Grace For The Journey

The Bible says in Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them stumble.”  Inasmuch as my blog has been designed to provide varied and meaningful words of encouragement to you over the years, at this time I want to be very intentional about speaking to this unprecedented and wildly uncertain time we are currently facing due to the Corona-virus pandemic and the anxiety we are all feeling while we are amid Covid-19.

In just a few short weeks, the daily routines of our lives have been turned upside down and inside out.  To be sure, this caught all of us by complete surprise.  But we can take comfort in the fact that it did not catch our God by surprise.  Some 2,700 years ago, God spoke to the prophet Isaiah, saying, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.  This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations” (Isaiah 14:24, 26).  He also told Isaiah, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).  Jesus told us that not a bird falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29).

While you and I are feeling uncertain

About the days that lie ahead of us,

There is absolutely no doubt or confusion

In the mind of the Sovereign Lord.

In light of all the instructions issued by national, state and local governments, we as a church have cancelled our services and activities but we have not cancelled church.  We now engage in our Lord’s Day worship via live stream at 10:15 a.m. with a trimmed down worship team of less that 10 people.  We are also seeking to remain in “contact with our church family members through deacon family member ministry and our Bible Study Class care ministry.  We are doing the best we can to minister and watch out for one another.

We are navigating through uncharted waters.  We, the people of America, have never seen anything like this.  So, the question that has been on my mind and in my heart as a pastor is this:

How can we have a Godly peace

When we are amid Coronavirus pandemic?

The answer, of course, is to look past the pandemic to see our Prince of Peace, who gave us these very encouraging words: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

The peace the world offers to us is based on circumstances.  When things are going well, we have peace; when things are going badly, we are troubled.  But . . .

The peace that the Word of God offers us

Is not based on circumstances, but on Christ,

Who changes not and whose compassions never fail.

Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

True peace, a godly peace, is built on the sure,

Solid foundation of the Word –

Both the written Word and the incarnate Word.

When we look to the Lord, “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Now more than ever, let me encourage you to stay in the Word and pray to the living Word, knowing that “He himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).  Let’s stand in that peace and share it with others.

This is God Word … This is Grace for your Journey …

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

 Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”