The Church in Action

Life on the Pasture

I was going through some pictures on my tablet the other day and came across a family picture taken at Beautiful Savior two years ago on Easter. I decided it would make a very nice background on my screen. Not only do I get to look at my loving family, but I also have the reminder that in Christ we have the eternal victory.

When I heard the news that unless the Lord chooses to quickly intervene, our Easter worship service will be online and our larger family gathering will not take place, I was very disappointed. But that’s where we are now. So what are we going to do?

Maybe a better way of saying that is: How is God going to use us during this time to continue to share the good news of Jesus?

My wife Ellen came up with a few suggestions: 1.) Placing Easter flags in our yards with the message “Christ is Risen!” 2.) Easter parades singing Easter hymns throughout the neighborhood. 3.) Driving to church members’ houses and singing Easter songs outside their doors. What creative ideas do you have?

I don’t know whether those things can be implemented, but the idea is THE CHURCH IN ACTION. And that action always comes back to inviting people to know Jesus and providing opportunities to grow in His love, even when we are all “safer at home.” Part of that means making sacrifices so that others are kept safe from the spread of the virus. It might mean doing what you can to support local businesses that might be having a hard time of it. Part of that might mean sharing our worship services on social media so more people might listen.

Whatever action we take must be driven through our time in the Word and prayer, asking our Lord to lead and direct. After all, if He knows the way through death and the grave to resurrection and eternal life, He knows how to direct us through this.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10, NIV)

– Pastor Schmidt