We're meeting as church online during the period of Covid-19 nationwide lockdown. In today's message, John urges us to use our time wisely in lockdown. He encourages us to read Psalms and Proverbs, so that we can find comfort in God and grow in godly wisdom.
We have had an avalanche of news in recent days and it is hard to keep up. The big news stories of climate change and plastic pollution, as important as they are, have been shoved aside by the pressing news of COVID-19. This virus has everyone’s attention. What are we allowing to shape our understanding and response to this situation? The bible reminds us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
How you have been coping with this situation and what is weighing on your mind? Perhaps you have anxious thoughts for family and friends, considering what to do with this time of isolation, how to care for those in your bubble.
This week I encourage you to alternate your bible readings between the Psalms and Proverbs. The Psalms tend to give us comfort and Proverbs offer us wisdom. The Psalms speak to our hearts, the Proverbs speak to our minds. Today we need both comfort and wisdom.
We may be more familiar with Psalms such as Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”. Psalms touch our hearts and stir our spirits. Generations before us have found comfort in the Psalms.
We may not have spent quite as much time reading Proverbs, but now is a time when we truly need wisdom. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor. (Proverbs 4:5–9) The ancient Hebrew people prized wisdom and saw it as a crown of great value. Perhaps in the modern church we have not spoken enough of wisdom. But today we need wisdom more than ever, so we can be wise in what we say and do. Paul wrote, Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15–17) Live as the wise – is this how you tend to live?
Why do I stress wisdom? Wisdom will keep bringing you back to the Lord, to trust him with all your heart. Without wisdom we might simply lean on our own understanding, being tossed around on a sea of fear and doubt, so fixated on shocking news headlines that we become overwhelmed.
Today I encourage you to think wisely about what you will do with your time at home. As we read earlier, Paul encourages us to make …the most of every opportunity. The KJV translates this as redeeming the time. How do we redeem this time of lockdown? How do we make the most of this opportunity? Perhaps we could devote some of this time to gaining wisdom.
For reflection:
Where can I find comfort and strength through times of trial?
Have my decisions this week been more influenced by fear or wisdom?
Rev John Malcolm
How you have been coping with this situation and what is weighing on your mind? Perhaps you have anxious thoughts for family and friends, considering what to do with this time of isolation, how to care for those in your bubble.
This week I encourage you to alternate your bible readings between the Psalms and Proverbs. The Psalms tend to give us comfort and Proverbs offer us wisdom. The Psalms speak to our hearts, the Proverbs speak to our minds. Today we need both comfort and wisdom.
We may be more familiar with Psalms such as Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”. Psalms touch our hearts and stir our spirits. Generations before us have found comfort in the Psalms.
We may not have spent quite as much time reading Proverbs, but now is a time when we truly need wisdom. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor. (Proverbs 4:5–9) The ancient Hebrew people prized wisdom and saw it as a crown of great value. Perhaps in the modern church we have not spoken enough of wisdom. But today we need wisdom more than ever, so we can be wise in what we say and do. Paul wrote, Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15–17) Live as the wise – is this how you tend to live?
Why do I stress wisdom? Wisdom will keep bringing you back to the Lord, to trust him with all your heart. Without wisdom we might simply lean on our own understanding, being tossed around on a sea of fear and doubt, so fixated on shocking news headlines that we become overwhelmed.
Today I encourage you to think wisely about what you will do with your time at home. As we read earlier, Paul encourages us to make …the most of every opportunity. The KJV translates this as redeeming the time. How do we redeem this time of lockdown? How do we make the most of this opportunity? Perhaps we could devote some of this time to gaining wisdom.
For reflection:
Where can I find comfort and strength through times of trial?
Have my decisions this week been more influenced by fear or wisdom?
Rev John Malcolm