Corona virus crisis

No matter what your situation is, no matter how bleak things may seem, our merciful God remains faithful and is our ever-present and loving Savior. As Paul wrote, nothing can separate us from God or isolate us from His love: “What then shall separate us from Christ and from His love? Shall suffering or distress or persecution or famine or poverty or danger or violent death? Indeed, we are treated as described in the Scriptures: Because of you, Lord, we are everywhere persecuted and killed—we are slaughtered like sheep! Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Röm 8,35-39).

As you face the coronavirus crisis, let Jesus be at the forefront of the spirit. This is a time to make our Christianity known, not to isolate it. It is a time to let it shine, not to hide it in a corner of our house. We may need to isolate ourselves, but that doesn't mean we should isolate others from Jesus, who lives in us. Let his thoughts be with us as we respond to the worsening situation. In a few weeks, the collective body of Christ will remember how Jesus Christ, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself spotlessly to God: “How much more will the blood of Jesus Christ renew us inwardly and cleanse us from our sins! Filled with God’s eternal Spirit, he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God for us, so that our sins, which ultimately lead only to death, may be forgiven and our consciences cleared. Now we are free to serve the living God.” (Hebr 9,14)Let us continue to serve the living God in the midst of our distress.

How can we do this? How can we serve others while trying to practice social distancing and take care of ourselves? If it is safe and permitted, help others. If church services are canceled for the time being, don't see this as the end of church life. Call others with an encouraging word. Listen, empathize. Laugh together when the opportunity arises. Make a contact plan and put it into action. Help others feel like and be part of our local congregation. In doing so, we also help ourselves feel like part of the congregation. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we can comfort those in any affliction with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as we abound in Christ's sufferings, so also through Christ we abound in comfort." (2. Kor 1,3-5).

Let us, considering all aspects of this matter, take time for prayer. Pray for the gospel to continue bringing light to our fellow human beings. Pray for our governments and all those in positions of authority, that they may make wise decisions: “Pray especially for all those who hold positions of responsibility in government and state, so that we may live in peace and tranquility, reverent before God and sincere toward our fellow human beings.” (1. Tim 2,2).

Pray for the church to keep its structure financially intact during the crisis. Above all, pray that the love of Jesus flows through you to others and pray for others who are caught in the present need. Pray for the sick, the bereaved and the lonely.

by James Henderson