From Sin To Salvation

Are you searching for answers during this worldwide crisis of the Coronavirus? If you’re like me you have probably been asking God why He is allowing such a devastating enemy to attack us and take the lives of so many. For some, God’s answer may not be what we want to hear. For believers I think we depend on our faith to understand what God is doing. Just like when we were kids and our parents took actions we didn’t understand, we just had to trust them.

The same principle applies in our dealing with the Coronavirus. Yes, God is allowing actions to happen we don’t understand but we have to have faith He knows what He’s doing. To better understand God’s motives, plans and intentions it is best to seek our answer in His word the Bible.

When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians he was not addressing people about a worldwide crisis. He was however giving us steps we can take today in order to see our way through this rough patch. Paul’s advice is found in Colossians, Chapter 3 starting in verse 12 through 17 which I’ve shown below.

12—Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

13—Bear with one another and forgive each other.

14—Put on love which is the perfect bond of unity.

15—Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

16—Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.

17—Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

As you can see Paul gave us simple and compassionate actions we can take to help ourselves and others today. May I suggest you meditate on these verses and respond in love when you are called.

I just finished reading Colossians Chapter 3 and found some nuggets of wisdom and encouragement for the perilous times we are living in. Each of us no doubt has experienced a degree of anxiety, dread or fear for our loved ones as well as ourselves in light of the Coronavirus.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians contains some wisdom on how to react and deal with the world around you (this can include the current day Coronavirus). Let me share the verses from Chapter 3 that I found to be helpful and ones that you could meditate on to help yourself and others.

1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on these things above, not on the things that are on earth. (good advice)

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (don’t let your emotions run away from you.)

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (somethings we all need to show others)

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts….

I hope you find these verses encouraging and inspirational. Pray over them and let God move in your heart.

What is God saying to us? I think He’s talking to the whole world. I think He’s telling us that our priorities have gotten misplaced. We need to dislodge those priorities and return to our heavenly Father. I think He’s calling us back to Himself. I do…I do.

Is this a signal of end times as some people are saying? I do not know. But I do know God is doing something in the world and He’s calling upon us. He’s talking to the whole world. We are going to get through this. It may not be quick. It may not be easy. But God is going to use this for good.

I’m just checking in to make sure that you are feeding your faith more than you are feeding your fears. You know if you feed your faith, your fears will starve. But if you feed your fears, your faith will starve.  So we have to make an intentional decision during this season of high anxiety and turbulence to encourage one another and to feed one another’s faith. Also we need to take the initiative to feed our own faith.

So let me encourage you my friend. Don’t give into despair. Don’t give into anxiety. We’re gonna get through this. We really are. I know that we’re getting new news day by day. I know that developments are changing it seems by the hour. But let me tell you the thing that has not changed. Our heavenly father is still on the throne.

God, You alone are worthy of honor, glory, and praise. With You, we can overcome every storm—including the global impact the Coronavirus is having on our world.

Right now, we are asking You to:

• Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.

• Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty.

• Strengthen Your global Church. Reveal to us how we can partner together to reach the need of those around us.

• Calm our fears. Fill us with Your hope, joy, and peace as we continue to trust in You.

• Use this pandemic to pave the way for spiritual renewal. We want Your glory, power, and healing to be on display.

In Jesus Christ’s Holy Name We Pray

The Bible states that after Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness in order to face temptation by the devil. But why would God direct His own Son to endure temptation?

Just prior to this experience, Jesus had participated in John’s “baptism of repentance” (Matt. 3:11-13), even though He was sinless and didn’t need that symbolic cleansing; He chose to be baptized in order to identify with the world He came to save. Then He fasted 40 days and nights in the desert, where Satan tempted Him. God allowed this time of testing—and Jesus willingly submitted to it—so that He could also identify with the struggles and trials we all face. But while so many of us stumble and give in to temptation, He remained faultless even through the full pressure of Satan’s challenges.

We have a Savior who endured the same types of struggles we face today, and that gives credence to the fact that He understands what His children encounter. He sits at God’s right hand, where He intercedes for us. He is fully God and, at the same time, fully man, who willingly identified with us. Don’t hesitate to bring your greatest difficulties to Him—He truly understands.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand what God is doing in our life, but over time I’ve learned that we can identify His fingerprints in several ways:

First, the work God does is creative and powerful. He made heaven, earth, and all living creatures, and He knitted each of us in our mother’s womb. Then, through His Son Jesus, He powerfully accomplished salvation for all who trust in the Savior. What’s more, He adopted all believers into His family.

Second, we can see God’s work through Christ-centered prayers, which narrow our focus on the Lord. When we pray actively and persistently, we can more readily identify His actions and see how to join Him.

Third, the work of God becomes clear to a yielded heart, which prepares us to listen and obey. Regularly concentrating on God’s Word will clear our mind and help us understand what the Lord is up to.

Have you been too busy or distracted to notice what God is doing? If you want to perceive His work, these things can give you a fresh perspective. Admit your lack of attention, and refocus your heart and mind on the Lord.

Everything is changing! Flight schedules are changing. The economy is changing. School schedules are changing. Changes are everywhere.

But, you know what hasn’t changed? God’s love for us. The four most welcome words in the Bible are God is for us. GOD is for us— the unchanging Creator is FOR us. His love for us is constant and unchanging. He’s not plotting to take us down, punish us, or cause us pain. He wants to build us up. He hasn’t turned away from us. He has turned toward us and is inviting us to run to him for peace and strength.

Among all the changes currently happening, find comfort in this steadfast promise from Christ—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Turn to Him today.

Like a majority of Americans I am staying home in an effort to do my part in eliminating the Coronavirus. No doubt you’ve seen many articles giving you “how-to instructions” on staying busy and sane while in your personal confinement. Some of the suggestions given are good while others are just plain silly. One of the ideas given was to set goals for yourself during this anxiety-ridden time. I agree. There is one goal you can set for yourself that outshines any other.

May I recommend reading one chapter a day in the bible starting in the book of Matthew. The goal is to read, absorb, understand and accomplish what God has shown you through His word. This goal is a great goal in that it draws you closer to God and it gives you the strength and peace to carry on in our current world circumstances.

If you don’t have a bible at home you can go on the internet to sites such as: https:biblegateway.com. In addition to providing you with a bible to read it also has many other resources that compliment the bible such as verse explanations, word definitions, maps and much more.

Are you ready to start on your goal? Great! You will be a better person for it and the best part is you will become closer to God our father and at the same time meet His son Jesus Christ. May God bless you on your journey through His Word.

Writing a blog with a message mostly about Jesus Christ is not that difficult during normal times. But, these are not normal times. Everyone is anxious or concerned about getting sick from the Coronavirus. That’s all understandable. The question on all of our minds is how to find a ray of sunshine in these times.

If you are at home looking for that ray of sunshine in order to remain sane and have some enjoyment in life I understand completely. Where you find your enjoyment and peace is up to you. From my perspective I would highly recommend reading God’s word, the bible. There you will find everything you need to make it through life on a daily basis.

If you need some help, why not start in the book of Psalms, the 23rd chapter.