Today is Sunday, I’m supposed to be going to church- but it remains closed. Yesterday I was supposed to leave for Summerfest (our church’s summer camp for students)-but it was cancelled. Both these things frustrate and discourage me. Yeah I know this is nothing new and I am not alone in having my life and plans hi-jacked. Let me say right up front, this is one of those writings that some will disagree with and that is okay. We are all different. This is also one of those times when I am completely confident God put these words in my head and heart to share. Today I am choosing to simply trust and obey my Savior by sharing what He put on my heart. 

Where to begin? I woke up this morning and began my usual routine. Made a cup of coffee, and headed to my space and began my time alone with God. Acknowledging my head and heart were not in the right place, I popped in my headphones and started listening to some worship music. Allowing the words to soak in and focus my soul towards Jesus. Then while reading my devotional, opening and reading the Bible to the passage in Ecclesiastes it let to- it happened. God hijacked my thoughts. I don’t know why I’m surprised by this, after all I was supposed to be spending time with him. But honestly my mind was wandering about the events happening in our country these days. Not just the protests, but the nation wide shutdown over a virus, the growing division, judgement and hate we see pretty much every single day. 

“What if” was the question the Spirit set in my mind this morning. What if we (Christ followers) put as much passion, energy and time into loving God as we have protesting the death of George Floyd? What if we boldly stepped up, stepped out and proclaimed the name of Jesus like we have the name of men and women who have tragically lost their lives? What if we flooded our social media pages with God’s word like we have with whatever the CDC believes to be the truth about the virus to be today? What if we listened to and obeyed our Father in heaven as quickly and easily as we have various government officials and agencies run by ordinary men and women? What if we went to the absolute truth of God’s word, instead of the biased news media for direction? 

The devotional reading led me to Ecclesiastes 3. This is the passage that says “there is a time for everything” I read these verses about there being a time for this and that several times, trying to listen and understand where God was leading and what He was saying.

What if God is saying, it’s time- 

Time to move on. Not forget, but move on.

Time to go back to church, work, school, ball games, etc.

Time to share Jesus with our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Those people we see most every day.

Time to change from the inside out – “Love the Lord your God with all your soul, with all your heart, with all your mind and with all our strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” (paraphrase of Matthew 22:37-40). Because let’s be honest, really doing these two things would change a lot!

Time to stop looking around and start looking up to our Creator and Savior.

Time to stop blaming, judging and criticizing and start loving each other and embracing our differences. 

Time to stop protesting and start preaching.

Time to stop hiding and start going, doing and living – real living without fear.

God’s perfect plan also has had me working through the book of 1 Peter during my personal Bible study time. Chapter 3, verse 8 just happened to be where I began today. Verses 8-9 say “Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,  not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.” Read those words again, slowly. Now stop and ask yourself is that what I have been doing? Those of you who are angry, are you angry for the right reasons? At the right things? 

Please, please, please do not mis-understand! Yes, the corona virus is a real and very serious thing for some people. Yes, George Floyd suffered a violent and pointless death at the hands of men. But you know what, so did our LORD, and He lived a sinless life!  And yes, black lives do matter. But not all police men and women are bad. Many, if not most of them work long hard hours, leaving their families at home to protect you and me. We have One judge and it is not you or me, not our government, not the news media, but God and God alone. Romans 12:19 “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” What if we let God be God! Yes, change is needed. Real and lasting change, however begins in the heart. What if we allowed God to rule our hearts and minds? 

There is this quote that sits framed in my Bible study space. The quote is from a scholar who attends Urban Christain Academy, a school in Kansas City MO. An organization trying to effect change from the inside out with God at the center. It says 

“Imagine if you seen an army risin’ up for Jesus, would you join them?”  

Well, what if? Would you? Will you? Perhaps, now is the time for us to stand together, as one, for Jesus.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”