it’s that everybody has an opinion, a view point, or a determination…whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent. So who do we listen to? In this Scripture, the Lord was reminding Joshua that just as He was with Moses, the Lord would be with him…that as Moses listened to the Voice of Truth, so Joshua needed to follow it also. But what do we do when all these worldly voices are seeking to drown out the Voice of Truth? We have to choose to believe God, not the opposing voices that are filling our minds and the air waves. For there is only one Voice of Truth…one honest and correct way to go.
Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God’s intent…His plan and purpose for each one of us, is to give us hope and a eternal future with Him. Now the entire Chapter of Job is about a man suffering unspeakable losses, but we surprisingly find this encouraging word in Job 8:7, “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” Right now you may be suffering…out of work, low on money, and depressed about what the future holds. But realize this, God is aware and understands your situation completely…and His intention for you is only good. For your future is securely in His hands, and your future is full of hope.
Titus 2: 11-12 ” For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Think soberly about this…it’s only by the grace of God that the pandemic has passed over you, your family and/or friends. Now, God’s spiritual blessings should never be taken for granted…but have we allowed ourselves to become impassive and unappreciative towards His wondrous grace… instead riveted on our own fears, anxiety, or frustrations? We should be rejoicing in the grace of God…ever thankful that we are covered in His great love, and showered with His mercy and glorious favor.
Hosea 10:12 ” Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.”
The Corona Virus may have halted a lot, but one thing it couldn’t stop was Spring planting season here in Illinois. The farmers have been busy preparing their fields to then sow corn and soybeans in neat straight rows for as far as the eye can see. They couldn’t allow themselves to become complacent and apathetic while they sat in self isolation…not when the soil was telling them, “Now is the time!” But every farmer knows you can’t plant until you first plow…you can’t sow until you first break up the Winter-hardened soil. So maybe Spring is telling us all, “Now is the time” we break up our unplowed ground that has sat fallow all these weeks of isolation…and plant some seed for the Lord.
“Follow Me.”
There were many times throughout the Gospels Jesus repeated these words, “Follow Me.” At times it was to call specific people such as Peter and Andrew, or Phillip and Matthew. There were other times, when people approached Him, announcing they were going to “follow Him”,…some with good intentions, some not so much. And then there was the crowds that only occasionally followed Him…but they were most times merely looking for dinner and a show. So what does it really mean to “Follow Me.” It starts with what is called believing trust…I believe that Jesus died for my sins and thus I will trust in Him. And as I trust in Him, I grow more and more like in Him everyday, following His example as how I should live. Finally, “Follow Me” grows into a life-long relationship with Jesus…a fellowship of faith and life… filled with love, peace, and hope.
Isaiah 25:4 ” You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.”
I think David summed up the verse above best when he wrote, ” It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalm 118:8) If COVID 19 has shown us anything it’s just how frail we are and how precarious our way of life is. This virus has exposed to us that mankind is extremely vulnerable and as a whole powerless against it. So as David wrote, we can’t depend on man to protect us…only God can do that. In Psalm 55 when David was overwhelmed with fear he, “hurried to my place of shelter far from the tempest and storm.” Our trust then must be in God not man, for He is our rock where we can take refuge…that place of calm and peace, where we can feel safe.
Hebrews 12:3 ” Consider Him Who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
As these quarantine weeks drag on and we are separated from fellow Believers and our Church Body, I would ask you one question. Who is encouraging the encourager? Right now your Pastor is preaching in a empty Church or into a computer screen…with no sea of friendly faces smiling back at him. From my own years of public speaking and preaching I loved the immediate feedback I would get from crowds…nodding in agreement, laughing at a funny story, or yelling out answers when I asked for crowd participation…their timely responses spurred me on. So I can only imagine how difficult it is to preach God’s Word into the air, praying it will hit home and change lives. Our Pastors who has encouraged us all these weeks could use a little encouragement themselves right now…so take a moment and ask God how you could bless your Pastor this coming week.
II Timothy 4:1-2 ” In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”
Show of hands please…how many of you are over and done with COVID 19 and just want it to go back to normal? As the weeks drag on, my indifference has increased with each boring day…my lack of concern or interest in things leading only to more apathy. So when I read these Scriptures today, I said to myself, “This must be what it feels like to be ‘out of season’.” I don’t feel like sharing the Gospel Message with others, or reaching out with encouragement…but that’s not what I’m being told to do here. For my feelings have nothing to do with it, and I need to be ready, willing, and able to share the love of Jesus whether I feel like it or not. That’s what being prepared in season or out of season means. It all boils down to this…we are to fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12)… which means struggling daily with our thoughts and feelings in order to be a tool for God to use.
James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
Most historians agree that the Book of James was written shortly before he was martyred by fanatical Jewish Leaders for preaching the Gospel. So to have him exhorting fellow Believers to look at the trials in their lives as something good not bad is incredible. James went on, telling them, he knew they were completely aware of all their past afflictions, trials, and persecutions, and how their faith had been tested each time…but that they needed to continue to persevere with patience and endurance… learning to suffer well with a tranquil mind. I don’t know about you, but suffering well these past many weeks has been difficult! And now with the “Stay at Home” order being extended another month for COVID 19…looking at it with good cheer and gladness of heart is very difficult. But Jesus reminds me in the Beatitudes that I should rejoice and be glad in my trials, (Matthew 5:12) and that I need to continue to persevere so that when I have done the Will of God, I’ll receive what He has promised. (Hebrews 10:36) Thus with all this encouragement, I will joyfully accept persecution. (Hebrews 10:34)
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