Lesson 3 Seek Him In the Storm
We are all going through personal storms. Currently in history, a storm of massive proportions is affecting the entire world. Our small town is holding steady with three cases of Corona virus. At least one case is attributed to very foolish individuals who attended a block party. This week, the governor of Georgia extended our shelter in place order until the end of April. The mayor just announced that all nonessential businesses should close. Our lives are virtually consumed by the pandemic.
Fortunately, the shelter in place orders have slowed the pandemic to the point where there are many less cases than expected, and therefore there will be many less deaths. This is wonderful! However, it seems that the pandemic is causing havoc in the life of Christians.
In the beginning, Pastors prayed and agonized over whether to cancel church meetings. Many churches, like my own, are using YouTube And Facebook live to broadcast church services. We hungrily log in, because we need to hear God’s word. Now more than ever.
Some Pastors continue to have services. I personally think this is a tremendous mistake. Recently, one Pastor’s wife and the women of her Bible study were all hospitalized for the dreaded virus. Things have moved quickly as the decision is taken out of the hands of church leaders. Some Pastors, with mega churches, have been arrested for continuing with their massive church gatherings.
Recently, a funeral at our church was held in the parking lot with everyone listening on their phone or car radio. I know that some church services have been held this way. However, I have recently heard news that is unlawful, and people are being arrested.
This is Easter weekend. This Sunday, we will not be able to join with our church family for our normal sunrise service. No one will see us in the carefully coordinated Easter outfits my daughter selected for everyone in our family. It may seem that Satan has managed to stifle Christ’s special day.
Praise God! We will still celebrate Easter. We do not lose the meaning if we are not together in a corporate body. We do not lose the meaning if we do not join in song. We can only lose the meaning if we forget the purpose for the celebration. Easter is a celebration of Christ overcoming death and the grave for our Salvation. It is the loving remembrance of the pain and suffering He endured because he loved us.
We need Him now! We need to feel His presence. We need Him to heal us! To take this awful pandemic, with all its terrible consequences, and make it disappear. An amazing thing has happened. Christians are you using social media to create group prayer. They are using conference calls to pray. People who rarely spend time in prayer outside of church are setting their alarms so that they are praying at the same time as their group of friends.
Is this what it takes to get us to seek God? One wonders if this is the reason God allows this pandemic to continue.
Fortunately, the shelter in place orders have slowed the pandemic to the point where there are many less cases than expected, and therefore there will be many less deaths. This is wonderful! However, it seems that the pandemic is causing havoc in the life of Christians.
In the beginning, Pastors prayed and agonized over whether to cancel church meetings. Many churches, like my own, are using YouTube And Facebook live to broadcast church services. We hungrily log in, because we need to hear God’s word. Now more than ever.
Some Pastors continue to have services. I personally think this is a tremendous mistake. Recently, one Pastor’s wife and the women of her Bible study were all hospitalized for the dreaded virus. Things have moved quickly as the decision is taken out of the hands of church leaders. Some Pastors, with mega churches, have been arrested for continuing with their massive church gatherings.
Recently, a funeral at our church was held in the parking lot with everyone listening on their phone or car radio. I know that some church services have been held this way. However, I have recently heard news that is unlawful, and people are being arrested.
This is Easter weekend. This Sunday, we will not be able to join with our church family for our normal sunrise service. No one will see us in the carefully coordinated Easter outfits my daughter selected for everyone in our family. It may seem that Satan has managed to stifle Christ’s special day.
Praise God! We will still celebrate Easter. We do not lose the meaning if we are not together in a corporate body. We do not lose the meaning if we do not join in song. We can only lose the meaning if we forget the purpose for the celebration. Easter is a celebration of Christ overcoming death and the grave for our Salvation. It is the loving remembrance of the pain and suffering He endured because he loved us.
We need Him now! We need to feel His presence. We need Him to heal us! To take this awful pandemic, with all its terrible consequences, and make it disappear. An amazing thing has happened. Christians are you using social media to create group prayer. They are using conference calls to pray. People who rarely spend time in prayer outside of church are setting their alarms so that they are praying at the same time as their group of friends.
Is this what it takes to get us to seek God? One wonders if this is the reason God allows this pandemic to continue.
Lecture 3
Suggested Music
Seek Him in the Storm
"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:12-13 KJV)
Lesson 3 Homework
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