Great Plains Daily Devotional for 3/19/2020

Psalm 27:1 

Of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

Starting this week, I, like many other of our conference staff, have started working from home. That has come with its own challenges, including having a child at home with me. In these uncertain times there are those who say we are overreacting and those who say we are underreacting and there doesn’t seem to be much middle ground.

We question whether as Christians we give into the spirit of fear or go about our lives with our faith as our shield. Again, there doesn’t seem to be much middle ground.

When I fear that our sense of meeting in the middle has gone, I remember to look at those who are coming up with new ways to serve others. Churches that are packing meals for school children, finding new ways of using technology to meet and gather safely, and other creative ways to be the hands and feet of Christ gives me immeasurable amounts of hope. And hope is what a lot of us need desperately right now.

I aspire to live in that middle space. The space that doesn’t give into fear but acknowledges the challenges and the reality of what is going on around us. The space where we consider our neighbors needs and balance them with the needs of our family. The space that we can show we are Christians by our love as the hymn says.

How can you be the hands and feet of Christ in these challenging times? Can you pick up groceries for a neighbor who is at risk? If you are suddenly working from home could you take the money you would spend on gas or eating out and give to your local food pantry or church outreach? Let us find ways to reach out to those who need it the most by showing them the love of the church in these uncertain times.

Prayer for Reflection

Genesis 12:1-4
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9