All posts by Pastor Curry

Pastoral thoughts

Have It Your Way

Burger King popularized the phrase “Have it your way.” Through it they promoted the idea that whatever we wanted on our burger we could have. What we wanted we received. Unfortunately, over the years, the phrase was co-opted by our culture to encourage doing whatever we want whenever we want. I wonder if we are now having it our way?

I ask this because of Paul’s words: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts… Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts… so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:18-32).

Three times Paul mentions God ‘gave them over’. There are times when God removes His hand of protection and safety to let humankind have its own way –it’s as if He says, “If that’s what you want, so be it. I’ll let you have it your way.” And we reap the consequences of our actions. Indeed we have sown the wind and reaped the whirlwind.

As a sign I saw put it:

            This Is Not BURGER KING.                                 You Can’t Have it                                               YOUR WAY.

Only when we submit to God’s way will life be different. The verses just prior to these ominous words of Paul are: “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life”” (Romans 1:17-18 NLT). God’s standard is Jesus. He is the Way. Where there is no standard for decisions and actions chaos reigns. Over the years we have seen God’s will through Jesus removed as the standard. As a result the basis for the sanctity of life, the base line for ethics and morality, the criteria for justice and righteousness have all disappeared. The only standard is what each person feels or believes it to be. And we have chaos. And make no mistake about it – we are part of the problem “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT).

There is only one way to end the chaos. “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22 NLT).

Once right with God we are empowered by His Spirit to live godly, righteous lives. “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. …You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you” (Romans 8:5-9 NLT). The words of God through the prophet are apropos: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” Jeremiah 6:16). Unfortunately God added: “But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” Whether or not that will what be written of us is up to us. Will you have it your way or God’s way?

Note:

My book “In God We Trust: A Nation Under God” is a good read for our times. For more information and/or to purchase at the lowest price go to: https://www.pastorcurry.com/product/a-nation-under-god/

Pastoral thoughts

What Good Is An Absent Jesus? (An Ascension Day Question)

Jesus told His disciples “It is for your good that I am going away” (John 16:7). Would the disciples be better off without Jesus? What good is an absent Jesus?  The best expression of the answer, I believe, comes from the Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 49 which deals with the meaning of Jesus’ ascension. It has a three part answer.

First, “He pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of his Father.” Jesus advocates for our position. He defends and represents us, pleads our cases and causes and intercedes for us. “Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us”  (Romans 8:34).

So we can:

  • Let go of our guilt. “…if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ …He takes away not only our sins but the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:1-2).
  • Draw near to God. Jesus died to open the way to God so we can build an intimate personal relationship with Him.
  • Pray expectantly. After he told the disciples that He was going away Jesus said “You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

The second good the Catechism states is “…we have our own flesh in heaven – a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven.” Jesus assures us of His protection. Just before He ascended He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Paul then wrote “… (he is) seated at (God’s) right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet…”  (Ephesians 1:21 ff.).

He reigns from heaven but rules the earth. He may be absent in person from the earth, but He is positioned on the seat of divine power. Enemies with us and around us cannot destroy or deter us. We do fight against the flesh, the world, Satan, and the threat of death – but the battle has already been won! We may fail; we may fall ill; we may suffer misfortune; we may endure persecution; we may find our hopes dashed; life may fall to pieces all around us – but God is the ruler yet! Our future is guaranteed!

So we can walk by faith, not by sight.  As Peter wrote “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you’re happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). So how do you feel? What does your life and faith communicate to a disbelieving world? Do you find yourself saying, “The world is such an awful place” or singing, “This is my Father’s world!” Walk by faith, not by sight – break apart the clouds of depression, rise above defeat, believe during uncertainty, build on failure. As the great hymn rings out: “When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”  Walk by faith, not by sight – for Jesus assures us of his protection.

The Catechism answer concludes, “Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee. By the spirit’s power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand.”  Jesus assists us with his power. “For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we will share his treasures – for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too” (Romans 8:16-17). He sends His spirit to focus us. We become conscious that we are children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ! Paul wrote, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power” (Colossians 3:1). The Holy Spirit pulls us away from thoughts of sin and towards thoughts of Christ. The law of gravity acts to keep a plane from flying. But when a plane reaches a certain speed, the law of aerodynamics takes over and frees the plane from the effects of gravitational force. So the Holy Spirit frees us from the gripping, magnetic power of sin and sets our eyes and minds on Christ.

So we can be faithful. The Thessalonians were so sure Jesus was coming again very soon that they stopped everything to wait for Him. But Paul told them to get busy. There is to be no loitering – stop standing around, stop resting on memories of the way it used to be, stop waiting for things to change or get better. That’s why Jesus’ final words were “Go…make disciples… baptize…teach…obey.” The battle is over, the victory is secure. Get busy mopping up. We dare to believe that ordinary people like us have been called and empowered to be the continuation of Christ’s ministry on the world.

Puccini was one of the greatest composers of Italian opera, having composed such works as La Boheme and Madame Butterfly. He began his last opera, Turandot, as he was dying of cancer, convinced that if he did not finish it, his students would; and he died before it was completed. After his death the opera was completed, and its premiere performance was held, under the direction of Arturo Toscanini, who was the greatest conductor of that time and also one of Puccini’s  students. All went brilliantly until at the end of the first scene in the third act, Toscanini abruptly halted the performance, laid down his baton, turned to the audience with tears streaming down his face, and said, ”Thus far the master wrote, but he died..” There was stunned silence. Then, triumphantly he picked up the baton and said, “But his disciples have completed his work.” Since Jesus assists us with His power, we can be faithful. Let’s finish the work!

 

Pastoral thoughts

Information Overload

This time of social separation has put me on information overload. Whether it’s “Who’s at fault?” or “Here’s how it spread” or “Here’s what helps prevent it”, or “Will it will come back in the Fall” or “Do masks help?” every COVID19 related issue is covered by hordes of media. That means there is a wide variety of facts – often contradictory. There is a wide variety of opinions – often contradictory. There is a wide variety of solutions – often contradictory. There is a wide variety of political opinions – always contradictory.

Certainly getting information is better than not getting it. But if we’re not careful our minds, like computers, will stop working due to ‘no disk space” – information overload. I have found I can only handle so much ‘news’ each day and then I need to turn away. Or else I become agitated and start acting like those arguing to be heard in the media. (Which is really sort of funny as I can only argue with a television set! Of course the good thing is it can’t argue back. I win every argument!)

It finally dawned on me that my mind has a limit and when it’s on information overload there is no room for God’s voice to be heard. I need to work hard at guarding my mind. The Bible, in fact, states this clearly. “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 GNT). The issue then is how to shape our thoughts. The Apostle Paul spelled it out clearly. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7)

Without launching into a sermon (always a preacher’s temptation), I lift up what I think are the 4 keys to overcoming information overload.

1. Rejoice in the Lord. Spend time in praise and worship.
2. Let the resulting gentleness be evident in all your dealings and activities.
3. Do not be anxious. Stay calm.
4. Pray regularly. Give thanks to God and bring your petitions and requests to Him.

The result? God will take charge of guarding our minds and hearts. What a difference it would make if all God’s people followed this formula! The times in which we live are a tremendous opportunity for the body of Christ to show the world the beauty and importance of God’s wisdom and peace. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity. Perhaps using the following prayer is a good starting point.

“Give us discernment in the face of troubling news reports.
Give us discernment
to know when to pray,
when to speak out,
when to act,
and when to simply
shut off our screens
and our devices,
and to sit quietly in your presence,

casting the burdens of this world
upon the strong shoulders
of the one who
alone
is able to bear them up. (1)

 

(1) From EVERY moment HOLY, VOLUME 1, Rabbit Room Press, © 2017 Douglas McKelvey, p. 159

Pastoral thoughts

The Yellow LIght

I’ve been reading a book on the life of Fred “Mr.” Rogers. The very first chapter recalls that every episode of his show opened with a shot of a flashing yellow traffic light. Why? To communicate that it was time to slow down. Ever wonder why Mr. Rogers moved and spoke so slowly? To help viewers slow down and relax. (1)

The yellow light grabbed me. I admit that, even now in ‘retirement’, I need to keep working at slowing down. That’s why it’s a repetitive theme in the Bible. “For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord” (Exodus 31:15). “Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him” (Psalm 37:7 The Message). “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NLT). “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15). “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I believe God has placed a yellow light in front of us – a light we need to see now. There is no better time than during these days of ‘stay at home’ to get back to, or to establish, a life of resting. The reports of the fears and impact of being home bound point to our desperate need for rest. We must heed God’s yellow light and learn to rest. And the longer we’re ‘in’ the longer we have to establish habits of living slowly and resting. And the longer we have to establish them the stronger they will be when we are free to return to the world that made us live so fast in the first place.

This world, with all its busyness and forces that work against us, often overwhelms and drowns us. That’s precisely why we need to slow down. Consider this. “If you ever fall into quicksand, the most important thing to remember is this: take your time. Quicksand, unlike water, will not move out of the way to let you pass. Instead, it resists movement. Flailing about will only cause you to sink deeper. But slowly it gets you to shore.” (2)(3)

Why not let this time of forced slow down teach you to voluntarily slow down? Live by the yellow light and make it safely to shore.
(Note: I am keenly aware that for many this time is far from a slow down time. They are busy on the front lines for the rest of us. To all of them – and perhaps it’s you – I offer my sincere thanks and offer up my sincere prayers. May our Lord bring rest and peace to your souls and health to your bodies.)

(1) “The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers”, Amy Hollingsworth, Thomas Nelson, 2005, p.1
(2) Ibid
(3) Picture from Washington Examiner, 8/1/19

Pastoral thoughts

Habitual Habits

About a month ago my wife reorganized our kitchen shelves. They are certainly much better now than they were. Except – I still habitually reach where the gum and candy used to be instead of where it now is. I have a feeling it’s going to take a while to build a new habit. It’s brought to mind other scenarios from my past. In high school, for example, one of my teachers covered the classroom clock for a week – and I realized on Friday that I was still looking at it just as often as I did before he did so. I also recall the time I changed the location of my shampoo and tub spray cleaner in my shower because the sizes of each dispenser had changed. It seemed simple enough – except for the power of habits. After several years of automatically reaching for shampoo on the ledge, I found it was difficult to automatically reach up for it from the shelf. That means, of course, that on more than one occasion I almost sprayed my head with shower cleanser! I was amazed at how long it took me to get to the point where I automatically reached up for the shampoo.

These repeated scenarios center on the power of habits. Habits, whether good or bad, are established over a period of time. And once ingrained they are automatic and therefore hard to break. That’s why God repeatedly told the Israelites to form good habits. In Exodus, for example, God gave them the 10 commandments, the habits by which to live. In Leviticus He laid out worship and sacrifice habits to provide a framework for holiness. In Deuteronomy 6: 5-6 He commanded them to establish teaching habits: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”

So it is really not surprising that when His people started letting go if these habits, they began wandering into the land of disobedience and walking further and further away from Him. So God sent the prophet with a message “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

He told them to return to the proven ways, the tried and true habits, of their ancestors. In other words, “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.” These habits were the paths that would return them to rest and renewal.

Centuries later Jesus taught the same thing about habits. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30).   Knowing the heart of people, knowing the tendency of humans to lose self-discipline and therefore to wander, Jesus invited His followers, and us, to take up His yolk, His habits, His way of life. “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.”

 Habits were the core of Jesus’ life. Time apart – alone – with his Father and seasons of prayer led to days of ministry and holy living. Then again came  time apart – alone – with his Father and seasons of prayer. Should our habits be any different? Whenever we feel we’re wandering away from God, whenever we feel apart from Jesus, when life is tiring us out it’s time for a time out. It’s time to get back to basics, to return to our habits. “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.” And the more firmly entrenched our habits become, the harder they will be to break. And the amazing truth is these habits do not constrict us. As the Psalmist wrote “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

Whether in the kitchen, the classroom or the shower, ingrained habits are hard to break. So make sure the habits you diligently develop are good ones. Perhaps, just perhaps, this quarantine time is God’s gift to us – He’s giving us time to develop some healthy spiritual habits, to establish some practices that will be habitual when life returns to its new normal. “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

 

 

 

Pastoral thoughts

Look Up

I am always struck by two of the resurrection passages.

“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away” (Mark 16:4). “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee…’” (Luke 24:5-6)

The clear message is “Look up!” In looking up we see Jesus – alive, reigning and in charge. (1)

So on this Easter Sunday, look up. Annie Johnson Flint has stated it eloquently in her poem “I Look Not Back.”

I look not back: God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets;
I leave them all with Him, who blots the record,
And graciously forgives and then forgets.

I look not forward: God sees all the future,
The road, that short or long, will lead me home,
And He will face me with its every trial,
And bear with me the burdens that may come.

I look not round me: Then would fears assail me,
So would the tumult of earth’s restless seas;
So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort and of ease.

I look not inward: That would make me wretched,
For I have naught on which to stay my trust;
Nothing I see save failure and shortcomings
And weak endeavors, crumbling into dust.

But I look up: Into the face of Christ,
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled,
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness.
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.

Today look up and receive the peace of Christ.

(1) Picture from: itsabouttimebook.com

Pastoral thoughts

Going After Your Princess

I’ve enjoyed writing my books. (1) But I learned a lot along the way. I have great sayings posted in my office, like “If you want something you’ve never had you must do something you’ve never done.” And there are several more. But I learned they do no good unless I follow them. If I want the rewards, the satisfaction, then I have to pay the price. The work won’t get done unless I do it – regularly and faithfully.

It points me to a principle from the familiar story of David meeting Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. I’m always struck by verse 25: “They said to each other, “Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king is offering a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the king’s daughter, and no one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again.” Do you see it? You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath.

What a principle for all situations and circumstances in life. Think about it. What is your princess? What are some of the things – or perhaps the one thing – you really want to do, to see, to accomplish? What’s stopping you? You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath. What is your Goliath? What vice, what habit, what problem, what sin, what lack of discipline, what relationship, what obstacle, what fear – what giant – is standing in your way? “You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath.”

It’s up to you to arm yourself for doing battle. David’s comrades thought Goliath was too big to fight – David thought he was too big to miss. Like David, do not think about the bigness of the giant; think about the greatness of God. You will only overcome human weakness with divine power; you will only overcome fear with faith.  Verse 37: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  God will not do for you what you can do for yourself – so do your part and God will, as always, do His. If you believe you are on God’s side, drop the armor and the weapons that are hindering you. Pick up your stones and start hurling. As the old hymn “Yield Not to Temptation” puts it, “Each victory will help you some other to win.” You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath.

This principle is easy for me to say. Yet all my books, including the one I’m working on now, should have been finished earlier. I’m still trying to apply what I’ve learned. It’s much easier to slide and be satisfied with where I am and how I’m doing. But that’s not the goal – nor is it my calling. And there are always many obstacles in the way – many Goliaths loom large. But I will never marry the princess unless I first kill Goliath. I invite you – urge you – to go after your princess. I promise to go after mine as well. Let’s encourage each other. Only then can we say “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1) Go now, and kill your Goliath! Ready or not Princess – here I come!

(1) https://www.pastorcurry.com/books/

 

Pastoral thoughts

A Hilly Reminder

Driving in the mountains or hilly areas is always interesting. Often we cannot see what is ahead until we either get to the top of the hill or around the curve. It makes driving an adventure! But this hilly driving leads me to Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” The hills are wonderful, exciting, even exhilarating – but my help and strength come from the Lord who made them. As The Message translates verses 1-2, “I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.”

What a glorious truth! No matter how high the mountain, nor how steep the climb, or how swift the descent, God is guiding, leading, and protecting. What an awesome affirmation for the ups and downs of life. Whether you’re going down or going up, remember the hills. You may be at the very bottom, wondering how to ever get back to the top. Or perhaps you’re at the very top worried you might not stay there. You could be in between, not sure if your next move will propel you upwards or thrust you downwards. It might be that you are moving forward but can’t see around the next curve; you’re concerned about what lies ahead. No matter what, “The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” 

Let me take a little liberty and offer a ‘Curryean’ paraphrase: “The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going, your ups and your downs, your bends and your curves, both now and forevermore.” Whether you’re going down or going up, remember the hills. You can travel safely no matter what the road!

So let the hills and curves, the ups and downs, remind you of our faithful God who never tires, slumbers, or sleeps so He can be your constant guard and protector. “God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.” (7-8 The Message) Wherever you are at this moment, whether you’re going down or going up, remember the hills.

 

 

Pastoral thoughts

A Moment of Sifting

It was only moments before the first funeral I ever conducted. A 38 year old father had died of cancer leaving behind a wife and four very young children. I was about to precede the casket into the sanctuary. I felt a tug on the bottom of my suit coat. I turned around and saw one of the pall bearers, a dear friend, who simply said, “We’ve been praying for you.” While it almost brought me to tears, it also energized me for the moments ahead.

So I identify with the disciples. They had gathered in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. But Jesus was making some serious, disturbing predictions. He said He was leaving them and that one of their tightly knit band would betray Him. He talked about being killed. He predicted that strong, loyal Peter would deny Him – and not once but three times. Since the disciples had come to value and trust Jesus’ words they were disturbed. Whatever Jesus meant, they knew the hours ahead would be difficult, especially if they had to go through them without Jesus.

But, as always, Jesus was sensitive to their state. So He looked at Peter and said, for all to hear, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you” (plural) “as wheat” (Luke 22:31-32). Just as Satan had to ask God for permission to attack Job, so he had to ask for permission to sift the disciples. But Jesus continued, “I have prayed for you” (singular), “Simon, that your faith may not fail.” Jesus prays for us! Satan will repeatedly try to sift us, to trip us up and get us to turn away from Jesus. Tough times test us to see if we are wheat or chaff. But, as the Heidelberg Catechism states, all things come to us not by chance but from His fatherly hand. So Jesus prays for us to remain strong. Satan not only has to ask permission, He has to overcome the prayer of Jesus!

These are strange, worrisome difficult days. Satan loves to take advantage of these times. They are moments of sifting. He figures our spirits are weak. But Jesus is praying for us. He is faithful and true and will not let us be tempted  beyond what we can handle, nor suffer beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will grant us fresh supplies of His Spirit so mourning becomes joy and darkness turns to light. And as John reminds us the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

But also notice what Jesus adds as He speaks to Peter, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Always remember, as Jesus prays for us so we are to pray for others. Doing so not only helps them, it also helps us as we get out of ourselves and become part of Jesus’ healing, strengthening flow into our world. And isn’t that what we need for these moments of sifting? Jesus is already praying for us. Join me in praying for others.

 

Pastoral thoughts

Viral Faith

This is a time for faith and not fear.  To be honest I know the virus is real and will most likely eventually come to someone we know, perhaps even to you or me. But I am far more concerned with the loss of reason and the wave of fear and hysteria that threatens the fabric of our society than I am with the virus. I am concerned what our children and grand-children are learning about how to respond to difficult times and circumstances. So let this be an opportunity to focus on faith.

  • Focus on our faithful God who watches over our lives and our coming and going now and forevermore (Ps. 121).
  • Focus on the fact the Bible teaches us to be of use today. ‘Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:13-17).
  • Focus on what  the Heidelberg Catechism profoundly states:

26 Q. What do you believe when you say: “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, maker   of heaven and earth?”

That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal           counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ his Son.  I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will            turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world.  He is able to do this    because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.

            27 Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?

Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which he upholds, as    with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade,     rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity   and poverty – all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but from his fatherly hand.

            28 Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?

We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will       separate us from his love.  All creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.

  • Focus on Numbers 16:46-48: “Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.” I am not implying that COVID-19 is a God-sent plague. I am saying intercessors are needed. Let’s all stand in the great gap and pray unceasingly.

Here is a message I delivered on Sunday, March 15 to those gathered for worship @ Kibbie Christian Reformed Church here in South Haven. My prayer is that it will bless and strengthen you during these unusual days.