The Bible says in Proverbs, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT) What I like about this translation is the direct way in which the writer warns us. He assumes the heart needs guarding or our lives will veer off course. I would agree, wouldn’t you?
Today, my heart hurts. Mine and most of the world. The Coronavirus plague has captured the attention of billions of people in an effort to stay safe – or just stay alive. Add senseless murders on top of that, protests over the injustices we’ve all experienced, and the unwarranted violence that has arisen from it and you have the perfect cocktail to produce pain, suffering, and loss. Loss like this country hasn’t experienced for decades. Is your heart hurting? Of course it is.
We support a church family in Kenya battling not only COVID but a recent outbreak of Malaria. Add the locust plague in Africa to the pandemic — people are starving. Starving all over. We had to help. Hearts are hurting. People are dying.
The “enemy’s” attempt to take down civilization has ramped up in ways the world has never experienced. Many question where God is in all of it. He certainly didn’t cause COVID but He will use it. Use it to draw people to Him.
The Bible also tells us to expect the events we now see surrounding us as our days here on earth draw to a close. Yet – It gives the Friends of Jesus the opportunity to share their faith. To draw others to the answer. God’s Heart is for Us. The Holy Spirit will draw those that don’t know God to His eternal side.
I saw a t-shirt online yesterday – Faith over Fear – That’s the only choice in mending a hurting heart. Let’s not use our heart to determine a course of hatred toward our fellow man. Let’s use our heart to share love – drawing them to the only answer to the question of what ultimately plagues us. Where will I spend eternity? In the loving arms of my Heavenly Father or eternally separated. Faith over Fear – Love over hate.
And that’s the memo.
Steve
