By Raymond Sanchez
Gather:
How have things been different during the COVID-19 pandemic?
How have things been the same?
Hear:
John 3:16-17 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Mark 8:34 (ESV) And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Pause:
Take a moment and meditate on God’s word
For Everyone:
“The New Normal” is a phrase that has been used by our society in regards to life after COVID-19. For many, it has been a chance to reprioritize their lives.
For our church, “The New Normal” started with a bang! Our first purely-online Youtube service started with 770 views. Our first Treehouse Club video had 370 views, and hits on our webpage with people participating in our daily devotionals were higher than they had ever been. Even our small groups in with their phone-in and online meetings exploded with people attending in record numbers. This was a new normal! The world was upside down, but there was comfort in the rhythms of Sunday and Wednesday worship and excitement in the new format that could be enjoyed in the comfort of our own homes. People were returning to God with gusto!
But God has been in the business of “New Normals” since long before the COVID-19 pandemic ever hit. God’s “New Normal” is actually the oldest and greatest story of love the world has ever known (John 3:16). Those who believe in Him are “new creations” who leave their old lives behind. But our Christian life was never meant to be easy. Sometimes, a COVID-19 wake up call is reminds us to get our priorities straight. But as the newness and excitement of the “New Normal” wears off, we are reminded that God’s old story is one of denying oneself and carrying one’s cross. It can be difficult. It’s not always “exciting." But we know God is carrying it through to completion until the day He returns.
Since the beginning of COVID-19, our Youtube views and website hits have steadily declined along with attendance participation for the small group studies. We understand there are many reasons for this, and this is not a plea to consume more FBC Weslaco online material. It is, however, a plea to remember that we are called to live into God’s old story of love, sacrifice, redemption and re-creation that has been going on for two-millennia. It is a reminder to continue to live as new creations. It is a reminder to carry your cross daily. It is a reminder to have faith that God is completing something inside you that you will never be able to do on your own. As we continue to re-adjust our lives, let’s continue to set our eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Wonder:
What has God been telling us during this pandemic?
As things start to open up again and school is ending, what are new routines we should keep?
What are old routines we should not let back into our lives?
Where do we see God’s Old Story of love, redemption, renewal and sacrifice happening around us now?
How can we live into that story?
Bless:
Dear God, thank you for making us new creations! Help us to honor you with our lives and not slip back into our old story of putting ourselves first. May we live into your story no matter what is happening around us.