Father, tonight before I read and write I would ask for Your guiding hand as I try to maintain control over many aspects of my life. I am in a good place now and, because You have already been sustaining me, I am heading in the right direction. Thank You for the determination that You have placed in my heart!
Luke 9:23-25 (<<click to read the passage)
We are most definitely a society of opinions. And many are vocal about their own and equally vocal about those whose opinion differs from their own. I am going to share my opinion on something with whom some might not agree. But before writing me off, please hear me out.
First, read today’s passage. This is Jesus speaking,

“If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], and loses or forfeits himself? (AMP)

I truly feel that those who are choosing to defy guidelines set by those in authority over us and are still coming together as a group of people together to worship are in the wrong. (Hold on, don’t ditch me yet!)
When I read the phrase, “he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests]”, that doesn’t sound like the goal of those who are coming together. They feel that they must respond like Peter and the apostles did when told they had to stop teaching about Jesus at the temple. They responded by saying, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5:29 NLT)
But we have been told no such thing. We have not been told to stop teaching about Jesus. All that we have been asked to refrain from is coming together in close proximity to each other.
I feel that the direction that I, and many other pastors, have chosen to go has opened so many other doors of opportunity to touch the world for Jesus! This past Sunday alone, I know of at least 58 different people that tuned in to what I had to share via the internet. It was viewed, at least in part, 200 times and stats tell that it passed in front of 644 people on their Facebook feed!
I pastor two small rural congregations. If I added both churches’ attendance on a good Sunday, I might have 40 people who come together for worship. We have struggled for years, to reach people. And now we are, and they don’t even have to step inside our buildings! But they are there! We are touching the world for Christ!
I wholeheartedly believe the passage of Scripture from Isaiah 55:10-11 that says,

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
…and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
…producing seed for the farmer
…and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
…I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
…and it will prosper everywhere I send it. (NLT)

I am but one small fish in the vast oceans of humanity. And the stats I shared? Those are just for three days! Only God knows how many people His Word will reach, for we all know that what is put on the internet will be there for as long as the world wide web exists!
And let me ask one last question. How many people are those defiant churches touching for Jesus? How many regular Joes are they attracting to their gatherings? Yes, many are having people drive in from all over to gather in their buildings…but so what!
Jesus tells the story of a shepherd – representing Himself – that left the 99 sheep who were safely with Him to go and find the one sheep who had wandered away. Sounds to me like they are content to be amongst the 99 and, truth be told, the one really doesn’t matter.
Lord Jesus, may the scales drop from our eyes! May we see what You see – souls dying all around us because we don’t care enough to do what needs doing. May we swallow our pride and humbly follow Your lead. Amen.

Apr 14th, 2020, Tue, 7:49 pm