What God Uses: Lessons from Covid-19
Scripture: Proverbs 9:10 (NASB) - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
In addition to refining our focus on things eternal and reviving our appreciation of daily thankfulness, this Covid-19 pandemic is reminding God’s people of the unique blessedness that accompanies a healthy reverence for God! (Ps. 111:10; Ps. 112:1; Eccles. 12:13) The Hebrew noun for “fear,” is the word “mora’,” which refers to the “reaction evoked in men by God’s mighty works of destruction and sovereignty.” (Vine’s Dictionary) The Bible cites many instances in which this godly fear prompted men to obey God. Note the Hebrew midwives’ fear of God in Exodus 1:17, which led them to spare the Hebrew babies. Not surprisingly, people with a genuine fear of God tend to possess a stronger moral compass than those who do not. This is reflected in Exodus 18:21, in which Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, counseled Moses on whom to delegate as leaders in guiding the Israelites during their exodus from Egyptian oppression: “…you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth , those who hate dishonest gain….” Godly fear led Moses to shun choosing men to lead who would accept bribes. By contrast, we see how Pharaohs’ lack of godly fear resulted in his incurring the Lord’s continued judgment upon the Egyptian people. (Exod. 9:29, 30) According to Exodus 20:20, Moses clearly understood the godly fear/sin-shunning connection: “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
In conclusion, let’s stir ourselves up, brothers and sisters, starting with personal revival, refocusing our hearts and minds on repentance of sinful attitudes, words, and deeds that offend the True and Living God, whom we claim to know as Lord and Savior! Our nation may not quickly repent of its crimes and injustices against babies in the womb, victims of all ages, including the needy elderly, or against the truly oppressed, but none of us who own a Bible can say we were ignorant of God’s commands to reverence or fear Him even more than pandemics or evil men. “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) Coronavirus is temporal, but we ought to be in greater reverence and awe of the Sovereign God who’s in control of all that happens in the universe!
Prayer: Dear Lord, You never have to say, “Aw, snap!” like our computers, when something in our world malfunctions or goes awry; You control the wind, the waves, the times, and the seasons! You command tumultuous waves and situations of every description to be at peace, and be still. Thank You for these times, which continually remind us to reverence You, worship You, and to trust in You, come what may! In Christ’s precious name, thank You; Amen!
(by Denise Diggs)
In addition to refining our focus on things eternal and reviving our appreciation of daily thankfulness, this Covid-19 pandemic is reminding God’s people of the unique blessedness that accompanies a healthy reverence for God! (Ps. 111:10; Ps. 112:1; Eccles. 12:13) The Hebrew noun for “fear,” is the word “mora’,” which refers to the “reaction evoked in men by God’s mighty works of destruction and sovereignty.” (Vine’s Dictionary) The Bible cites many instances in which this godly fear prompted men to obey God. Note the Hebrew midwives’ fear of God in Exodus 1:17, which led them to spare the Hebrew babies. Not surprisingly, people with a genuine fear of God tend to possess a stronger moral compass than those who do not. This is reflected in Exodus 18:21, in which Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, counseled Moses on whom to delegate as leaders in guiding the Israelites during their exodus from Egyptian oppression: “…you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth , those who hate dishonest gain….” Godly fear led Moses to shun choosing men to lead who would accept bribes. By contrast, we see how Pharaohs’ lack of godly fear resulted in his incurring the Lord’s continued judgment upon the Egyptian people. (Exod. 9:29, 30) According to Exodus 20:20, Moses clearly understood the godly fear/sin-shunning connection: “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
In conclusion, let’s stir ourselves up, brothers and sisters, starting with personal revival, refocusing our hearts and minds on repentance of sinful attitudes, words, and deeds that offend the True and Living God, whom we claim to know as Lord and Savior! Our nation may not quickly repent of its crimes and injustices against babies in the womb, victims of all ages, including the needy elderly, or against the truly oppressed, but none of us who own a Bible can say we were ignorant of God’s commands to reverence or fear Him even more than pandemics or evil men. “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) Coronavirus is temporal, but we ought to be in greater reverence and awe of the Sovereign God who’s in control of all that happens in the universe!
Prayer: Dear Lord, You never have to say, “Aw, snap!” like our computers, when something in our world malfunctions or goes awry; You control the wind, the waves, the times, and the seasons! You command tumultuous waves and situations of every description to be at peace, and be still. Thank You for these times, which continually remind us to reverence You, worship You, and to trust in You, come what may! In Christ’s precious name, thank You; Amen!
(by Denise Diggs)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
6 Comments
Amen, and praise God!
Amen sis!🙌
Amen. God fear. Holy reverence.
Amen!
Praise the Lord!
Amen! Praise God...