Sunday, June 7, 2020

Be Busy in Me, LORD



One of my all-time favorite novels to read and to teach is A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

WHEW!  In many ways, the last few weeks have that same feeling...total contradictions of feelings and reactions. Because of the virus, some of us have been glad to have time at home to spend with children or to complete overdue projects or to communicate with family or friends on Zoom or FaceTime. Maybe you have done an in-depth Bible study that interested you for a long time.

But...perhaps you were of the group who had the feelings of total “incredulity” that so much of America could come to a stop so quickly. You might feel despair because of lost work, or a lost business, or illness. Some of us are frustrated because of “needless” restrictions that are “one size fits all.”

And then the tornadoes! Loss of so much ...unbelievable! GBC and GBA swept away in minutes. Neighborhoods devastated.  Then unjustifiable death and national unrest on top of it all!

Recently I heard a pastor pray: “BE BUSY IN ME, LORD, during this time.” On Christian radio I heard the word “clarifying.”  These upside down days should clarify where I stand in my faith. Put these last few weeks in perspective with our Almighty Heavenly Father. Psalm 121:2: “My help is from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.”         

What does the Holy Spirit need to stir in us, to be busy in us? Do we need to remember basic truths? Isaiah 53:6a: “ALL we like sheep have gone astray. There is no exception. We are ALL SINNERS.

But God does not leave us there...Isaiah 53:6b: “...and the LORD has laid on HIM (JESUS) the iniquity of us ALL.”

Remember Who this Jesus is. Isaiah 53:3: “despised” “rejected” “A Man of Sorrows” “acquainted with grief.” But He not only knew His own grief, (vs. 4) HE BORE ALL OF OUR GRIEF AND OUR SORROWS...even the virus, tornadoes, death! Amazing Savior!  If you do not know Him, this is the perfect time to see Jesus is ready to forgive your sins and save you. You need Him as a solid, unchangeable, truthful foundation for chaotic times.

BE BUSY IN ME, LORD. As we have been “sheltered in,” “locked down,” “staying at home,” this can lead to thinking only of ourselves. We can be content to just “stay in.” Venturing out might be “harmful.” I think we have to be concerned that we might have lost some of our OUTWARD FOCUS. We must remember our family members who still need the Lord; our neighbors who need encouragement. Then further outward...

BE BUSY IN ME, LORD, AND HELP ME TO REMEMBER the persecuted Church. We think it is sad to miss a few weeks with our brothers and sisters at our churches. The persecuted Church (to quote Brother Andrew’s secretary) “does not just go from 9 to 5.”  They are under danger of losing their lives moment by moment. Our chaos in America will subside and the rebuilding of GBC and GBA will begin.  Pray for our brothers and sisters who see no end to their distress.

One more thing...our Eurasia Bible Ministry with BIMI has given out about 2 million Bibles over several years in almost 30 different languages in places like Russia and Eastern Europe and Asia. Pray for those Bibles...possibly just sitting on a shelf in homes that need Jesus.  Pray that people will pick them up and read of God’s love for them.

Dear Lord, please be busy in me. Stir me up to do Your will and to make a difference in this world.

--Maylou Holladay

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