Reflections from Jayson...

Praise be to GOD the FATHER, through JESUS, by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT,
To the Christian Church,
Grace, mercy, and peace to you all through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOUR,
JESUS says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly FATHER feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:25-27

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The phrase “do not fear” is recorded 365 times in the Bible. This phrase is not meant to punish us, but to comfort us and encourage us. In a time when we don’t know so many outcomes that are predicted to come, we must hold to what we know with certainty.
We must remember that GOD sacrificed for humanity and sent HIS Son. The mystery of the incarnation of JESUS will not fully be understood until we enter the Kingdom of Heaven; until we see what JESUS left, we can not fully understand the sacrifice. And thanks be to GOD the FATHER, the true Christian will never understand the sacrifice of the Cross, for death no longer has a hold on those in JESUS. We sit in the time between Christmas and Easter, the celebration of HIS coming and dying for humanity; fear has no place in the love of GOD.
Coronavirus is a time of fear for those who don’t know JESUS; the future is uncertain as they face their own mortality. But for those in JESUS, we are told, “do not fear”. Works, what has been done or not done in the past, do not affect the fact that GOD sent HIS Son. GOD made the sacrifice so we would not fear. Fear can cripple a human. Consider the time spent worrying, what has it accomplished? Has worrying helped you love GOD and others, the greatest two commandments? Coronavirus is not a time to worry, it is a time to rest in the love of the FATHER.
The children of GOD will see this as a time to be comforted and to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). As we rest in the FATHER’s love we can reach out and offer that love to others. Christianity is not works based, therefore all people are invited (2 Peter 3:9). “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” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Do you know this? Are you ready to share this? People in fear need to hear this.
Coronavirus can be a time to rest in our faith and let our light shine; a time to glorify our GOD for what HE has done through JESUS CHRIST. How you love GOD and others is between you and GOD. If you need to repent and repair a relationship, then do so, that is why JESUS CHRIST came. HE showed us that the relationship with the FATHER was broken, and there was nothing we could do to repair the damage; “but the gift of GOD is eternal life in CHRIST JESUS our LORD” (Romans 6:23). That reconciliation is by faith and by faith we must offer it to others (Matthew 5:21-26), including our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Forgive as you have been forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15).
Many have been given time during Corona 2020, what will you do with it? Worry or proclaim the One Who came? Love always in HIM. Jay