We memorized the Lord’s prayer that Jesus taught the disciples when they asked Him to teach them how we pray. So we got this most venerated Christian prayer of all time. If we look at this prayer and see thoroughly what we are asking for then a shade of the answer to our question will surface why we are experiencing this kind of trouble, like the ones caused by COVID-19.
This lockdown that is now happening in almost all over the world has brought every family to keep themselves at home away from hustle and bustle of daily life. This turns our focus to our true treasure hidden in every family cluster which is what God, our Almighty Creator wants us to enjoy when we align our priorities to His plan why He created us.
Going back to the Lord’s Prayer, it teaches us to revere God first and for His kingdom to come here on earth as it is in heaven. Then it is followed by asking Him for our daily bread and all our other needs for a victorious life.
Through all the years we are witnesses of His faithfulness and trustworthiness in meeting our daily needs, His forgiveness takes away our guilts and delivers us from the work of the destroyer. But how about giving God our highest reverence and the manifestation of His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven? Are we mindful of these things above all else so that we are all striving to be united, first with our respective family as one, like the God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit who are one?
The Lord’s prayer therefore is a mandate from the Sovereign God to bring us all into unity so that the world will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35). Do we really love the triune God with all our heart, soul and strength and love others as we love ourselves? The Word of God in the Bible will tell us the reality of our standing before God’s sight. We can’t do this by doing what we want or what others want us to do. It is already written that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. In fact according to 1John 3:2, what we all know by now is just a tiny portion of the whole beautiful thing that God is working but will be revealed to us in eternity.
The time has come that the Sovereign God has called us to turn our eyes to our first prayer on how to hallow the Name of the Most High God. Acts 17:30 says, “In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now He says that everyone everywhere must turn to Him” (CEV). Enough asking for food for our physical bodies. ANYWAY, it will be added to us if we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). What is important is the restoration of our broken image into the image of the Son of God. Confinement of every member of the family in their respective homes is God’s answer to mold us, transform us, renew us and change us into what He wants us to be by following His command in Deut. 6:6, “Memorize His laws (not ours or man-made laws) and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you are at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them. Write these laws on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates” (CEV).
Don’t allow coronavirus to scare you but give thanks to God with rejoicing in your heart for what is happening now is His big favor for us to accomplish His wonderful plan in our lives. Don’t miss this great opportunity from God otherwise the busyness in life will again rob our time for God which is what really matters most. Let’s not major on the minor but let God’s plan be our priority for ourselves, our children and grandchildren.
These are the good and beautiful things I’ve seen amid the coronavirus pandemic. The evil things brought by COVID19 are meant for good for all of us. ANYWAY God said in Psalm 81:13-14, if you would listen and do as I say!, I the Lord, would QUICKLY defeat your enemies with My mighty power.” This coronavirus will surely stop undermining, exploiting and oppressing the whole world with fear by the end of God’s grace period calling people to come to Him and acknowledge Him as the Sovereign Lord and King.
This coronavirus is for the unbelieving world, to teach them a lesson to humble themselves, repent of their sin so that God will hear their prayer and heal their [our] land.
Almost everyone knows what is going on now throughout the whole world. Evil is increasing uncontrollably. The whole world need an eye opener THE HARD WAY to see the ways of the Infinite God who created us for His glory. What is important is our total obedience and allegiance to God.
For now let’s hearken to what Isaiah 26:20 says, “Go into your houses, My people, and shut the door behind you. Hide yourselves for a little while until God’s anger is over.” BUILD your “SAMBA SA BAHAY” or “SAMBAHAY”. Enjoy your respective families while converging together to worship and study God’s Word. It will be greatly rewarded.
It’s clear this coronavirus is God’s clarion call to the unbelieving world so that in their fear they will seek God with all their hearts. For you and for me, for our children and grand children, it’s time to rejoice with exceeding joy of knowing the Sovereign Lord as our Abba Father who is our Good Shepherd guiding us, protecting us and leading us to a greener pasture day by day and from glory to glory.
Hebrews 10:35-36, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”
WHERE IS GOD WHILE THE WHOLE WORLD IS IN FEAR? HE IS ON HIS THRONE FULFILLING HIS GLORIOUS PLAN IN OUR TIME. “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN: REJOICE!” (Phil. 4:4).