|
Dear friends,
"I must give the British people a very simple instruction: You must stay at home." Wow! We never expected to hear that from a Prime Minister in our lifetimes!
It's been, for most of us, the most unusual week of our lives. Of course, we have looked for ways to adapt to this new way of life. Perhaps you read of the man in France who ran a marathon on his 7metre long balcony!! (You can read about it here - thanks Mattie G for the link). But the truth of the matter is, no-one wants to be in this situation!
There are plenty of examples in the Bible where people have been forced into situations they didn't want to be in: Adam and Eve being exiled from the garden of Eden; Jonah being asked to preach in Nineveh; Esther risking her life to save her people; Joseph being sold into slavery; Daniel being thrown to the lions; Naomi being widowed; David running from King Saul; we could list almost every character we meet in the Bible!
Sometimes it's a result of sin, sometimes it's just part of living in this fallen world, often it's even a result of serving God in an anti-God world, but ALWAYS it's to eventually bring glory to God and for the eternal benefit of His people. Over the coming weeks we'll look to learn from these and other examples (good and bad) in these weekly emails.
But let's start with the Apostle Paul, who lists a whole host of disasters he faced in serving God, and ends with an extraordinary assessment of how he views such things:
2 Corinthians 11v23-28:
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul goes on and speaks of a 'thorn in his flesh'. We're not sure what his 'thorn' was, but we know it made him appear 'weak' or hampered in his ministry.
2 Corinthians 12v8-10
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
This time of isolation, restrictions, financial and health concerns is our time to boast in our weakness. We cannot change the tide of COVID-19, we cannot guarantee the health or finances of our family and friends. These things are beyond our control! Even beyond the control of the government. We do what we can, but we are weak.
So the question is, how do we point to the strength of Christ in our weakness?
Surely it is to acknowledge him even at this time. To proclaim him, to serve him, to glorify him. To pray to him and trust him whatever comes our way. Why? Well, as we'll be reminded of on Sunday in John 10v28, Jesus says:
I give you eternal life, and you shall never perish; no one will snatch you out of my hand.
As those we connect with (virtually of course!) hear and see that our faith remains strong, our church family remains strong in unity, our Lord Jesus gives hope beyond any disasters in this world, they can only conclude that we have a higher power at work in us. For we have something the rest of the world does not: (No, not an antidote to COVID-19 or an NHS that can cope with the pressure.)
We have Jesus, the antidote to death itself, whose power is made perfect in weakness.
In Christ,
Sam Williamson
Senior Pastor
|
