“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel” (Phil 1:12)
As mentioned in our update yesterday (16th March 2020), we’re in the process of digesting and responding to the latest government advice relating to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, today I would like you to consider the words of the Apostle Paul found in Phil 1:12.
The Apostle Paul was imprisoned, limiting his ability to go about his normal gospel ministry. It would have been easy for him to have written of his frustrations with the circumstances, yet Paul was able to see beyond the immediate setbacks to the good hand of his sovereign Lord at work. Even in his confinement! He was able to see that, although the walls of his life were shrinking, his opportunity for gospel work were advancing. That is why he was able to say with such confidence his current status had “served to advance the gospel”.
Church Family, in these unsettling times, lets keep the main thing the main thing, and like the Apostle Paul look for many ways that we might advance the gospel in and around us. You might be asking how:
Love for one another – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
- Slowing down enough to notice those, in the church family, who are in need of help
- Dropping food parcels off at those who are having to self-isolate
- Writing a letter or card to someone in the church family, expressing your gratitude for them
- learning how to use skype, WhatsApp, messenger, Zoom or a host of other tools so you can video chat with people in the church
- Picking up the phone and praying for someone
- Letting our pastoral team know if Somone is unwell, but then looking to be the support the person might need.
Love for your neighbour – “Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30b)
- Doing all of the above for those who you know in and around your local community.
- Recognising that times like this will motivate people to look for answers. Even though we have had to postpone Who Cares? , that question is hanging in the air even more potently. And we have the answer: Jesus does! Let’s take every opportunity we get, with our family and friends, to share this hope we have.
My hope and prayer is that, as we move through these uncharted waters, we will come to find many new gospel advancing opportunities as we give ourselves to: loving God, loving the church family and loving those around us.
