Corona virus – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

We are facing troubled times in this world with the Corona virus and all it’s doing to people’s health and finances.

How do we face it?

The people Peter was writing to faced a different kind of problem: persecution. But his words to them are still quite applicable to us. What did he say?

Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9)

Again, Peter here is talking about persecution and our response to it.

But in these times, people can get easily get edgy towards each other.

Other people rail at the government for not doing enough, or ironically for going too far in their restrictions on our movements.

But we are not to be this way. Rather we are called to bless others. Even when we feel ill-treated, we are to be sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble.

And again, we are to bless others, keeping our tongues from evil (10), whether it’s cursing, complaining, or whatever else it may be.

Peter then says,

Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (14-15)

In encouraging those Christians facing persecution, Peter told them not to fear the things those around them feared, nor to fear the threats of others. Instead, they were to regard Christ as holy in their lives.

What does that mean?

Peter was quoting from Isaiah 8:12-14.

The Israelites of that time were terrified of being attacked by the Assyrian army. But God told Isaiah,

Do not fear what they fear;
do not be terrified.

You are to regard only the LORD of Armies as holy.
Only he should be feared;
only he should be held in awe.
He will be a sanctuary…(Isaiah 8:12-14)

What does it mean to honor God as holy? Fear him alone. Hold him in awe over anyone or anything else.

And if we do, he will be our sanctuary, whether we’re being attacked by people…or by the Corona virus.

We are not to fear what others fear. We are not to fear the virus. We are not to fear the financial difficulties that come from being unemployed.

Instead, we are to stand in awe of God and worship him. And he will be our sanctuary in the storm.

Does this mean that we won’t get sick? That we won’t struggle financially?

No. Some of us may go bankrupt. Some of us may even die because of the virus.

But maybe God is reminding us through all of this: “This world is not your home. You are only temporary residents here .(1 Peter 1:1)

You have a more permanent home, a more permanent inheritance awaiting you.”

That’s our hope.

And it’s the hope we are to pass on to others. If we refuse to give into anger or fear, if instead we are a blessing to those who are hurting now, people will ask why.

And should that time come, as Peter says, “be ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15).

And if you yourself are starting to lose hope, remember the basis for our hope.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. (18)

Or as Bill Gaither once put it,

Because he lives I can face tomorrow.
Because he lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know he holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because he lives.

Praying for our cities

In this passage, Jeremiah was writing to a people who had just been exiled to Babylon. Many of them were scared and discouraged. Perhaps some of them even wanted to rebel against their captors.

But God told them this,

Pursue the well-being (Hebrew: “Shalom,” meaning among other things “peace”, “prosperity,” “safety,” and “health”) of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive. (Jeremiah 29:7)

God tells us to do the same thing. In fact, perhaps Paul was thinking of this passage when he wrote these words to Timothy.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

In these often scary and discouraging times, let us take the words of Jeremiah and Paul to heart. Pray to the Lord for our cities. There are a lot of hurting people out there.

Pursue our cities’ well-being.

Part of that means social distancing, which is why we’re not meeting on Sundays.

But at the same time, pursue individual people’s well-being. Touch the people you know, both inside and outside the church. Call them. Encourage them. Pray for them. In whatever way you can, try to meet their needs.

And pray for our leaders. I often read criticism of our leaders as they make decisions for our countries.

But let me ask you something: are you obeying Paul’s words? Are you praying for your leaders? Or are you merely complaining about them, to God and to anyone else who will listen?

Don’t complain about them. Pray for them.

And let us pray that through all this Corona craziness that people will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.