2 Thessalonians 2:15


So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:15

We are living in a time of both temptation and of suffering as we see the rise of COVID-19. The temptation is to not self-isolate, maybe more so for the young, as social distancing is a struggle for them. Young people enjoy gathering in common places, so for them to be told they must refrain from all their friends is very difficult. But for their social world, for their parents and grandparents to stay safe, this is what they, like us, must do. I also see this as a time to draw close to the Lord. It is a time when we must slow our pace down, spend quiet time alone or with our family, and not go about being busy, jumping from project to project. It is not a time to panic, for God is in control, for this we are taught. Our tradition puts our hope in Jesus Christ as the Scriptures grant us His knowledge. Christ is the central truth of the Bible, and now is the time to spend in reading its words. Jesus often went away by himself to pray, so we too have fewer interruptions for our prayer life. Stand fast in your prayers for this world, pray for those who are suffering from COVID-19, for the healthcare workers, for the families who are grieving, for our world to recover. Stand fast in the faith in which you were brought into the family of God, and upon the testimony within which you were saved. As Christians, I believe we are the appointed in this time to be the anchor which will hold the world stable. If we stand fast in our faith, others will see the God who holds us close. Spurgeon once said, “The weather is very bad just now spiritually,” and I say yes, it is, but it is also bad weather physically. Stand fast then, because of who you are in Christ.

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