I Cor. 15: 57-58

“But thank God!  He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immoveable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Challenging events and circumstances have impacted God’s people for 2000 years.  In every age there have been difficulties to overcome, heresies to confront and adversities to endure. Our day is no exception.

In 2020 we have been blindsided by a worldwide pandemic that shut down public gatherings including church services.  Sports stadiums, concert venues, movie theatres, weddings, funerals, and school classes have all been shut down.

The difference between other kinds of public gatherings and church gatherings is the fact that we have a constitutional guarantee of non-interference from the state.  Yet, very few Christian pastors have objected or resisted the closure mandates of governors, mayors, or judges.

So, we have gone to the internet streaming our worship and bible teaching services.  We have used Zoom and Skype for personal communication and small group bible studies.  Has it worked?  Have we managed to survive?  At this point we don’t really know what the shutting down of normal church functions has done to us or our children.  We think our people are still with us.  Money is still coming in but, now that is starting to decline.  All we know for sure is that we are in a desperate push to survive the restrictions.  A tremendous amount of work has been demanded of every pastor and church leader.  We have had to learn a whole new way of doing church…often without adequate equipment or training.

The result?  Exhaustion, discouragement and a growing desire to quit trying to do an impossible job.  We are an institution created by Jesus Christ that is designed to operate relationally.  Personal relationships are foundational to us and without the ability to be with each other, see each other, hear each other, hug each other and minister directly to each other we are finding ourselves unable to function as the “Body of Christ” the way we used to.

If you are a pastor, a pastor’s wife, a lay-leader, a church member or a church shopper…discouragement is a very real current issue.  Yet, this is where the apostle Paul’s instruction in I Corinthians 15: 57-58 is so important.  We are called to endure, persevere, and overcome in spite of difficulty.

I am reaching out to you today with encouragement and hope.  It is tough to lead a church this year and Covid19 doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.  But, for the sake of our Lord and His Kingdom don’t give up.  Keep your eyes on Him.  Draw strength from His Word and grace from His Spirit and stay faithful to His call.  According to Revelations chapters two and three, our eternal rewards will be given on the basis of our faithfulness in “overcoming” whatever degree of difficulty we are facing.