Last week was a new normal with big changes not just in our town, state or country, but in the world. Each day seems to bring more news and announcements affecting our everyday lives. For myself, each new piece of news directly effects our church. Limit gatherings of 250….okay we are safe to assemble. Limit gatherings to 50….I think we can still meet, last week we had 38 in attendance. Then this past Tuesday…limit gatherings to 10. Our church is small, but it is not that small, so this week has been spent working on all our new ideas for keeping us connected.
Welcome to our Zoom church service. If you are watching we have yet to get the bugs worked out and conquer this new piece of technology! Today’s service is a test run for this technology and we welcome your feedback.
Tim is going to go over this week’s announcements and open us in prayer. Then we invite you to sing along on a few songs from home!
Many of us are experiencing very different “tomorrows” because of the coronavirus pandemic. There are many details to keep up on from store hours and public places to policies of social interaction. I thought it would be encouraging to all of us to remember what the Bible says about tomorrow and how we can best be equipped to handle the reality of how unpredictable our next day on this earth really is.
It is humbling to realize that tomorrow is unknown to all of us except for God. Proverbs 27:1 warns us “Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
The Praise team read Psalm 62:5-12 and we will use that as our guide as we learn to trust God for all of our tomorrows!
First, our only sure expectation for tomorrow is God alone!
Psalm 62:5-6 “My soul, wait silently for God alone! For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be moved.”
As Kind David penned these words, he had his own tomorrow to place into God’s hands, and today we do to. There was a recent article in “Israel My Glory” titled “Tomorrow’s Twins” and it was written by a Bible teacher from Florida named Clarence Johnson. It was written before this pandemic, and is even more impactful now. Mr. Johnson states…”If the door to tomorrow has two handles, anxiety and faith, which one will you grab as you cross the threshold of a new day? Your choice will be based on what you expect and in whom you trust.”
So, my first encouragement to you during this very unexpected Spring season is to remember where your expectations should come from in the first place. If we are trusting in anything or anyone, but God to help us make it through tomorrow, then it’s time to change our expectations.
Secondly, our only source of strength for tomorrow is God alone!
Continuing in Psalms 62 verses 7-8 says that “God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times you people; pour out your heart before Him, God is a refuge for us!”
What encouraging words for these times that we are in! Everything can change tomorrow, but we are still strong because we have a relationship with God.
Thirdly, our supreme source of trust for tomorrow can only be placed in God alone!
Psalm 62:9-10 “Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.”
Fake news…too much news…corruption…conspiracy…distrust…overreacting…underestimating…hoarding…panic…
It happened all this week, but we do have a source of perfect peace. “His heart is kept in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
Notice from the verses in Psalm 62 what we are not supposed to set our heart on? Mankind and all of its drama. Compared to eternal life and the spiritual resources we have in God, we are a vapor! Stay informed, so you can plan and can make good decisions, but keep your heart focused on God’s provision and grace for each day. Lori and I heard a good quote recently…”To worry is to worship your fear” Let’s pass this on to each other and encourage each other to spend less time worrying about tomorrow so we can worship God for what He is going to do tomorrow.
Lastly, the only one with enough power and mercy to control tomorrow is God alone!
Psalm 62:11-12 “Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to His work.”
The power to control tomorrow is in God’s hands. He also has enough infinite mercy for today and eternal tomorrows! One of my favorite verses that helps me minister each day in spite of my own shortcomings is Lamentations 3:22-23 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness!”
Since God alone is in control of tomorrow, He will hold all of us accountable for our humble submission to that fact.
So our challenge during this trial is to reflect the glory of our salvation, and to show others our steadfast faith. We can also offer to be just as merciful to others as God is to us. We should be thankful that our country is going through such sacrifice to help our most vulnerable citizens avoid a disease that could end their life.
Prayer: God please keep us calm and quiet as we humble ourselves before You. Help us draw closer to You and learn to trust You even more. We can be thankful for these difficult days, since they will draw us closer to You. Help us to continue to offer mercy and strength to others around us as we learn to be more Christlike in this difficult situation.