"Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." (Hos 6:1-3)
Whenever we encounter a challenge, it is a call to grow. Live before the LORD… Press on to know the LORD. The Israel Hosea is writing to had faced serious challenges. They had gotten beaten to pieces by the surrounding nations for several generations. Hosea is sent from God with a Word for them. Let’s keep going.
Paul says something similar in Philippians 3. “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. …I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12, 14) Paul is writing from prison. (PRI-ZUHN!) He is writing to people who are facing persecution: “Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ so that… I may hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel and not frightened in anything by your opponents.” (Phil 1:27-28) Paul’s writing from prison to Christians facing intimidation and threats; he has a Word from God for them. Let’s keep going.
When we encounter challenges, we want to shrink away, pad our nests, cocoon. But a challenge is a call to grow. We need to grow.
Fellowship Bible Church needs to grow. In Ephesians 4:16 Paul describes the local church as a body that grows by growing bigger and by working properly. “Working properly” is what “makes the body grow.” “Working properly” is when the body is “joined and held together by what every joint supplies.”
We face a unique challenge. So we have a unique opportunity to grow, a unique opportunity to see each one of us work a little more “properly” and “supply” what we all need.
This is no time to shrink; it's a time to press on.
We are being challenged, as individuals in various ways, and as a church-body. And this challenge is a call to growth, to pressing on toward our goal.
Live by Faith. Glorify God in Christ in what we eat, drink, or whatever we do. Make disciples together. Encourage and Equip each other. Unleash the Gospel.
Now is a time when our values, what is most important, become clear.
Here are some applications of this as well as some practical suggestions:
Take care of your walk with the LORD.
Read your Bible. Pray—go into a Psalm and find something to praise God about. Memorize a few verses and use them to pray (I find it easier to build my prayers from the Light of God’s Word rather than from the darkness of my anxieties.) Pray for your concerns.
Don’t just binge-watch or read emptiness. Here are a few resources that you may find encouraging and helpful.
Read: Our current book club selections: Draw Near, Hospitality (and Jayber). 15 Favorite Chapters (book length best-of collection from a trustworthy Christian bookstore)
Watch: RightNow Media (tons of Bible studies, etc. brought to FBC by our friends at East Troy Bible Church. You will be getting a link to access this content in the next day or two.)
Also, you’re not just a spirit-being. Get fresh air and exercise. Eat well. Sleep. If you’re prone to bad habits in these areas, use this time to build good habits. God made us creatures, and we honor Him in part by honoring our creaturely-ness. (Related: Gospel Coalition C19 resources)
Stay connected to Fellowship Bible Church.
Please read our email communications. Please participate in the services and programming we put together. In a challenging time, we need friends and good words more than ever.
Pray for each other. I like to look at the directory and read each person’s name and start saying, “God, I want [eg. them to get healthy or grow…] [or, eg. their prayer answered…]”
Take care of one another.
We don’t know how long this challenge is going to last. But listen to this: one of the key goals the elders have been praying over is how to help our church get more connected to each other. Here’s a great opportunity! What if each of us reaches out to one other person, either with a simple phone call or even a hike or a visit, once a week? Then however many weeks this lasts, our connectedness is exponentially thicker and stronger.
Ask each other, “How is C19 affecting you? What would you like me to pray about? What are your worries?” And then take a moment, in person or on the phone, and pray for each other.
“You are a Gift!” God has gifted and the Spirit has filled every single one of you. Now’s a great time to prayerfully engage that gift for each other’s good.
Look out for opportunities to share our Hope.
People are afraid. People are sad. Like they don’t have any hope. You know who has hope? WE DO. And not in a vaccine or a stock market turnaround or a government bailout. We have a hope that does not disappoint. Because we know the love of God in Christ and we know the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5)
What if we each did what I previously suggested we do for each other (1x/week) with one of our neighbors, coworkers, or someone we meet? Ask them how they’re doing, what their worries are. Begin a relationship. Begin to shine. (Also: Love Your (self-isolated) Neighbor)
These are a few areas for growing that I hope you will prayerfully consider.
We’re in this together. We’re not at all alone. The Three Persons of God are with us all, and we are with us too. “He will revive us… let us press on to know the LORD.” Someday this will be over, and we will be glad we “pressed on” together.
Photo by Toomas Tartes on Unsplash
