The first casualties of upheaval can be love, kindness, and patience. But crisis is also a moment when love for God & one another can spring up. For 150 days, starting on 17th March 2020, I will write 300 words based on one of the 150 psalms in the bible. How can I find and give love in the midst of coronavirus?
I was shocked to be chatting with a member of our church recently, someone who’s a similar age to me, and they admitted that they had never seen the film Star Wars. As many of us are spending much more time at home, this is something that can be easily rectified. At the climax of the film, Obi-Wan Kenobi says the iconic line “The Force will be with you. Always.” The idea being that wherever Luke Skywalker went, into whatever danger – the Force would be with him and guide him. Now, whilst not wanting to accuse George Lucas (writer & director of Star Wars) of stealing – these words sounds something like Jesus “I am with you always” (Matthew 28). How does this work? Jesus being with us. Psalm 14 says this:
Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. 5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
The psalm is, again, written by David, who is crying out about the evil in the world – people who say there is no God, who do evil and who oppress the poor. This could be prayed at any point in history. But in the midst he describes God’s people in a fantastic way: ” God is present in the company of the righteous.“. This is just fantastic – how can you describe those who know God? It those people among whom God is in the midst! God is with them. Always.
This is so true for those of us who have said yes to Jesus in our lives. God is with us, always. Whether it’s in the midst of an evil world, or in the midst of a pandemic. “I will be with you, always.” Never forget this.
Have a blessed day. Love Matt