Hold on to Jesus | Pastor Greg | 4/22/20
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23–25
As the shutdown and quarantine continues, we have to ask ourselves, where do we find our hope? It is in our circumstances or is it in someone who is bigger than our struggles? We are still trying to deal with a new normal, but for God no adjustment is necessary. God is not surprised by the current pandemic sweeping the globe and He remains in control. The truth is that we don’t always understand his ways because they are higher than ours, but make no mistake about it, God is always doing things for our good and for His glory!
Now, more than ever is a time to find hope in Jesus and to dwell upon the truth of God’s Word. God has allowed these things to happen so that we would remember what really matters. Jesus was clear in Matthew 22:37-40 that loving God and loving people is where our focus needs to be all of the time. Especially in times such as these. Sometimes the busyness of our lives keeps us from the relationships that we need to invest in the most.
The enemy of our soul, the Devil, would have us to be discouraged right now by having us turn to pessimism and negative thoughts during this season, but God wants us to find hope in his unconditional love and continual presence in the mist of this present darkness. Ultimately the light of the world will prevail and God will draw us together reminding us of what is really important. (John 8:12)
In 1942 CS Lewis said it this way, “Satan said, ‘I will cause anxiety, fear, and panic. I will shut down business, places of worship, and sports events. I will cause economic turmoil.’ and God said, ‘I will bring together neighbors, restore the family unit, I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table. I will help people slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not the world. I will teach my children to trust me and not their money and possessions.’”
During this “Divine Pause” may we cling to the King (Jesus) and find our hope in Him while at the same time encouraging others to do the same knowing that He who promised is faithful no matter what!
