Do not yield to fear, for I am always near.
Isaiah 41:10 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God.
I will infuse you with my strength
and help you in every situation.
I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’
Last week I wrote about “Time” Last week the thought of a world wide epidemic was the last thing on my mind.
This week…the world is in chaos!
Why should that come as a surprise?
I call myself a student of God’s Word. I believe God’s Word is true and relevant in our modern world. I believe Jesus could return for His Bride at any hour. And I believe, as Dr. Luke believed, that today’s chaos is just one of the warning signs:
Jesus continued, “There will be upheavals of every kind. Nations will go to war against each other and kingdom against kingdom— and there will be terrible earthquakes, seismic events of epic proportion, resulting in famines in one place after another. There will be horrible plagues and epidemics, cataclysmic storms on the earth, and astonishing signs and cosmic disturbances in the heavens. But before all of this happens, you will be hunted down and arrested, persecuted by both civil and religious authorities, and thrown into prison. And because you follow me, you will be on trial before kings and governmental leaders as an opportunity to testify to them in my name
Luke 21:10-13 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Over the past week, as we’ve watched this epidemic unfold, I have chosen to take a stand on God’s Word that cautions me to be prudent:
In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge,
Proverbs 13:16 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
but a fool flaunts his folly.
Today I must tell you–God is as good as His Word. Our family in Christ has stepped up to offer help in every situation. We won’t have to fight the lines to purchase necessities. They will go for us. We won’t have to feel guilt because we aren’t comfortable attending our regular worship gathering. Rise Church is making the sermons available online. And everyone assures us we will be loved and assisted in every way possible.
There is nothing to fear, except fear itself.
But…I AM concerned.
I am CONCERNED for those who are not members of our family IN Christ.
There are people dying in the midst of this chaos. Dying literally! Dying spiritually. Dying from a lack of knowledge. For this reason, I must ask you, my faithful followers, “What are you telling the world today?”
Are you offering hope, peace, joy, encouragement and LOVE? Or, are you joining the world as it cascades deeper and deeper into panic and chaos? Are you certain, absolutely certain, that you and your family and friends and neighbors are SAFE?
Make that SAVED!
Are you SURE?
In case you are uncertain in any way, remember Jesus is THE Way, The TRUTH, and THE LIFE.
In the first century, the Apostles Paul and Silas were imprisoned for speaking this truth. God showed up and freed them from their bondage. The jailer was terrified at what was happening around him and in Acts we read these words:
And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:29-31 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
My prayer today is that you and your household have accepted this truth. If you have not, my prayer is that you will believe in the eyewitness accounts of believers across the globe who are currently being blessed as we are by the God who loves them unconditionally. God sent His Son for YOU, too.
Contentment Cottage 