Like David, finding purpose in our pause
By Pastor Morgan Bailey
Macedonia Baptist Church, Ranburne, Ala.
February marked the anniversary of the pandemic’s official arrival to our shores — more than a year now on the COVID-19 roller coaster.
Families and churches have been forced to navigate the maze of hospital spikes, lockdowns, quarantines and mask mandates.
Finally, we see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not an oncoming train but the long awaited, record-breaking rollout of vaccines.
It seems as if our lives have been on hold or pause for most of 2020. Can we find purpose in all of this?
King David did not have to endure a pandemic. However, he knew much about a life put on hold.
Samuel, the kingmaker prophet, anointed Jesse’s shepherd son king. Unfortunately, David would not assume the throne until many years later.
He lived the life of a fugitive, on the run from King Saul. In one of the caves where he sought refuge, David may have found inspiration for the 37th psalm.
God gave the psalmist amazing insight into the “pauses” of life — “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (v. 7).
Some might lament that’s easy preaching but hard living. Patience is hard for most of us. Impatience may be my unspiritual gift.
The fugitive David revealed divine insight for finding purpose in our pause.
- Rediscover prayer. Many of the psalms flowed out of David’s devotion.
- Rest in His person. God delivered David from his peril. He will rescue us.
- Rely on His provision. God met all of David’s needs. He will meet ours.
- Remember His people. David’s mighty men encouraged him — find yours.
Your church family will be your refuge! Don’t allow the enemy to use the pandemic to distract you from the discipline of gathering with and trusting in the Lord and His family.
Gather on campus or online. Take the initiative to call or message those that you miss. You will be the one who is encouraged.
Like David, we can employ these principles, patiently waiting on the Lord. Yes, there can be purpose in our pause.
Pastors and the Benefits of Counseling
Scripture is overflowing with passages challenging believers to place their trust in Christ, to take on His yoke, to cast all cares upon Him.
It’s easy to believe the underdeveloped, unspiritual people are in need of counseling, but surely not seminary-trained professionals like me.
While the Word certainly calls us to lean on the Lord in times of trouble, Scripture also reminds us often that we are not an island, that we need to call upon the gifts of others to find healing.
This includes counseling.
Pastor, are you exhausted, stuck in a rut or bitter toward others?
Are you inexplicably sad, perpetually anxious or dreaming of an escape from your life?
If so, seek help and schedule some sessions with a solid biblical counselor.
When our tires are spinning, it doesn’t help to keep pressing the gas.
There are people gifted by God to help us get back on the road to mental, emotional and spiritual health.
NAMB, through a partnership with Focus on the Family, offers a free hotline for Southern Baptist pastors: 1-844-4PASTOR.
Ben Mandrell
President and CEO
Lifeway Christian Resources
The pandemic does not negate the Great Commission. Believers and churches are responsible to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). With our charge to go and make disciples in a difficult time, we are challenged by 12 radical changes coming to the church.
- Hugging will decline. Yes, this is a radical change for most normative sized churches.
- Sharing the communion cup will still be meaningful but increasingly metaphorical.
- Children’s ministry areas will be disinfected and cleaned regularly or people will not bring their children.
- Student groups will continue to be hybrid meetings and challenging due to competition from other activities.
- The offering plate will mostly disappear. Many regular givers are setting up reoccurring gifts or giving online.
- Leaders, greeters, ushers, teachers and other church workers will use hand sanitizer more often.
- Worship will move from entertainment to experience.
- Concerns about congregational singing may persist.
- Social distancing will continue. People will self-select out when they feel vulnerable.
- Churches will look more favorably on outdoor activities.
- A shorter time will be better than a longer one in worship services and other meetings.
- Smaller groups will be more desirable than large groups.
We cannot be certain as to whether these 12 changes will take root after the pandemic.
Only God’s power can guide the church to growth and impact. God is sovereign, and Jesus will build his church; we can be sure about this!
Barry Cosper
Bessemer Regional Director
Birmingham Metro Baptist Association
(Adapted from a column that originally appeared in the March 4 BMBA newsletter. Read the full article at tabonline.org/12-changes.)
But in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:35, NKJV).
God treats people with equality and impartiality when it comes to their immutable or unchanging characteristics.
In other words, He treats us the same whether we were born male or female, tall or short, with skin that is lighter or darker. Specifically mentioned here are people from every ethnic group on earth.
Though God does not show partiality, He does identify a standard for acceptance, namely, “whoever fears Him and works righteousness.”
God is not judging people, as Martin Luther King Jr., famously said, “by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
The virtues of equality and impartiality should not extend so far that they condone the sin of those who rebel against God.
Equality must never be hijacked to blur the line between good and evil.
Pastor Rick Patrick
theupliftingword.com
Here’s what I want to encourage you to stir up in your heart all the days of your Christian life: adoration. Stir up in your heart a love for the beauty of Jesus, a gladness for the kindness of Jesus.
Pastor Matt Chandler
The Village Church, Flower Mound, Texas
Beware of uniting what God divides and of dividing what God unites.
Franklin L. Kirksey
Robertsdale, Ala.
As Christians, we are called to be different than the world. If we are going to put our FAITH in something, let us make sure we put it in something that could never be taken away from us.
We can lose a lot of things …keys, our minds, good looks, health, family, lives and even our way. God is never lost. There is nothing that we will ever need that He cannot supply!
Phillipians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Tracey Smith
Killen, Alabama
You know the relief you feel when a friend, family member or coworker takes a task or project that was weighing you down off your plate? Christ has done the same thing with our burdens and hardships. He isn’t about to take them off of you — He already took them off of you 2,000 years ago when He defeated death.
So choose joy and happiness because our God is King. He is loving and kind. He’s omniscient and sovereign. We are in good hands.
Jessica Ingram
theropetab.com
Nothing has built taller, deeper and thicker walls in people’s hearts like a spirit of unforgiveness. We see this in marriages, families, churches, denominations and all over America today. Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and division. Human relationships fractured by unforgiveness are damaging.
Ronnie Floyd
President and CEO
SBC Executive Committee
The goal of the Christian life is not to have things as we like them but to be transformed into the image of Jesus and bring Him joy — regardless of what life is like on the outside. What a beautiful and freeing truth.
Bob Adams
Retired pastor
Sin is the problem. Jesus is the answer. The church is the only hope of the world.
Pastor Bob Bender
Colorado Springs, Colorado
From the Twitterverse
@JackieHillPerry
When someone you admire does something disgusting or evil, don’t admire what is disgusting or evil. At the same time, don’t let your rightful disgust turn you to despair. Many who come in Jesus’ name are frauds. Jesus is not. —@drmoore
@greggmatte
Humility is both an attitude and an action. Every day we have to choose it over our pride.
@PaulTripp
Don’t be afraid of coming to God spiritually poor; be afraid of the delusion of spiritual riches that will keep you from coming to Him.
@SamAllberry
If your thing is kindness and grace but you never stand for hard truths, it is not biblical grace you embody but something counterfeit.
If your thing is truth but you lack grace and kindness, it is not biblical truth you are driven by but more likely a love of being right.
@nathanrose33
Salvation is not the result of imitating Jesus, but imitating Jesus is the result of salvation.
@MattSmethurst
When Nathan confronted him, David didn’t say, “What about Saul?” Instead we got Psalm 51. —@DanDarling
@lecrae
I’d never have such an appreciation for healing if I had never been broken.
@BethMooreLPM
Reminding you this morning that Jesus is utterly trustworthy. He has no dark side. Nothing perverse lurks in Him. All that will be uncovered about Him will be glorious & holy. He saved my broken life. He keeps saving it. Place every shred of your trust in Him. He will save yours.
@Blackwell_Kevin
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” —Genesis 1:27
@tedtraylor
Today people want the sermon short and snappy and the football match long. That mindset is the opposite of Acts and every period of revival and reformation. —Martyn Lloyd-Jones
@FLTBob
We crave certainty and a risk free life. But that’s not how life works. In the face of fear and danger, Jesus says “follow me.” Walk by faith.
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