To Serve Once Again

Psalm 51:12 (NET) - Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance. Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey.

It goes without saying that many things have changed due to COVID-19.

Some things we took for granted either disappeared or changed.

COVID-19 did what nothing else in recent memory had done.

People stopped going to church.

They stopped attending Sunday School.

They stopped attending Bible Studies.

They stopped attending other group functions previously sponsored by the church.

Granted, these steps were necessary considering there was a public health crisis.

Some churches found new ways to serve.

Worship services began sprouting up online for those churches who had the means.

Now, in some areas, public services have resumed in compliance with local health regulations.

Even so, some things have not resumed such as Sunday School.

To be honest, of all the things I had to give up, teaching Sunday School is what I miss the most.

That is why I chose that opening verse.

While I still have the desire to teach, circumstances still do not allow me to do so,

I long for the joy of once again meeting with my students face to face.

I long for the discussions that arise from study with a committed group of students.

But, until in person classes can resume, I remained sustained.

That is because the One who created me continues to stir the desire to obey within me.

I know that one day, my current sadness will return to joy once more.

John 16:20 (NET) - I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.

One day, COVID-19 will be just a memory.

But I am concerned that it will have lasting effects.

This is especially true where the church and the group functions it supports are concerned.

Time, of course, will ultimately tell.

Whatever happens, we must pray for the desire to obey.

We must pray for the desire to serve.

We must pray for the day when our sadness will once again be turned into joy.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 2, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 9, 2020

One Thing

 

All things considered, current events put me in mind of the sisters Mary and Martha.

Their account can be found in Luke 10:38-42.

In it, Jesus went to a village where Martha welcomed Him as a guest.

Each sister responded to Jesus in a completely different way.

Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to everything He said.

Martha worked frantically away; consumed by all the preparations.

In no time, Martha grew upset with Mary for not helping.

Martha certainly let her frustration be known.

She complained directly to Jesus about how Mary had abandoned her to do all the work.

Moreover, she absolutely demanded that Jesus do something about her.

Jesus put things in their proper perspective.

Luke10:41-42 (NET) - But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her."

I stated at the outset that today's world reminds me of Mary and Martha.

We are practically bombarded with bad news.

There is news of the ongoing pandemic.

There is news of more unrest in the streets.

There is news of continuing injustice.

The list goes on and on.

Meanwhile, those we expect to solve these problems disagree.

They even bicker with each other.

At times it seems as if they prefer bickering to problem solving.

Just like Martha, it is easy for us to be "worried and troubled about many things,"

But Jesus reminds us that only "one thing is needed."

It is simply left to us to choose.

Like Martha, we can choose to be distracted and frustrated by everything going on around us.

Or, like Mary, we can choose to sit at the Lord's feet and listen to everything He says.

This is the best choice and  one that can never be taken from us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 18, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 25, 2020