Showing posts with label isolation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label isolation. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Isolation

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can HELP EACH OTHER. [emphasis mine]
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 
1 Corinthians 12:7, 27 NLT

Somebody needs to hear this. Are you withdrawing - isolating yourself? I must tell you that Satan's desire is to kill, steal and destroy YOU; to separate the children of God from the Father; to separate the children of God from each other. We must ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see what is going on. 

During times of war, in battles, what is the best way to watch out for the enemy? Alone? Definitely not! 

1st Corinthians 12 has much to say about doing things alone. See if this makes sense to you:

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Today, I've included a 5-minute video from a pastor in South Carolina. If this Promise is for you today, it's worth a listen.

Prayer:

Father,
          Draw our hearts toward You and in so doing, draw us closer together. Help us to see the Light of Your Truth in making this journey toward Home together. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Monday, December 14, 2020

Refreshed

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 NLT

Even though we have more ways to communicate than any other generation before us, isolation has disrupted our lives in ways we never imagined could happen in the 21st century. French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, "All of humanity’s problems stem from the man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone." I don't know about all of humanity's problems, but I do know that quarantine and social distancing are taking a toll on people's relationships. 

While the world is calling for people to check in with and care for those within their sphere of influence, as Christians, we should be leading the charge. We are called to love as Christ loved and gave Himself for others. Are we?  Unfortunately, I have heard many say they themselves are weary of everything and haven't the energy to give to others. 

Have we let our relationship with the Lord languish, too? If we're not spending time with Him, in His Word, we won't be filled with anything worth giving to others. To that, I have to say, get plugged in again. Acts 3:19 tells us times of refreshing come from being in the presence of the Lord. I think I would have to amend Monsieur Pascal's statement to read, "All of humanity’s problems stem from the man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone WITH GOD." The world needs to be refreshed. Let's get to it.

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Your Word in Acts 3:18, we repent and turn back to You so that our sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from Your presence. Open our eyes to see those around us who are in need of being refreshed. Give us divine appointments. we pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen