Are We "Above The Law?"

Some people who are Christian that I know, posted on social media about opening their business this weekend. Pretty much defying the Illinois Governors order to shelter in place, till the end of May. I know what the Governor is ordering is not the law, but is an order to help protect us, from getting or spreading the coronavirus. He keeps telling us what he thinks is best for us to beat this virus. People are getting tired of staying in place, or sheltering themselves from everyone else. But does that mean that people can start doing whatever they want? Especially us Christians? Aren't we supposed to be different from the world? To act different, speak different? Not to blend in, but stand out? These people decided that they were no longer going to wear masks, shelter in place, and open their business, going against the Governors orders to do this till the end of May.

1 John 2:15-17 New Living Translation (NLT)¹⁵ Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ¹⁶ For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. ¹⁷ And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

God says in His word to be law abiding citizens. To respect our government authorities. Now if the Mayor, Governor or President tells us to do something that goes against God and His word, then that is a different story.

Titus 3:1-2 The Message (MSG) 3 ^1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.

So we think that this government ordered shelter in place has gone to far. That the governor has over reached his authority. I'm not trying to be political here, but I don't think that we can just start doing whatever we want because we don't like it.

John 13:35 The Message (MSG)^34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

God calls us to love one another. How is defying the shelter in place order, showing God's love to one another?

Romans 15:2 The Message (MSG)15 ^1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

I think that is where Christianity gets a bad rap sometimes, because we think that we can do whatever, just because we are Christians. That we are above the law.

Ephesians 4:31-32 Amplified Bible (AMP)
³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. ³² Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

So, as we move forward during this time. Let's remember to be patient, kind and loving towards each other. Not to rush our own agenda, but to wait on God. He has this. He's always had this. He is using this for His glory. Not ours.

  

Complete Fiasco!

Fiasco. That is the word that I am going to go with on this one. This whole pandemic and the reaction of  government leaders & medical leaders, has turned into a fiasco. Every time you turn on the T.V. you hear something different from a 'medical professional'. First it's "don't wear a mask." Then "oh, you should wear a mask." This doctor says to do this. This other doctor says not to do that, do this instead. They are from every group of physicians it seems. Family doctor. Surgeons. Respiratory specialist. Everyone has an opinion on what you should or should not be doing. Wash your hands often. Sanitize everything. Stay six feet apart. On and on it goes, until to me, it has turned into a fiasco. Oh, the virus is real, and people are dying, don't get me wrong. It's just the information that is coming out from the medical field is so confusing! Who do you listen to? Whom do you believe? Which one has the right answer? All. None. Some.

Well, I know who I listen to and believe. He is my God! He is the same everyday. His word never changes. He never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So unlike these doctors, Jesus stays the same. Always! So He is the one that I will listen too and believe through all of this. His word is truth. You can always count on Him. His promises are always  yes and amen.

So as we get more and more confused (at least I am) on who to believe on what to do. I'm going to listen to and follow The One who never changes.

1 Corinthians 14:33 English Standard Version (ESV)³³ For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

To those of us who are tired of being sheltered in place. Being told what to do. Stay home, don't go out. Social distance. Wear masks, gloves, etc. etc. God wants to give us peace.

Matthew 11:28 New Living Translation (NLT)²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

So I am going to put my hope and trust in Jesus. If we trust man, he will fail us every time.

Psalm 118:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.

AMEN!

Not For Me. For You!

So as this stay in place order drags on, entering it's second full month in Illinois, people are starting to become antsy. More and more impatient with having to stay at home. Only to go to work (if you're essential) and then come right back home again. Having to wear masks where ever we go now. Only go out to get groceries if absolutely necessary. Wear gloves, don't touch anything, especially your face! Some people are starting to get so fed up, that we who are following these recommendations they are calling us scared. That we are living in fear. This virus isn't really as bad as they say. They spout off and say that they are healthy, they won't get the virus, so they shouldn't have to do all of what is being said to take precautions. Well my friends. This isn't about you!

John 15:13 English Standard Version (ESV)
¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

So until I am told that I am no longer required to wear a mask, gloves, get my temperature taken before I can enter work, stay six feet apart. I am going to comply with said orders. I am not a doctor or a medical professional. Are these practices working? Who knows for sure. The one thing I do know.

I am not doing this for me. I am doing this for you. I am not worried about getting sick. But I am worried that I might be a carrier and pass it on to you or someone you love. Have you ever seen anyone struggling to breathe? Even while on a ventilator? It's not a comforting sight. I pray that you'll never have to.

I have friends and family who have compromised immune systems. I used to see them quite a bit, but with all this going on, I haven't been able to. It is because I don't want to be the reason that they get sick and could possibly pass away, simply because I refused to stay in place!

Philippians 2:4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
⁴ Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Yes wearing a mask isn't the most pleasant of experiences. Having someone place a temperature gun against your forehead just to enter work isn't the greatest either. Staying six feet apart when in public. Having to follow all these rules whilst in a grocery store. I'm doing it once again, not for my good, but to for the good of others.

Proverbs 3:27 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
    when it’s in your power to help them.

 

Stay safe family and friends.  God Bless.

Amen.

How Many Times..................

How many times have we had as Christians to give our testimony? To share our story on what God has done for us? To share The Gospel with other people? Only to shrink back and remain silent. Not say a word. Why is that? Are we afraid of what people will think? Will they laugh at us? Call us crazy. Jesus wants us to be bold for Him. To stand up and speak His name and the truth that He gives. I can personally think of a few times when I stood idling my time away, when I heard conversations going on about Jesus, The Bible, Easter and Good Friday. I could have spoken up and probably should have, but, I remained silent. Only to beat myself up over it later. "If only I had said something, done something." I would lament to myself. "You know the Bible and you're a pastor for goodness sakes." My inability to say anything in these situations reminded me of what Jesus said in The Bible.

Matthew 10:33 Living Bible (TLB)
³³ But if anyone publicly denies me, I will openly deny him before my Father in heaven.

To me, by not chiming in, I felt like I was denying Christ. Everything He has done for me. His love, mercy and grace. All on the tip of my tongue, yet nothing came out. Only silence.

How many times has this happened to me. How many times have I had the opportunity to speak out? Well my friends, I hate to say this but, time is running out. We are not going to live forever. We could live to a ripe old age(preferred), or we could die tomorrow (let's hope not). So let's take every opportunity to speak about Jesus. Go and do the Great Commission. Spread His name everywhere.

Matthew 28:18-19 Amplified Bible (AMP)¹⁸ Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

I don't know how many more times I am going to be able to speak publicly about Jesus. Only He knows the hour. Like I said in my last blog post, Life Is Merely A Vapor.

John 9:4 Living Bible (TLB)
⁴ All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.
When we come to our end, we will not be able to proclaim the name of Jesus, out loud any longer. So let's do it as much as possible. While there is still breath in our lungs.

Amen!

Life.............Merely a Vapor.

We had a snow storm one day last week. It was the wet, heavy kind of snow. You know the kind of snow that packs and stays together. Perfect for snowball fights or building a snowman. When I came home from work that day, that is exactly what the next door neighbor kids had done. They built a snowman. Of course by the time that I arrived at home, it was almost all melted and gone. It had warmed up enough to not keep it around much longer. That got me to thinking about our lives here on earth. I started thinking, that like this snowman, we are here one day and then gone the next.

James 4:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
¹⁴ Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen in your life tomorrow. What is secure in your life? You are merely a vapor like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot that is visible for a little while and then vanishes into thin air.

Just like that snowman that was so packed together and stood tall for a few hours and then melted away, that's how our lives are. We are here, enjoying the things that life has to offer, and then in a moment, it's all gone. Our live are over. Like a mist.

Unlike that snowman, who is an inanimate object. It could not prepare for what came later that day. We can and are able to prepare ourselves for Christ's return.

God calls us to be ready at all times.  

Matthew 24:44 New Living Translation (NLT)
⁴⁴ You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

So I urge you. Get right with God today. Tomorrow may be to late. Never to early to start. God wants us all to be with Him. To live with Him forever.

Meant for Evil, But God Makes it Good.

Good Friday. The day that Satan thinks that he is winning. Jesus was arrested and sentenced to crucifixion. He was beaten, whipped & scourged. Made to wear a crown of thorns on His head and then have to carry His cross through the city to Golgotha, where He was nailed to that cross and raised up between two criminals.

I can just see Satan laughing at this whole thing. "Look at the mighty Son of God." "He can't even get himself down off that cross." "How mighty is He now!" "King the Jews." He was thinking that he conquered Jesus and His followers.

He would be wrong.

Little did he know, that God had other plans for Jesus. He would raise Him up three days later and bring Him back to life. The resurrection of Jesus! Hallelujah!!

With His resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death and the grave. He is alive.

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

As we get ready to celebrate Easter, lets remember it's about Jesus being alive and with us. He died for us, so that we may have eternal life with Him.

HE IS RISEN! HE IS ALIVE!

Amen!

SCARED!

Scared! That's what communities across this great nation are becoming more of. As this pandemic grows and spreads, people are becoming scared. Scared of catching this virus and possibly passing away. Scared that a family member might get it and pass away. Scared that they might pass it on to someone else. Believe me, it is scary. All those possibilities. The experts recommend wear face masks, gloves. Stay six feet apart. We are learning new words and phrases during this time. Stay in Place. Social Distancing. The list goes on and on. I'll admit that when this first started I was kind of casual towards it. Now that it keeps inching and inching closer to home, I'm taking it a lot more serious. Still not scared, but more cautious.

Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT)

³ But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
⁴ I praise God for what he has promised.
    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

 

We, as a nation are scared now more than ever. We need to put our trust back in God. He is in control. We need to let Him move and do His thing. Healing, redeeming, comforting, saving. We keep looking at this from our human mindset. We need to try and see it from God's perspective.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

 

We don't understand what is going on with this pandemic. It seems out of control. God knows exactly what is happening, and He is going to use this for His glory!

 

So, as death, fear and chaos seem to be all around us with this pandemic, remember this. Fear not. God is with us. God is for us. Whom shall we be afraid!

 

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,^[a]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

 

So, don't worry or be scared. God is with us as we go through this, together!

 

Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 

Amen!