How have you changed?
I was thinking about the fact that being
stuck at home for shelter time meant a lot of people had hardship, a lot of
people had anxiety and struggled with being alone. Still others found that
being sheltered with family was hard at first, but after a while they found a
new enjoyment of being forced to do things together. I have heard many people
say they would not change how things went because they now communicate better
together with siblings, or parents. I am amazed when I see the changes in some people’s
families!
As we return to the workplace buildings
and find the new normal I encourage you to throw out the bad experience during
this time but to keep the good! Treat the return to outside world as when you
became a new creation in Christ when you first accepted the Truth that Jesus is
Lord.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So, put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Do not be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:1-10
Try to communicate as well as you did
when you first believed. Do you remember how once you accepted Christ as your
Lord and Savior that you could not get enough of speaking, praying, praising
Him? You wanted to study the Bible through and through again! You listened to
every preacher, you worked hard to be a better person to stand up to the Word
that you studied. You put your trust, and hope, and your pursuit in finding God’s
direction for you in each new day.
Keep that up! I challenge you to start
your day tomorrow with ‘Good Morning Lord’ and ask Him to direct your day, to
show you the things you need to change and to give you the power to change what
you can.
The best way to change for the good is to
get in the Word and see what God has there for you! In fact, many of you do
that more now than you did before the shelter in place happened. Many of you
have cried out for God to help you get along, get through or get to things. You
have spent time teaching your children, cooking meals instead of fast food
rushing, cleaning up the house, the yard, or the garage. Maybe, God has done a
lot in your life since you were home and maybe you, like me, do not want it to
end.
Once again, the only way for that to
happen is to make the change to be the new creation and follow God’s directions
still. Let’s do it. Let’s make God and His Word, our Bibles the focus of our
home time. Even if you go outside to work when you are home it can be the same.
Home can become the refuge, the retreat, the place of love that it was during
these three months at home.
Let’s work hard to connect with those
around us, neighbors, and friends alike. Get rid of the old you who used to work
until the sun went down and then take home an attitude of stress.
Set your mind on things above… if not all
day then at least when you walk in the door each day. Create a peaceful home
that places hope, love, and joy above producing more stress and distance in the
home again. We may have distanced from the world, but we must admit we grew closer
to someone, even if it was only our true self!
Heavenly Father help us to grow closer to
You, and closer to one another even after we can leave our homes. Help us to
invite people in and enjoy their company, to cuddle up with our kids and watch
a silly movie or read a book together as we enter the world of new normal. In
Jesus’ name, help us to give glory to You in all we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.