I want to exhort you on some practical wisdom to apply in addition to all the World Health Organisation protocols on staying safe. I believe COVID-19 could significantly alter our way of living in many ways, and waking up to this reality sooner than later is important to help you protect yourself and your family.
In addition to observing personal hygiene, washing your hands, avoid touching your face, sneezing and coughing protocols, and social distancing, the following are some practical wisdom we can apply to stay safe and healthy;
1. Live a day at a time:
One of the key things many people on earth today are struggling with is anxious thoughts and panic. All around the world, many people are living with uncertainties. Even when you have a meal today, you eat with mixed feeling because you don’t know where the next meal is coming from.
How then can people of faith navigate through these terrible times? How can people of faith live knowing that there is a deadly virus out there? Matthew 6:34 teaches us to live life one day at a time. We learn that we must live our lives free of anxiety and stress.
[Matthew 6:34 KJV] “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
The Lord admonishes us not to take thoughts of what we shall eat or drink. “Sufficient unto the day the trouble thereof;” you have enough to handle today so don’t try to add the challenges of tomorrow. You must learn to live life a day at a time.
2. Learn to live in abundance and to suffer need;
The second secret to surfing through this season is to apply the lessons of Philippians 4.
[Philippians 4:12-13 KJV] “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
You must learn to live both abounding and when abasing. You must understand that sometimes life does not offer you fullness; there are times when you have to deal with scarcity. The Apostle Paul says he had learnt to live both when abounding and when he had little. For instance, we must try to unlearn the taste we have for delicacies and start eating staples.
3. Don’t tempt the Lord:
Strive not to tempt the Lord. Don’t despise practical wisdom in the name of faith. Don’t jump a height which you can descend by a stairway; except in an emergency. Those who tempt get bitten by serpents. You must strive to trust and walk by faith.
[Matthew 4:7 KJV] “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
[Acts 5:9 KJV] “Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.”
[1 Corinthians 10:9 KJV] “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.”
4. Give up hypocrisy:
One of the greatest temptations of this season is hypocrisy. This is the time to give up hypocrisy and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
[Philippians 2:12 KJV] “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
This is the season, don’t play games with God but work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Listen, I love you and I am trusting that you shall make the right choices.
Stay blessed and safe!
Pastor Simpe
