In the wake of this pandemic of the COVID 19 Virus, the idea of these verses take on heightened meaning for us today. This concept of the resurrected Jesus having supreme rule over everything was voiced by Him in Matthew 28:18, when He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” That means it’s a done deal…everything, (which includes the Corona Virus), is under Jesus’ power and authority. So just as He is the head of the Body of Christ – the Church- Jesus is the head…the Supreme Ruler over COVID 19, and these verses go on to tell us that God placed it under His feet…a place of utter submission and surrender.
Tag: daily devotions
Psalm 108:13 ” With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.”
One of the most over-used words right now is uncertainty. The uniqueness of the COVID19 Virus has everyone speculating as to what may or may not happen…how it may or may not spread…and if a vaccine will or will not be completely effective. Throw in the question about immunity, and we have to admit…we just don’t know what going to happen in the coming months. Couple this with what all the fears and doubts that self-quarantine, job loss, and isolation for weeks brings on – and this verse today is something we all need to hear. But we need to hear it clearly and correctly, for in this verse it’s God doing the work, not us. It’s with His help we can overcome the struggles facing us today…and it’s with His help we can possess peace as He fights the battles over our emotions. Psalm 44:6-8 had the right idea, “I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your name forever.” Uncertainty isn’t in God’s vocabulary…and with His help we can be victorious over all our enemies.
Luke 6: 47-48 ” I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My Words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”
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.”
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.
“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.
Safetypinlove 