I want to take a moment to pause in prayer and thanks for all those that work in the medical profession. They are working relentlessly during this pandemic, putting their own health on the line everyday as they desperately attempt to halt the spread and recover the infected.
Yesterday, the President gave a grave forecast for the next two weeks. Staggering numbers that would move COVID-19 into the leagues of great pandemics like the Spanish flu of 1919, where millions were killed. It was an announcement that probably brought even more fear and anxiety to many across America. But for us here reading this blog, we know that the numbers are going to be much different. We know God is about to move in a big way in the coming weeks. He’s going to show the world His power and saving grace. God is going to do what He is famous for.
We’ve missed serving in our home church the last three weeks, especially not being able to love on all the little kids in the children’s ministry. But it’s allowed us a chance to catch some of our favorite Pastors and hearing them pastor their personal churches. Last Sunday we watched Levi Lusko‘s sermon and were blessed to hear a powerful word from the author of the book Joseph of Arimathea. Click the image below to hear it yourself.
April 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
Poetic. Powerful. Pertinent. John begins his Gospel with five verses that set the tone for the entire book. This is a recollection of the most important person to ever live on Earth. Reading through John 1 again, I found it interesting that John does not actually drop Jesus’ name until verse 18, but references Jesus in dramatic fashion throughout. When I was younger I used to sketch a lot. I had a picture I had sketched from art class and verse 5 was the centerpiece of the drawing: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” For a long time that verse gave me hope and strength in the power of my redeemer. Jesus, the light of the world, shines in the darkness of this world, and no matter how much the darkness tries, it will never overcome Jesus.
John starts out by describing Jesus as being the Word, and that the Word was with God since the beginning and that the “Word was God.” This sets up the great debate of whether God and Jesus are one, or are they separate? I believe they are separate entities. If Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God on the throne of Heaven, how is that possible if they are one and the same? Regardless of if the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same, one truth I do fully support is that Jesus is the Word of God, therefore what Jesus says is the absolute truth. And, as we will see later this month, the truth of Jesus is the way and the life of the entire world. This month we will celebrate and study the power of Jesus Christ as John tells the greatest autobiography ever recorded.
Continue to pray for God to use this pandemic to open the eyes of the world and bring everyone’s focus back to God and allow them to fix their eyes on Jesus. Maudy Thursday will be the day COVID stops spreading and Good Friday will see the first day of recovery. And Easter Sunday will be the day of resurrection for this country. Pray this prayer with me every day.
Reading plan: John 1:1-28
Deeper reading plan: 1 Kings 1, 2, 3
Prayer and meditation: Pray for protection for your loved ones and that God will continue to keep them safe and healthy. Pray for those working in the medical field, for those working in the food industry from the farmer to the front service clerk still bagging your groceries.
Fitness challenge: 2 sets of our 7×21 challenge. Work on completing nice, controlled, slow repititions:
1. Standard push-up
2. Sit-up or crunches
3. Air squats
4. Hand-release push-up
5. Leg lifts
6. Lunges (7-each leg)
7. 4-count flutter kicks
Common Sense Reborn 