None of us can escape its threat nor the prospect of its arrival on our doorstep. We have to take it seriously. It would be irresponsible to ignore the advice and not take precautions to limit its spread. No one has seen anything like this before.
What can we do when difficulties arise, when diseases like these come so close? We get the warnings, we take precautions and make preparations, but sometimes the best of these prove ineffective.
What else should we do? Is there someone to turn to?
Yes, there is! There is One who knows all about our troubles because He has been there before us in this sin-stained world. His name is Jesus Christ our Lord. Matthew 8.17 reminds us that “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses”.
Once He was with His friends crossing a lake in a small boat when a really wild storm sprang up and threatened to drown them all. They panicked and said to Him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”
He calmed the storm and brought them safely to the shore. They marvelled at His power. He always cares. Read about it in Mark 4.35 - 41.
Whatever threatens us in life, and even death and the judgement for our sins, He has promised to carry us through in safety if we put our whole trust in Him. He is able and willing to save all who call upon Him.
Fulfilling the two great commandments just now
(Matthew 22.36-40)
Love for the Lord?
We express this by our devotion to Him and His interests. We can do that as individuals and in local churches as is our norm. But now is not normal, so our individual devotion matters even more. When not able to meet together, our commitment to God must not waver!
Love for our neighbour?
The best expression these days may be in selflessly protecting others from infection, isolating ourselves and saving our country’s resources from being stretched to breaking point.
Affirm your faith in Christ and your love for others by praying and continuing to serve your brothers and sisters in every way that you can. Firmly grasp His “full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6.11) as the storm rages around you. Hope is the spiritual anchor of every believer, and God will brighten our hope and comfort us the more as our burdens grow heavier. Remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1.7).
In this time of distress, reach out to your heavenly Father in prayer. It is especially important that we make intercession for countries, governments, church leaders, communities, healthcare and other key workers, our families and neighbours, and our Christian brothers and sisters near us and in every land.
May we keep faithful and helpful, loving the Lord and loving each other.
“This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4.10)
