As Jehoshaphat and the people got word of their enemies gathering in strength against them, he prayed openly before the people to God, saying, “Lord we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (II Chronicles 20:12). Brothers and sisters, as we face this unprecedented time in our nation’s history, I believe that as the people of God, we need to adopt the same posture as Jehoshaphat. We should confess our limitation and then express our faith expectation that God will move on our behalf. As Senior Pastor, from time to time I am led to call us to engage collectively in certain spiritual disciplines. We have fasted and prayed together, we have worshipped and witnessed together, and we have served and sacrificed together. In preparation for 2020, God led me to call for a year of financial fasting. God led me to declare for Watch Night that “God was Going to Disturb our Groove.” Through this current disturbance to our everyday lives, as sickness hovers over our land, and as our economy is contracting, I am calling us to a season of devotion and reflection.
I believe when we are intentional about seeking the face of God, and seeking to intuit God’s will for us, not only will we be blessed, but we will be empowered to bless others. I want to thank the team with a special shout out to Sis. Kerri Alexander and Rev. Russell St. Bernard for their work in developing this devotional tool to guide our prayer and meditation time as a congregation. While we are encouraged to practice “social distancing” from one another, we can practice “spiritual closeness” with our Creator. One of the major ways we can develop “spiritual closeness” is to spend time with God, as James 4:8 says, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” With this in mind, we can reframe the way we think about the current crisis. Instead of a “Quarantine,” we can consider this a “Consecration.” The word “quarantine” means to be separate, but the word “consecrate” means to be set apart. We can take comfort in knowing that we as believers are set apart, and there is always a word from the Lord when we diligently seek him. For this reason, over the next 21 days I encourage you to set aside time to Reset and Renew.
Below you will see the format for the devotional as it has been developed in three areas: Read, Reflect, and Respond. As you work through this devotional, don’t forget to visit our website Kingdom.Global for details and updates. Also visit and subscribe to our YouTube page for previous sermons and Bible lessons created for all ages. Lastly, join us daily for our prayer call with its expanded times of 7:00am, 12:00pm, and 6:00pm, 605-475-3235 code 217780# While reading this devotional, it will be helpful to: READ – Read each passage slowly and thoughtfully. REFLECT – Notice what stands out to you in the passage. RESPOND – Write down what you hear God saying through the word. Praying for you and your family in this season as we all remain Kingdom Focused. Pastor Matthew L. Watley Senior Pastor
REFLECT READ – Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (NKJV)
I am sure most of us have heard this passage over and over again. However, this scripture takes on a brand-new meaning during a crisis. As the world scrambles to figure out what to do next, this Psalm of David reminds us that no matter what we face, we do not have to respond in fear. Many scholars call this Psalm a “song of trust,” because David is able to express his total trust in God’s goodness even in the face of adversity. It is also interesting to note that David may have experienced tremendous suffering in the Psalm right before this one. Psalm 22 begins with “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet, Psalm 23 has a completely different tone. If these Psalms were written chronologically, perhaps when David remembered how God delivered him from his suffering in Psalm 22, he was able to trust God in Psalm 23! How has God delivered you in the past? Do you trust God now?
REFLECT READ – Isaiah 59:19-21 “From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord. “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants— from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.” (NIV)
When someone says, “You have my word,” that usually means they are making a promise. Perhaps they are making a promise to keep a secret, or pay back a loan, but that phrase typically indicates some type of agreement. Unfortunately, as human beings we do not always keep all of our promises. Thankfully, we serve a God that is a promise-keeper! In this specific passage, the prophet Isaiah is communicating God’s new covenant to his people. God’s covenant, or promise, reminds us that God’s Spirit and word will never leave us. Even when God may feel far away in this chaotic world, we can rest assured that God’s Holy Spirit will always be accessible to help, comfort, and guide. In addition, because of God’s promise to us, our children and generations after us will also benefit from God’s faithfulness.
What promises has God revealed to you?
REFLECT READ – Colossians 1:9-12 “For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (NRSV)
Waiting is not always easy. Whether you’re waiting in a long line at the grocery store or waiting for your kids to go back to school, sometimes waiting can be extremely difficult. However, we all know that waiting is a natural part of life. In this New Testament letter, the author encourages believers of Jesus to “endure everything with patience.” Thankfully, the author reminds those believers, and us, what to do while we wait. As we endure everything with patience, we should also be joyfully giving thanks! Now that many of us are in a season of waiting for one thing or another, or simply waiting for the global pandemic to subside, let us remember to joyfully give thanks to God while we wait.
What are you waiting for? What can you give thanks for while you wait?
REFLECT READ – Hebrews 10:22-25 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)
This passage reminds us how important it is to draw near to God. However, it also reminds us that as we move towards God, we should also be moving towards God’s people. Although we may need to do this virtually for a while, being in fellowship with one another is an important part of being a believer. We are able to encourage one another by serving together, joining a discussion group, or even by simply saying hello. While we may not be able to do these things face-to-face, we should “not give up meeting together.” This may mean communicating on Social Media, contributing to the chat room during the church’s live stream, or joining a virtual Life Group. Whatever way you choose to connect, be sure to find ways to give and receive encouragement from your fellow believers.
What creative ways can you connect with other believers?
REFLECT READ – Matthew 9:35-38 “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (NKJV)
Many of us have often heard the scripture, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Although this current pandemic is certainly a new phenomenon to some of us, we can look across history and find that this is not the first pandemic humanity has faced. Likewise, during the time of Jesus, there were all kinds of plagues, famines, and ailments that caused great distress. However, every time Jesus encountered them, He showed great compassion. Whether His compassion moved Him to feed the multitudes, or heal the sick, Jesus’ compassion was always followed by action. In this specific passage, Jesus is not just encountering the sick, but He is healing them. This reminds us not only that Jesus is able to perform miracles, but it also reminds us that our compassion for one another should not just be a feeling, but it should move us toward action. What can you do to help someone else?
REFLECT READ – Psalm 6:2-9 “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.” (NKJV)
The heading for this Psalm in the New King James version of the Bible reads, “A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress.” In another version the heading reads, “A Prayer for Recovery from Grave Illness.” When we think about the current crisis, both headings are appropriate. As many people around the world are ill or in distress, we can use this Psalm as an example of what it looks like to cry out to God for help. No person, place, or thing can fix this situation. We need God to step in and do what only God can do. The psalmist demonstrates that even at our lowest moments, God wants to hear from us. Yet, after listing all of his afflictions, ailments, and anguish, the psalmist still ends the passage with great confidence that “The Lord will receive my prayer.”
What are you praying for? Are you confident that God will receive your prayer?
REFLECT READ – Revelation 11:15-17 “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” (NIV)
As Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, we understand the importance of royalty. However, the royalty we envision each time we say, “Kingdom Focused,” has nothing to do with the Queen of England or any other governmental body. We are focused on the Kingdom of God! With that in mind, we are able to recognize that no matter what governmental body is in charge, God is in control. In this passage, we see twenty-four elders on thrones fall on their faces to worship the Almighty King. Although they were already royalty, they humbled themselves before the divine sovereignty of God. This reminds us that leaders, presidents, and monarchs will come and go, but the Kingdom of our Lord will reign forever. It also reminds us that we can rightfully take our place as children of the King, knowing that He will always take care of His children. How can you be “Kingdom Focused” today?
REFLECT READ – Luke 24:35-39 “Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me.” (NLT)
After traumatic events, it is sometimes hard to remain at peace. In this specific passage, these disciples and followers have just witnessed someone they love, die on the cross. It is understandable that they are distraught and uneasy. However the first thing Jesus says to them is, “Peace be with you.” He recognizes that they are startled and frightened by His arrival, but He offers them heavenly reassurance that they do not need to fear. By showing them His hands and feet, He is physically showing them a miracle. In addition, we can see that when Jesus arrived, He brought peace. This tells us that whatever situation we bring Jesus into, we are bringing his peace into it as well. We can rest assured that when Jesus shows up, there is peace!
What situation can you bring the peace of Jesus into?
REFLECT READ – Ezekiel 37:1-5 “The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” (NRSV)
In this passage, God asks the prophet Ezekiel a question that many of us would not know how to answer. Based on logic, science, or any other form of human reason, the answer to God’s question, “Can these bones live?” would probably be “No.” Even if God asked us this as a rhetorical question, most of us would have already answered for God in our minds with, “absolutely not.” However, Ezekiel’s response leaves room for God to be God. Instead of answering with human knowledge or doubt, Ezekiel surrenders to the knowledge of God. “You know,” Ezekiel says. In another translation, the prophet says, “You alone know.” Both of these versions show that Ezekiel does not rely on his own power or wisdom. Instead, he depends on the power and wisdom of God, even when things seem impossible. How have you answered for God? How can you quiet your own voice and let God Speak?
REFLECT READ – I Kings 17:13-16 “Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” (NIV)
During times of financial instability, saving our resources is usually one of our top priorities. As we hoard as many rolls of toilet paper as possible, it is hard to imagine giving during an economic crisis. However, God has called us to be cheerful givers in all seasons. Even as we face economic uncertainty, we can trust that when we give to God, He is faithful to honor our sacrifice. In this scripture, we find the prophet Elijah communicating with a widow. At the time, widows often had no means of economic support, so some of them were supported by the church. Yet, God called this widow to give some of her resources away. What she did not realize is that by giving food to Elijah, she was able to have more food than she would have if she turned him away. Instead of her food running out after one meal, there was food for the widow’s family and Elijah every day. How can you continue to give to God?
REFLECT READ – Ephesians 2:4-10 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)
If we were to count up all of the things God has done for us, we would be in debt. Even if we just counted what God has done for us in the past week, we would owe God too much to quantify. Thankfully, God’s grace does not work by exchange or the barter system. God’s grace is what blesses us, even when we don’t deserve it. God’s grace wakes us up every morning and provides us with breath in our lungs. Most importantly, because of God’s grace, He sent His only begotten son Jesus Christ so that we could be saved. Even though we have failed and fallen short, God’s grace still covers us. This passage urges us to remember how God’s grace has covered us in the past, and how God continues to be graceful to us all by offering us salvation.
How have you experienced God’s grace?
REFLECT READ – Jeremiah 32:37-41 “I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.” (NLT)
As we continue to practice “social distancing,” it is easy to feel disconnected. No longer able to gather in restaurants, classes, or even at church, many of us find ourselves feeling “scattered.” However in this passage, we see God’s promise to restore the land after a season where God’s people are literally scattered. Not only does God promise to bring them back, God promises that they will be able to live in peace and safety. After enduring a very chaotic and frightening time, God’s promise was probably very comforting. Similarly, we can take comfort in God’s promise to bring peace and safety in our prayers for today’s world. In addition, we are able to see how much God desires to be in relationship with us. God has made an everlasting covenant with us to never stop doing good for us, even when we face difficult circumstances. How has God been good to you?
REFLECT READ – Psalm 31:1-5 “O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.” (NLT)
This Psalm perfectly articulates what many of us may be feeling right now. As matters of health and safety are pushed to the forefront, officials continue to urge us to do whatever we can to protect ourselves. While exercising tremendous caution is absolutely necessary, we also need to follow the example set in this Psalm. In this passage, when the psalmist is in desperate need for protection, the government, the CDC, and the witness protection program are all unequipped. Instead, the psalmist turns to the only one that can truly provide protection and security. By praying first for God’s protection, the psalmist reminds us that God is able to protect us from the threats we see, but He can also protect us from the threats we don’t see.
Identify some areas of your life where you need God’s protection. Have you asked God to protect you from those things?
REFLECT READ – Philippians 1:27-30 “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together.” (NLT)
The current pandemic has certainly changed the way we live our lives. As the national lockdown intensifies, we are forced to make critical decisions about how we are going to adapt to the “new normal.” However, this lockdown should not prevent us from spreading the Good News. While Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians, he is in prison. Frequently imprisoned for his faith, Paul is facing yet another long stay under lockdown. That being said, Paul’s difficult situation does not stop him from spreading the message of Jesus. Paul’s words in this passage are so full of faith and encouragement that it is surprising to realize that he was writing all of this from his prison cell. Yet, Paul’s words remind us that God can be glorified even when our circumstances are challenging. How can you spread the Good News during this time?
REFLECT READ – Lamentations 3:19-26 “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (NIV)
Most of us can attest to the fact that life isn’t perfect. Now more than ever, many of us are facing some type of affliction. However, this scripture is helpful for us to understand that while life isn’t perfect, we can trust in God because of who God has been in our life. The phrase, “If God did it before, God can do it again,” comes to mind. Not only do we believe that God can do it again based on God’s track record in our lives, but we can also trust in the way God has worked in the lives of those around us. The writer shows us that if we trust God, then we should also place our hope in God. The word “hope” can also be defined as “confidence,” so we can have confidence in God, that no matter how it looks right now, God has better ahead. How are you trusting God beyond your circumstance?
REFLECT READ – Matthew 21:5-9 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’” The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” (NLT)
We often look at this scripture and focus on the ceremonial entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. However, another key to the text is the fact that Jesus was focused on the details. He told his disciples where to go, what to get and what would be said when they went to get the donkey. Can you imagine Jesus knowing that level of detail about your personal life? Well the truth is you should, because Jesus is detailed oriented. Not only did He know that He would need to ride in on a donkey, but He knew where the donkey would be, how old the donkey was, and what the owners would say about the donkey. The same God that knew and prepared for this donkey, knows and prepares for you. There isn’t a choice we make, concern we have, or challenge we face that God doesn’t know about.
What details are you thankful that God knows and has planned for you?
REFLECT READ – Isaiah 50:4-5, 7 “The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.” “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” (NLT)
Words have power. However, words from the Lord have even more power. In this passage, we see that the prophet Isaiah fully understands the power of the Lord’s words. He shows us that the Lord’s words of wisdom have the power to comfort the weary. This is a great reminder that we can provide comfort to others by sharing the wisdom God has given us. In addition, the prophet Isaiah was a faithful servant to God even in the midst of difficult times. Isaiah knew that it was his calling to not just follow God, but to work on behalf of God. He was serving God by serving God’s people while they were in distress. God’s relationship with Isaiah shows us that when we’re called by God, we must also be willing to be used by God. As a result of Isaiah’s faithfulness and his service, many people learned about God. This passage reminds us that even in the difficult times, we are called to speak and work on God’s behalf.
How are you speaking on behalf of God to those around you?
REFLECT READ – Psalm 36:5-10 “Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.” (NLT)
This passage brings me back to when I used to live in Florida. After spending all of my life in the Northeast, Florida was a big change. However, outside of the weather and the people, the biggest change for me was the view. The landscape and the scenery from almost anywhere in South Florida was absolutely beautiful. I remember thinking after the third or fourth sunrise and sunset that God is so large and so awesome. I imagine this is where the author of this Psalm stands, looking out at God’s big and incomprehensible majesty. There is nothing to compare God with, and no one to compare God to. The author ends by saying that God is so vast that God’s love is unfailing and unmeasurable. No matter what we face, we can remember that we serve a God whose love is unfailing, and we are blessed to be His children.
When is the last time you stopped to focus on the beauty of God’s creation?
REFLECT READ – I Corinthians 1:25-29 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things— and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (NIV)
Have you ever been in a competition with a friend or family member, but you were unable to win? I remember my cousin was always faster and stronger than I was. No matter what we played, or what we did, he would always win. This continued until one day I decided to stop worrying about winning, and just focus on the play or task at hand. Although I am not comparing my cousin to God, this scripture reminds me of the way I used to compete with my cousin. It was like my strength could not stand a chance against him. The truth is, the strength and wisdom of the world cannot stand a chance against God! As strong and as wise as we believe we are, it is nothing compared to the strength and wisdom of God. Thankfully, we are on the winning team. All we have to do is listen to our coach, God.
How can you depend on God’s strength in your life?
REFLECT READ – Hebrews 12:1-3
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (NKJV)
As a former basketball player, I distinctly remember one of the workouts my team and I used to do called “up and downs.” For this workout, you had to run up and down the basketball court with weights on your shoulders. This was done in order to increase your endurance so you could run faster when you took off the additional weight. Similarly, this passage shows us that in order for us to run with endurance, we need to leave the things or the “weight” that is keeping us behind. Perhaps your weight is worry, stress, fear or sin. Whatever this weight may be, the writer shows us that it slows us down. However, God has not called us to be trapped by this weight. Even when others around us are worried, stressed, fearful, or sinful, we can make the choice to let go of the weight that is keeping us behind. What is slowing you down? How can you let it go?
REFLECT READ – John 13:12-17 “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (NIV)
Although we can’t go to restaurants now, have you ever been to a great restaurant that had great service? Great service leaves an impact on you and makes you want to revisit the restaurant. You may even recommend it to a friend or post about it on social media. However most of all, great service is memorable. Similarly, in this scripture, Jesus serves His disciples so that they would remember how He served them. He doesn’t want them to remember this for His own fame or fortune, but He wants them to remember to serve each other in this same way. It is interesting to note that even as Jesus was preparing to die, He was focused on serving others. He knew that His time was limited and that there was great stress and agony awaiting Him in the near future, but Jesus took this time to focus on the wellness of other people.
How can you be of service to someone else at a time like this?
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