Ask the Pastor 4

What response can we give to COVID-19?

I am going to propose 4 things that we can do in response to this virus that has caused so much concern and panic. First, we can pray. Rather than be anxious, we can pray and the peace of God will keep our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7) and the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). We can pray to stop the spread of the virus, to heal those who are afflicted and that we might learn what lessons are needed to be learned in the midst of calamity. Second, we can trust the gospel. Do these times of bad news cause you to think about spiritual things? In the midst of this bad news there is good news, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) and “For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Third, we can wash. The Bible has always been ahead of the curve as we read in Hebrews 10:22, “…and our bodies washed with pure water.” We can take a bath and wash our hands and face often. Fourth, we can find comfort in the Scriptures such as, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power; and of love and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7). See other verses such as Isaiah 26:3; 41:10; I Peter 5:6-7. Such calamity as this, is a result of sin and our sin cursed earth, God may allow such a calamity to get our attention and bring us to repentance and closer to Himself, beginning with faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Feel free to respond.