Life on the Pasture

As strange as it sounds, I have fun pretending the church is full when I record sermons for our online worship experiences. But it’s not. And when all the preparation is complete and the different elements are put together and converted into a video to be uploaded to our youtube channel, I immediately begin to wonder how long this will go on. I just want to get back to Thursday night and Sunday morning worship services with people back in church.

Obviously I’m not the only one wondering how long this will continue. Nor do I wish to get into a debate over the risk of spreading COVID-19 vs. allowing people to make their own choice about being able to gather in groups. Rather, I want us to consider what is happening to us spiritually. Are we drawing closer to our Lord in the midst of all of this, or, in fact, is the evil one successfully drawing us away?

There is an account in the Gospels about a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. Mark tells us she had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. (Mark 5:26) Twelve years. Worse instead of better. We haven’t even been at this for twelve weeks. Here was a woman whom we would not excuse if she became bitter.

But when she heard about Jesus she went to see Him, carefully edging her way through the crowd, thinking to herself, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:28) She was not disappointed.

There’s an old devotion book I have authored by Herman Gockel in which he points out that there really was no prayer on this woman’s part other than the deep sigh of faith that came to the Lord for help. Maybe like me, you can relate to that. The waiting is starting to get long. The light at the end of the tunnel almost seems duller than it was.

But the Holy Spirit moves you and me as He did that woman to come to Jesus and find in Him our strength and our peace.

Draw us to Thee; O grant that we May walk the road to heaven!
Direct our way Lest we should stray And from Thy paths be driven.

Lutheran Service Book #701, Draw Us to Thee, v. 3, Public Domain

– Pastor Schmidt