Dear Church Family,
Here is a common statement I have heard several times over the last couple of weeks, “What can I do while I am stuck at home?” Another comment is actually a question, “Why do I feel bad about being cooped up?” The two quotes have much in common.
To understand this better let’s go to the Garden of Eden. God made man to have dominion over creation. God designed humanity to work. Genesis 2:15 states this clearly. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” In the next two verses God commands Adam to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil If he does so, he will die. Then in v19 God observes that Adam is alone and this is not good. God solves this problem by creating Eve.
In this short section we learn that we are made to work and that we are made to live in community – not alone, but with others. So the answer to the first question is that we are to work while stuck at home. What work are we called to do? If you are employed, Ephesians 6:7 instructs, “Serve whole-heartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not man.” That means you do your ‘normal’ work – whether in person or remotely – with excellence “and sincerity of heart” per Eph. 6:5.
For those of you who are ‘retired’ God has plenty for you to do. Philippians 2:12-13 calls the saints “to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” I wrote a seminary paper on this passage, so I am reminded afresh that salvation is solely a work of God’s redemptive power. Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we grow in holiness. Please never take for granted the high privilege you have to read God’s Word, meditate on it and pray to your Heavenly Father. That is work we should do daily.
You can fill your day with other work that God has called you to do. Areas where you need to work include fixing good meals, cleaning the house, doing the laundry and getting exercise. These activities show your faithful dominion over things given to you by God. It may sound like a broken record, but all we do is an act of worship. I remind you to use the hymn sings that Sarah has posted.
You may be isolated, yet you remain part of the community of God’s people – the church. You can pick up the phone and encourage one another. You can text and/or email others. If you are tech-savvy, the various social media are available for you to grow. Facetime, Skype and other apps allow you to have virtual conversations with others with no chance of a virus being spread.
Few of us feel good about being isolated at this time. God has ordained this and is at work in ways we may not know for some time. Please work hard at honoring your Lord while remaining an active part of the body of Christ.
Pastor Gillikin