This is the time of year many people look forward to as a return to “normal”. The beginning of the school year usually means a return to more settled routines, less travel, and, from a church perspective, better attendance. This year, of course, the confusion surrounding exactly how to get “back to school” has further complicated a society still trying to get back to work, back to church, back to normal. In addition to all the other details involved with registration and enrollment, parents are now grappling with child care concerns for half-day or every-other-day school schedules. Also of concern are the risks associated with going back to school at all, and with constant wearing of masks, while being daily bombarded with conflicting reports of the threat posed by CoViD-19 and the efficacy of said masks.
I know there are some -indeed, many- who are concerned or even convinced that the government’s aim is to shut down churches, and is using this virus as a means to that end. For now, I remain thankful that there has not been another lockdown or stay-at-home order, and that we are free to gather. Let me say part of that again: I am thankful that we are free to gather.
I recently referenced, from the pulpit, one of my favorite themes in scripture: Moses’ valediction to the Israelites just before they entered the land of promise. The sermon forms a significant portion of the book of Deuteronomy, and reiterates the glorious promises God had made to them AND offers a dire warning/prophecy of what will happen if they forget the source of all the good things they were about to enjoy. You will hear a sermon on this in the near future, but let me sum it up in a way I don’t think I ever have: Sometimes, faith is fighting. Sometimes, faith is thanksgiving.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Too often, we only think about faith in terms of fighting for the things He has promised in the midst of a world and in the face of an enemy that are trying to steal them from us. But when we are WALKING in those blessings, how do we exercise faith? By living in constant and active gratitude. When we first gathered after the lockdown, there was an overwhelming sense of gratitude on the part of most people. It was so good to be back together! Why aren’t we that thankful week after week? I get it; it’s the old “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” syndrome. We are much more profusely thankful for a healing than we are for our health. We are more thankful for a financial “rescue” than we are for daily walking in abundant provision. We live our lives of faith episodically rather than consistently.
It is precisely this tendency that Deuteronomy warns against. God loves us, and delights in our health, our prosperity. But when we cease to delight in Him, we put ourselves at risk of losing those things. Not because God takes them away, but because when we fail to consciously, consistently, and actively appreciate that these things are gifts from God, we inadvertently place them in the hands of the enemy.
So in the midst of continuing confusion and conflicting guidance, let’s not forget that we are still the children of God, and that He really does care for us, and offers us divine guidance. Let’s not be so consumed with the (very real) problems that surround us that we forget the (very real) blessings that we are experiencing. As troubles continue to appear and increase, let’s remember that the Greater One lives in us.
Let’s be people of faith for the fight and for the periods of time between fights. Let’s be a thankful people. I don’t have every answer I want right now, but I am thankful that we are assembling as a church. Every Sunday, and every day, I am thankful to God for you, my Living Word Family.
