Well, friends, I have been swept away by the Corona Virus fear. Mainly because I'm afraid of running out of toilet paper. As I couldn't sleep last night I checked Amazon, just for kicks, and they wouldn't be able to ship the kind we use until March 30th! Life is about to get really interesting (or perhaps boring and relaxed) for all of us I think.
I've been hoping a verse would come to mind that would help in this situation and as a cure to the no-sleep, one came to mind that played over and over in my brain. Jesus prayed to his Father these words in John 17:15-17: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth."
Friends, we are in this fallen world for a reason. However, Jesus himself prayed for your protection in it. Is there anyone better to have praying for you?! No. Emphatically, no. Protection from the evil one comes in all shapes and sizes because the devil comes in all shapes and sizes! Right now I think he is preying on fear like you wouldn't believe and is thoroughly enjoying himself. Don't let him. Remember that like Jesus, you are in the the world, but not of it. Your home is not here. You have a deposit waiting for you in heaven.
Jesus commanded God in the verses above. Commanded, can you imagine?! But anywho, that command was for you: Jesus wanted the Lord to sanctify you by the truth. That means Jesus wanted you set apart, or to be declared Holy - by the truth. Which happens to be the word of God. And that, if you follow Paul's logic later in Ephesians, is a sword. God's word is a weapon. One of the only ones I can think of that not only protect you in any trial you are going through, but one that the devil actually knows and respects and possibly even fears. Yes, he tries to twist it's words...but you better believe he knows them. And if he does...you need to make sure you know them as well. Go back to those verses again: Jesus wants you to be made holy by the word of God. And Paul wants you to use it as a weapon.
If you don't spend any time in it, it can't help sanctify you; or be a weapon in this day when the world is throwing all kinds of fear and panic at you. Friends, listen to the words Jesus prayed for you. Take them to heart and use them. The only weapon that I think is going to help us in this pandemic is peace of heart and trust in the Lord - and that my friends - can only come when the word of God lives there.
I've been hoping a verse would come to mind that would help in this situation and as a cure to the no-sleep, one came to mind that played over and over in my brain. Jesus prayed to his Father these words in John 17:15-17: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth."
Friends, we are in this fallen world for a reason. However, Jesus himself prayed for your protection in it. Is there anyone better to have praying for you?! No. Emphatically, no. Protection from the evil one comes in all shapes and sizes because the devil comes in all shapes and sizes! Right now I think he is preying on fear like you wouldn't believe and is thoroughly enjoying himself. Don't let him. Remember that like Jesus, you are in the the world, but not of it. Your home is not here. You have a deposit waiting for you in heaven.
Jesus commanded God in the verses above. Commanded, can you imagine?! But anywho, that command was for you: Jesus wanted the Lord to sanctify you by the truth. That means Jesus wanted you set apart, or to be declared Holy - by the truth. Which happens to be the word of God. And that, if you follow Paul's logic later in Ephesians, is a sword. God's word is a weapon. One of the only ones I can think of that not only protect you in any trial you are going through, but one that the devil actually knows and respects and possibly even fears. Yes, he tries to twist it's words...but you better believe he knows them. And if he does...you need to make sure you know them as well. Go back to those verses again: Jesus wants you to be made holy by the word of God. And Paul wants you to use it as a weapon.
If you don't spend any time in it, it can't help sanctify you; or be a weapon in this day when the world is throwing all kinds of fear and panic at you. Friends, listen to the words Jesus prayed for you. Take them to heart and use them. The only weapon that I think is going to help us in this pandemic is peace of heart and trust in the Lord - and that my friends - can only come when the word of God lives there.
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