Read:  Hebrews 10:22-25

We have been hearing a lot about essentials lately.  Essential jobs, essential workers, essential activities, essential needs, and the basic essentials that people need to survive.  I suppose toilet paper could be included in that. These conversations during this time of unprecedented measures causes us to think deeper about what the essentials of life and society truly are.  It has caused us to be extra thankful for all those who are so needed and vital to keep the life, health, and well-being of others supported during these days of extraordinary challenge.

It has also caused me to think about other essentials as well.  Hebrews 10 includes some very essential things for us to focus on during times of trial, questions, and difficulty.  It says we need to draw near to God. It says we need place full assurance in our faith in God. It says we need to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.  It says we need to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. It says that we are to encourage one another. It even says that we are not to give up meeting together (except maybe when there is a global pandemic going on).

I guess these conversations about essentials has made me realize who and what is essential in my life.  I hope it has done the same for you. As we think about what the essential things of life here on earth are I hope we will also think about the essentials of our faith, salvation, and hope in Jesus Christ.  Those are truly the most essential when we think about the promise of eternal life in heaven for those who believe and follow Jesus as the Lord of their life. Yes, we need to be very thankful for all the essentials of life, but we need to be extra thankful for the essentials of heaven.   It is those things that we will have for all of eternity. 

Make it Personal:  Take some time to name all of the essentials of this earthly life you can think of.  Then take some time to name all the essentials of your faith in God and your hope in Jesus Christ.  Let’s not forget during this time of trial what the most important things in life truly are.

Read: 
Isaiah 40:28-31; Psalm 121; 1 Peter 5:6-11

The phrase that will get added to our dictionaries and lexicons for 2020 will undoubtedly be “Social Distancing.”  This phrase has been used so much in the past couple of weeks as we try to avoid other people, stand 6 feet apart, not shake hands, and wash our hands as often as possible.  That’s difficult! It’s hard not to engage with other people because we are a social bunch. 

Hopefully before long we can begin to gather in groups again.  But during this time when we are distancing ourselves from others, how about we take our relationship with Jesus to a new level.  How about we spend more time in prayer, reading the Bible, listening to sermons, reflecting on devotionals, or engaging in Bible Studies online or on television.  It’s during times like these that we really need more heavenly engagement than earthly entertainment.

The scripture passages listed in this week’s reflection are great places to start.  They talk about where to cast your anxiety, where to lift your eyes for help, and where you can draw strength during this time.  If you go searching you will find many more. God’s Word is full of promise and hope for times of difficulty, challenge, and suffering.   Instead of filling all of our down time at home with “other things” how about we fill it with “helpful things” or “spiritual things.”

Until these times of distance begin to change, I am reminded of the words that John wrote in 2 John 1:12.  He said, “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink (or computer screen and internet).  Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” May we remain steadfast and joyful during this time of change, but let us look forward to the day when we can once again meet together face to face.

Make it Personal:  Think about how you spend your time these days.  How much of your time is spent on things that add to your worry and fear (news, movies, social media)?  How much of it is spent on family (children, spouse, friends)? How much of it is spent on heavenly engagement (prayer, Bible reading and study, sermons, or outreach)?  Hopefully you can find a balance that is good for you and good for your relationship with Jesus and others.

Our world always feels somewhat unsettled when you consider the many things going on in it.  From wars, to famine, to politics, to religious strife, to troubled relationships, and most recently the spread of the COVID-19 disease, better known as the Coronavirus.  While the spread of this disease around the world must be taken seriously and we must be careful to prevent its spread, we must not enter into mass hysteria and be overtaken by panic and fear.

It is terrible when we hear of sick people, quarantined cruise ships, empty sports stadiums, cancelled events, and the many deaths that have resulted due to this disease.  However, worry and panic will only add to our unsettled feelings about what lies ahead. In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches about worry. He says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”  The whole part of his teaching focused around our worries about life in general.

In verse 27 Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  The answer of course is “NO!” Worry will only take away hours not add to them. I love the verse in 2 Timothy 1:7 because it speaks about what God has given to us to deal with this unsettled world and feelings of fear.  It says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

In the midst of 24-hour news coverage and widespread panic about the coronavirus, I would encourage us all to make this a matter of prayer.  Pray that the Lord would give us the love we need to help people in need, the power we need to overcome fear, and sound minds to make wise and careful decisions in the days ahead.  Pray for a cure and pray for those who are affected by this disease. Oh, and also pray about fear and worry in your own life about this unsettled world.

Make it Personal:  It’s good to be informed and vigilant when things like this are happening in our world.  However, it can also be overwhelming if we are watching and listening to the events all day long and into our evenings.  Stay informed but don’t be consumed! Stay safe and as Jesus reminds us, don’t let worry and fear overwhelm you.

Read:  Genesis 3:1-7; 11:1-9

The Garden of Eden.  The Tower of Babel. These examples of sin and disobedience towards God in the book of Genesis are still happening today in our world and in our culture.  Followers of Jesus are surrounded by it every day and are sometimes tempted to join in. As the rest of history testifies, sin will always be with us because we live in a fallen world.  But God provides us a different way through his son Jesus. Our story needs to become His story.  

Louie Giglio shares about this in the Jesus Bible and his words are a helpful reminder.  He writes, “What happened in the garden is called sin. But there is no better way to characterize it than using the word revolt.  Humankind said on that day what we still say every day. I WILL DO IT MY WAY! It’s hard to imagine anyone spitting in the face of a friend, tracking mud through the home of a neighbor on a rainy day, cutting off a funeral procession in traffic, or mocking a person with a disability.  Common human decency causes us to recoil at the thought. Yet, we casually ignore the Almighty, rebuff his counsel, laugh at his wisdom, pursue our own pleasure, and straight-up say no when he calls us to his path and plan.”

Giglio continues… “If the word revolt sounds too strong, consider that God is the originator and owner of us all.  Yet, we attempt to dismiss and belittle the One who formed us from the dust. We spit in God’s face and slam the door on his love.  Often without a thought or even a twinge of regret, we treat God worse than we treat most of our friends and neighbors. We repeatedly say toward heaven, “No thanks, I’m doing just fine without you!”

Those are tough words to hear, but in our world today these are words that need to be heard.  It’s time that we stop insisting that our way is the best way and ask what God has to say about these things instead.  Instead of putting our foot down and saying that we will do it our way, how about we open God’s Word, get our knees before God our Creator and say, what is your way?  Hopefully our sin and revolt can find its way to the obedience, grace, and forgiveness of the cross. Jesus died and shed his blood on that cross so that we could be delivered from that life of sin and disobedience.

Make it Personal:  How have you been saying “I will do it my way” to God?  It’s time to open up our Bibles, get on our knees before the Lord and say, “Show me your way, I am ready and willing to follow it.”  Lord, help us all in this endeavor!