The world is just learning to cope with the ravages of the
COVID-19 tsunami when we are confronted with another plague, of a different
color, so to speak. Systemic racism compounded by unrestrained police brutality.
One such very public and tragic incident recently unleashed a volcanic rage that
for decades lay dormant in the souls of many. Across the globe, thousands took
to the streets to express their anger and frustration and while many protested peacefully,
rioting, looting, burning and other forms of vandalism were also wide-spread.
Shades of Armageddon!
One commentator describes these events coming one upon
another as a “thin” time that’s taking people to near breaking point, triggering
negative behaviors and magnifying insecurities, or, alternately to a place of deeper
sadness and pessimism.
Christians too are admitting to despair. Some say that with church
buildings on “temporary” lock-down it makes it harder to cope. Virtual
worship is insufficient for their spiritual needs, they miss the personal contact
and touch that help reassure them in a crisis – this more so for singles. While
these are our reality, fellow believer and child of GOD, could we refocus your
attention for a minute and look again at what’s really true for you?
- Despite all the tragedy, chaos and dysfunction, that which makes
you unique in and to the rest of the world has not and cannot be changed nor
compromised.
- And the life of a child of GOD cannot be one of despair and hopelessness.
It’s the reverse!
This is your truth, whether the church doors are open or not!
Here’s why!
You may live in this world but you’re not of the world.
John
17:15-16.
I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to
keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more
than I do. John 17:15-16
Hardships and trials may be your current reality but your
true enemy here is Satan, whose only goal on earth is to convince you of
hopelessness and destroy your peace as a child of GOD. He will deceive you into
thinking of yourself as other than you are (
John
10:10;
1
Peter 5:8;) to make you forget that you are
a child of hope, living unto the
GOD
of HOPE who came to earth in the person of JESUS CHRIST for your joy!
JESUS, the WORD who became human and made his home among us
with unfailing love and faithfulness, prayed for you!
John
1:14
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for
all who will ever believe in Me through their message…” John 17:20
Believer, you must fight and not give in and you can do it
with a new mindset.
Daily search the Scriptures to remind yourself of the truths
and promises of GOD that are yours. See again how your heavenly planned it before
the beginning of time. From the prophetic promise through the finished work of
the gospels and on through the Epistles. The WORD will renew your mind and revive your joy.
These and so much more are your gift of hope and
encouragement
Romans
15:4:
For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The
government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and
its peace will never end. Isaiah 9:6-7
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our
sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow
our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all. Isaiah
53
For this is how GOD loved the world: He gave his one and
only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal
life. GOD sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the
world through him. John 3: 16-17
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that
will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the LORD—has
been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10-11
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to
serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and
trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this
were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be
with Me where I am. John 14:1-3
(JESUS) gave up his divine privileges; He took the
humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in
human form, He humbled himself in obedience to GOD and died a criminal’s death
on a cross. Philippians 6:7-8
But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave
the right to become children of GOD. John 1:12
See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us
His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world
don’t recognize that we are GOD’s children because they don’t know Him. 1
John 3:1
GOD’s tidings of “great JOY” that we celebrate at Christmas is for every day in the
finished
work of CHRIST for all who believe – GOD’s children.
We all need to be
reminded
– again and again and again. Our faith is bolstered and we are renewed by the
constant repetition by our own study and meditation as well as by hearing from
others
. So as much as you can
strengthen
your brother or sister.
(So, faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing
the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17).
The Christian life is about reminding ourselves constantly
of who GOD is, what GOD has promised, and what GOD has done. We need to be reminded
because under the difficulties and hardness of life we so easily forget and we surrender
to our natural tendency to listen to the devil’s lies about what we can’t or
shouldn’t have to endure.
We must remember instead that our power is linked to CHRIST’s
who could and did endure for us.
Ours is a life of hope and Joy, every day!
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are
dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are
small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly
outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can
see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things
we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2
Corinthians 4:16-18
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Abba Father, we
thank you for Your WORD that reminds us that Your promises are good and everlasting
for all who are Yours and for the finished work of CHRIST Jesus, our Redeemer, Intercessor
and LORD. Thank You for His Power that is at work in us so we can endure all
things with JOY! We exalt Him as our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty GOD, our
Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace and You our unchanging GOD who is ever
gracious to Your people. In all this we rejoice and we pray in JESUS’ NAME.
Amen!
Always by GOD’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
