Let the Church arise!
Yesterday we held a prayer vigil where we would normally have had worship. We live in an uncertain time because for most of us a world wide “quarantine” has never been lived through. We are doing our best to walk through this time together as the body of Christ known as Hope EFCA.
Yesterday we read from the Book of Common Prayer to move the topics of our personal prayer along. Prayer number 3 reads this way:
3. For the Human Family: “O God, You made us in Your own image and redeemed us through Jesus Your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infects our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish Your purposes on earth; that, in Your good time, all nations and races may serve You in harmony around Your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Beloved, the one thing we can always do together even if we are separated through social distancing is pray. Pray. Regardless of your thoughts we should pray. I know people who think this is nothing more than a really bad cold / flu. I know others who are in lock down mode very hard in their own homes. And I know others that think the virus is just a cover for a military operation. We all fall on that spectrum somewhere. We struggle. We are confused. But even if we aren’t struggling or confused we know someone who is…pray. Got a lot of time on your hands. Crack open your Bible and pray through a Psalm or two. A place to start: Psalm 27; 34; 61; 91. You’re bored…pray. Sit down with a piece of paper and write a list of people you know who might be in harms way. Nurses, Doctors, First responders, those with underlying illnesses, the elderly…pray. Grab your smart phone and search for world statistics on the virus…pray. Better yet go to the Operation World Website http://www.operationworld.org/ and…pray.
In all of that prayer be sure to ask Him to accomplish His purpose through you. Let the church arise.