Troubling Times

These are troubling times.  We live in a pandemic and every day we hear numbers.  They are numbers of infected people, numbers of people in hospital, numbers of people in intensive care, numbers of people who died today.  Those are not just numbers.  Those are people, sick people, lives lost.  People.  Friends.  Family.  You should be troubled.  But you don’t have to be terrified.  You can live in peace.

Around me I see so many people who are scared, upset, traumatized or angry.  They are angry at COVID-19.  They are angry that leaders can’t fix things.  They are angry at the COVID regulations which are our leaders way of tyring to fix things.  People are upset and they certainly are not living with peace within themselves.  It is scary, and the older you are the scarier it is.  But there is a promise of peace available to us.  There is a way to live at peace in the midst of catastrophe.  No, we don’t have to hide our head in the sand or shut our ears to the newscasts.  God Himself promises us that He will bring us peace if we allow Him to do so.  Jesus’ words to us are recorded in the Bible in the book of John,

            “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
             world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I find myself at peace in these troubling times.  Jesus is my peace.  I have asked Him to come to me and live within me and have a relationship with me.  The result is the peace He promised.  Even though these are troubling times I have peace within me.  You, too, can have this peace.

Me, or Others?

A new year, a new beginning sort of, except many of last year’s problems are still with us.  It is the BIG problem, COVID-19, which still captures our attention with daily news headlines.  What really startles me are the actions of some Christians.  Some don’t appear to be very Christian in their response to the needs and concerns of others.

The Bible teaches me to put the needs of others ahead of my own needs. I am taught to live in such a way as to help others rather than myself, and especially help them come to know Jesus.  Around me I see fearful people, especially people my age and older.  I listen to the government where I live telling me to wear a face covering whenever I am in a building with others and not to have people in my home unless they live with me.  All this to stop the spread of a nasty virus and keep people feeling safe and secure.  My response, as a Christian, is to put the needs of others ahead of any feelings I may have and do whatever I need to do to help others stay calm and stay safe.  I wear a mask, I follow the laws, I obey my government leaders as the Bible directs me to do.  I have had many people who are not Christians ask me if as a Christian I follow the laws and help keep others safe.  What a glorious opportunity to share my faith as I explain that Jesus always wants us to put the needs of others ahead of our own because we truly love and care about them.

We just finished a difficult year, and most of this one won’t be much better.  But it has given us a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate Jesus’ love as we put the needs of others ahead of our own.  That is one of the characteristics which shows others that we are Christians.  We live out our faith of love and concern for others.

It’s a Different World

As most of us go through life we get into a routine, a pattern, which allows us to more easily navigate life.  We may do lots of different things, but we generally follow a routine.  For most of us, that routine ended in March this year.  

I live in British Columbia, Canada, and as for most people in the world things have been very different for a couple of months.  Thanks to our new COVID-19 reality we can get together with friends, outdoors, 2 metres or more apart, but not any closer and not inside.  After two months of closure, restaurants have been allowed to reopen, but with “social distancing” regulations.  Who had ever heard of “social distancing” three months ago?  No events with crowds, no church meetings, no large gatherings.  We now get together and hold meetings with ZOOM or Skype.  Our world has changed dramatically.  Even introverts are realizing they need a bit of human interaction.  Crises arrive unexpectedly, with no warning, and we have to adapt.  Life changes.  Sometimes it returns to normal but sometimes it is changed forever and there is a new “normal.”  It is difficult because our routine is gone and we have to develop a new routine.  That can be hard, even painful for some, but change is a part of life.  But with every crisis there is also opportunity.  This crisis gives us an opportunity to take a look at life and think about what truly is important to us.  Family?  Friends?  Work?  Sports or hobbies?  What about God?  Is He important?  For me, Christ is the centre of my life and everything else revolves around that centre.  With that stability my life is fine, still okay, although with many changes.

I am thankful that the one firm foundation for my life is not my routine, but my God.  Jesus is my anchor.  Amid all of this change I trust Him and ask that He will enable me to help others who are suffering through these troubled times.

Train Up a Child

This morning I was reading a Bible passage from the book of Proverbs.  It is well known to Christians and says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” 

I think everyone wants their children to have a good life, live well and stay out of trouble.  This verse gives a very simple formula, but do we really follow the advice.  The reason for my question is that in any life on life training, it is our example which will be followed, not our words.  Our children will copy what we do.  They may listen to what we say but they will believe and imitate what we do.  As a Christian, if I live in such as way that I show Jesus to be the most important person in my life, and show I will obey Him always, then my children will see that and see I really mean what I teach them about Jesus.  If I obey the laws of the land, as scripture tells me to do, then my children will see that it is important to me.  This little verse from Proverbs is really about my life and example.  What do I want to pass on to my children.  Am I honest, loving, obedient to my Lord Jesus?

The words from the book of Proverbs were written a very long time ago but are just as meaningful today as they were thousands of years ago.  It is my example which will train my children, and now my grandchildren.  I must truly live for Jesus in obedience to Him if I want to teach my children to do the same.