The Christian Response to the Coronavirus
A True Witness
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8) As true believers, we are to be true witnesses. Do you think the body of Christ has been an effective witness over the years? Listen, my devotionals are not meant to be critical, but to challenge us to strengthen our faith. On Easter Sunday, many church doors as well as bars and grills, restaurants and sports venues, night clubs, Disneyland and Disneyworld were closed. Is the church of this century synonymous with the world’s systems? Have we as church officials lost our passion to “seek and save that which is lost?” A brief perusal of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation will most definitely provide the answer.
Before Jesus’ ascension, He gave us “The Great Commission” as recorded in St. Matthew 28: 19- 20. “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Here is a promise again: If you go and tell, I will be with you always. Saints, let’s not allow the Great Commission to become the Great Omission. Jesus is calling upon His church to be that true witness. Acts 1:8 promises us some power to become a true and tireless witness through the power of the Holy Ghost. The power of the church is the Holy Ghost. Listen, no virus or executive order can stop or lockdown the power of the Holy Ghost. Ordinary people were able to do extraordinary things because God’s spirit was at work in their lives. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
The promise is that “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” In essence, Jesus is saying that we start at home, which is our Jerusalem. Use this stay at home season to be a true witness. Dr. Oswald J. Smith said, “The light that shines the farthest will shine the brightest at home.” We close today with wise reflections from Proverbs 14:25. “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.” Which one are you? Amen.
