Dear Church Family,
Once again, I bring you greetings in Christ’s name. It was such a blessing to interact with you all on Sunday and to have at least some degree of fellowship. Thank you for all your encouragement as we endure this imposed separation.
One of my favorite works from the Puritans is a book called The Crook in the Lot. It is a study based on…
Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
This work by one of the finest of the Puritan writers, is a very appropriate study for our present circumstances.
It is vital that we, as Christians (or disciples of Christ), get a proper view of those afflictions that come upon us in this world. It is necessary that we have a just and proper understanding of them, so that we can better know how we ought to carry ourselves in the face of them.
This proper view is gained by faith more than by sense. Boston reminds us that it is the light of the Word alone that properly illuminates the circumstances and the events that seem to run contrary to our plans, afflict us or frustrate us. For example, the whole world is concerned with what the virus is doing or not doing—what the government is doing or not doing—what the medical efforts are accomplishing—how the economy is fairing—and what we as individuals should be doing under these circumstances.
But the believer has a perspective that over-arches this; that is, what is God doing and how does my Savior want me to respond to what He is doing.
As soon as we begin to consider what God is doing in and through all of this, our perspective immediately changes. We no longer see it as an inconvenience, or an unwanted disruption, but something that has to be viewed from a spiritual point of view—taking into account the goodness and the promises of God to me as a believer, and the freedom of God to work in this world as He pleases.
Without going into any specifics, we quickly understand, when we are being led by the Spirit and the Word rather than our senses, that it is wiser and better to be humble and patient in affliction or trial, than proud and impatient.
It warns us against being angry and frustrated, and cautions us about making bitter comparison between our present predicament and our past situation or our proposed plans. It really doesn’t matter what I did in the past, or what I dreamed about doing in the future—what matters is, what am I doing now.
Whether it was your past, Christian, or what you planned to do in the future— that’s not what matters. The important thing about the past is what did God’s grace and love provide for you and how did you serve Him? As to the future; what should have been a part of all those plans was what was God going to do for you and through you, and how were you going to serve Him in it. In short, what matters is how did you or how were you going to serve Christ in it all? And isn’t that what still matters?
Lord, look down from heaven and see Your covenant people in every part of the world. See us, in our little corner of that world, Your people living out our lives before You.
Father, you know all our joys and griefs; please bless and sanctify them all to us according to the promise of Your Word, and help us Lord to be concerned from day to day—not so much with what others may be doing, but with what You are doing and what You would have us to do.
Heal the sick, comfort the bereaved, bless Your little ones and watch over Your mature ones.
Give those, especially our seniors in high school, whose lives have been impacted by all this, faith, peace and patience, and may You be glorified in us both now and forever. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
