Part 2 of 2

MEDITATE ON ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE

Psalm 143:5 – I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the works of your hands.

What all has God done? Aside from creating heaven and earth and all that is in it; aside from sustaining every breath we take; aside from tending to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field their every need; aside from upholding all of creation by the word of his power; aside from sending Jesus to serve as a substitutionary atonement for sin..aside from this, he brought you and I out from death to life.

And during COVID-19, this is a question that stirs many mind – will COVID-19 take my life or someone I love? In the Christian faith, we have an assurance of life beyond the grave; an everlasting life. This is made possible because of our having cross over to life in faith by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The assurance of security we have in Christ is mightier than the doubts and anxieties of COVID-19.

MEDITATE ON THE CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST

Philippians 3:4-15 – I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus….think in this way.

This is designed to be a meditation on righteousness. As we expand on the surrounding verses, we understand Paul to mean that we are to strive for righteousness. Righteousness is our goal. Righteousness is the upward call of God in Christ. As Christians, we are to be concerned that our life be one of continuous striving in this way. The prize? Righteousness itself. “Let those of us who are mature think this way…”

What sort of way do you think in the midst of a crisis. COVID-19 is not the greatest crisis we can face, but it it brings us to a threshold of facing the greatest crisis which is the prospect of death apart from God. Thinking about righteousness in the midst of crisis what is what mature Christians do.

MEDITATE ON WE LIVE EVEN WHEN WE DIE

John 11:25 – Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life, who believes in me, though he die yet he shall live…

COVID-19 ought to make us wonder, is is powerful enough to take my life. We hear and see news reports of thousands of people dying as a result of contracting this disease. Yet, Jesus provides a consolation in a way no doctor or antidote ever could now that death is knocking at the door. If you believe in Christ though COVID-19 take your life, you will live.

Let us say another way. Because Jesus is the resurrection, if you believe in him, you will participate in the resurrection now matter how or when you die. Do not be afraid of death dear Christian. You have access to great comfort in knowing and being assured that you will live even when die.

MEDITATE ON GOD HIMSELF

Psalm 63:5-6 – My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate upon you in the watches of the night.

There a lots of great imagery in this little verse. The best food you can possibly think of and the satisfaction you receive therein is allegorical to soul satisfaction. Have you experienced soul satisfaction? If not, then you must remember God and meditate upon him.

As soul satisfaction settles in, there is no alternative other than to speak of the wonders of the goodness of such satisfaction – this is the praise that we profess, which will spring not just from a satisfied soul but a joyful one.

Can you imagine experiencing joy right now in the midst of COVID-19? Is that even possible? I do believe it is. As when we physically hunger and thirst, we think about and remember that tastiness of the rich and fine food, the spiritually hungry soul will likewise remember upon our bed and meditate on God himself throughout the watches of the night.

Meditation on God himself is not lofty. It is for the common man, but is it for the one who is hungry and thirsty. If you are neither, then you will not meditate. If you do not meditate, you will mistake physical satisfaction with soul satisfaction.

Where is it most difficult to meditate but on our beds when we are supposed to rest. When we are tired and the night is long. But for anyone who has ever experienced extended food deprivation, food is the only think we can think of. Serious food deprivation renders us weak, yet weakness will not hold us down in meditating even on crumbs if it meant quenching the pangs, and the hungry stomach will live and breath on deep meditations on food. Likewise, only the soul that sees its need of God will endure the long watches of the night.

CONCLUSION

I pray COVID-19 reveals needs in your soul that only the God of the universe can satisfy and fulfill. As the COVID-19 disease sweeps across the world, may we be reminded to mediate on God himself, his works, the way of his precepts, his majesty, his deeds and his promises, his righteousness, his resurrection,

COVID-19 strikes fear and only offers death. God demands fear but gifts us life in Christ. Rightly oriented fear will lead to life, and when we have life; when our eyes have been opened to the beautiful and glorious gift given to us in Christ, the anxious worries of things like COVID-19 can diminish to the background.

Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer.

Part One

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Published by Edward Ruiz