Pandemic Survival Kit

-

 


Scripture: Romans 15:4-6 (NIV)

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Devotion:

            We have been going through some tough times with this Covid-19 virus. It has called all of us to be endurance runners in the race of life. Lockdowns, mask mandates, vaccines, virus passports, have all been a part of our lives for the last two years in this pandemic. We have either experienced these situations or watched as others did. What started out as a sprint, 15 days to slow the spread, has morphed into a marathon of months then years of suffering and death.

            Today’s scripture does speak into our current situation. First it teaches us that we can look to scripture to find strength to endure our trials. Scripture has been handed down to us for this very purpose. We as Christians are taught to be models of endurance to our watching world. We are to show that we can reach out to our neighbors even in times of illness and loss. We endure whatever requirements our government puts on us so that we might be a force for healing and reconciliation in our communities.

            We are sent by God out into the world to encourage those who are discouraged by all the sickness and death we see around us in our nation and the world. The scriptures speak words of encouragement to us so that we might spread that encouragement and hope to those we meet each day.

            When we feel discouraged and weak, we must ask God to revive our spirits. This scripture declares that God is a God that longs to give us the endurance and encouragement we need to be a positive force in this world. We must not be afraid to ask God for endurance and we must go to the scriptures for encouragement each day. We are to be of one mind and one voice of hope and encouragement to our world that is suffering right now. Let us with one voice now pray that God would strengthen us for the days ahead.

Prayer:

            Glory be to our God. We raise our voices in praise of your wonderous provision for our lives. Help us in this time of world wide disease and suffering to be beacons of hope for all the world to see. Help us to rejoice in You despite our circumstances. We thank you for providing us with the endurance and the encouragement we need to face this hour in world history. You are a God who saves, save us from despair and discouragement. Let us offer your salvation to a needy world. In Jesus name we pray this, Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more